Still not closing time for Sunday liquor sales talk at Capitol

It’s back for another round.

For Capitol-watchers, liquor store owners and Vikings’ tailgaters who couldn’t get enough of Sunday alcohol sales the past few years, the Legislature is again taking up the topic this session.

Last year, lawmakers passed, and Gov. Mark Dayton signed, a law allowing off-sale licensees to sell liquor on Sundays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Now Rep. Tony Jurgens (R-Cottage Grove) is offering a sobering thought: Some liquor store owners want to start their work day earlier and they want to work on Sunday holidays.

HF3667, as amended, would change the hours for Sunday off-sales to between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. – an hour earlier on each side. It would also add Sunday Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., respectively. The House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee laid it over Tuesday for possible omnibus bill inclusion.

Its companion, SF3158, sponsored by Sen. Karla Bigham (DFL-Cottage Grove), awaits action by the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee.

The original House bill last session included the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours, but after a conference committee to rectify the differences with the Senate, the Legislature approved the 11 a.m. start time.