HF 2027

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 04/29/2025 11:09am

A bill for an act
relating to liquor; authorizing the issuance of local licenses; modifying certain
requirements of liquor licenses issued to the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota; establishing a food truck license; permitting persons who are 17
years of age to serve alcoholic beverages; modifying wine transfer provisions;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 340A.404, subdivisions 2b, 4a, by
adding a subdivision; 340A.412, subdivisions 4, 10; 340A.417; Laws 2017, First
Special Session chapter 4, article 5, section 12.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.404, subdivision 2b, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2b.

Special provision; city of St. Paul.

new text begin (a) new text end The city of St. Paul may issue an
on-sale intoxicating liquor license to the Fitzgerald Theatre, the Great American History
Theater at 30 East 10th Street, and the Brave New Workshop at the Palace Theater at 17
West Seventh Place, notwithstanding the limitations of law, or local ordinance, or charter
provision relating to zoning or school or church distances. The license authorizes sales on
all days of the week to holders of tickets for performances presented by the theatre and to
members of the nonprofit corporation holding the license and to their guests.

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding any other law, local ordinance, or charter provision, the city of St.
Paul may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license to the Science Museum of Minnesota,
or its concessionaire or operator, for use on the premises of the Science Museum of Minnesota
at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard. The license authorizes sales on all days of the week.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding any other law, local ordinance, or charter provision, the city of St.
Paul may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license to the Union Depot, or its concessionaire
or operator, for use on the premises of the Union Depot at 214 Fourth Street East. The
license authorizes sales on all days of the week.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the St. Paul City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.404, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:

Subd. 4a.

Publicly owned recreation; entertainment facilities.

(a) Notwithstanding
any other law, local ordinance, or charter provision, the commissioner may issue on-sale
intoxicating liquor licenses:

(1) to the state agency administratively responsible for, or to an entity holding a
concession or facility management contract with such agency for beverage sales at, the
premises of any Giants Ridge Recreation Area building or recreational improvement area
owned by the state in the city of Biwabik, St. Louis County;

(2) to the state agency administratively responsible for, or to an entity holding a
concession or facility management contract with such agency for beverage sales at, the
premises of any Ironworld Discovery Center building or facility owned by the state at
Chisholm;

(3) to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota new text begin or to an entity holding a
concessions contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota new text end for events
at Northrop Auditorium, the intercollegiate football stadium, including any games played
by the Minnesota Vikings at the stadium, and deleted text begin at no more than seven deleted text end new text begin for new text end other locations
within the boundaries of the University of Minnesota new text begin that are described in the approved
license applications new text end , provided that the Board of Regents has approved an application for a
license for the specified location and provided that a license for an intercollegiate football
stadium is void unless it meets the conditions of paragraph (b). new text begin Licenses may be issued for
space that is not compact and contiguous, provided that all space is included in the description
of the licensed premises on the approved license applications. new text end It is solely within the discretion
of the Board of Regents to choose the manner in which to carry out these conditions
consistent with the requirements of paragraph (b); and

(4) to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Authority for beverage sales on
the premises of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center Arena during intercollegiate
hockey games.

The commissioner shall charge a fee for licenses issued under this subdivision in an
amount comparable to the fee for comparable licenses issued in surrounding cities.

(b) No alcoholic beverage may be sold or served at deleted text begin TCF deleted text end new text begin Huntington new text end Bank Stadium
unless the Board of Regents holds an on-sale intoxicating liquor license for the stadium as
provided in paragraph (a), clause (3), that provides for the sale of intoxicating liquor at a
location in the stadium that is convenient to the general public attending an intercollegiate
football game at the stadium. On-sale liquor sales to the general public must be available
at that location through half-time of an intercollegiate football game at deleted text begin TCF deleted text end new text begin Huntington new text end
Bank Stadium, and sales at the stadium must comply with section 340A.909.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.404, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Food truck. new text end

new text begin (a) The governing body of a municipality may issue a temporary
license to a food truck for the on-sale of intoxicating liquor at a private event that the food
truck has entered into a contract with a person to cater. For purposes of this section, "food
truck" means a business that is licensed or permitted by the licensing authority to prepare
and sell food from a motorized vehicle or trailer within the municipality.
new text end

new text begin (b) A license under this subdivision must specify the conditions under which the
intoxicating liquor must be dispensed and consumed and shall not be issued unless the
licensee demonstrates that it has liability insurance as prescribed by section 340A.409 to
cover the event. The license under this subdivision authorizes sales on all days of the week
only to the person who has entered into a catering contract with the food truck, and the
person's guests.
new text end

new text begin (c) A license under this subdivision is subject to the terms, including a license fee,
imposed by the issuing municipality and all laws and ordinances governing the sale of
intoxicating liquor. A license under this subdivision authorizes the on-sale of intoxicating
liquor for not more than four consecutive days and not more than 12 days per year. No sale
under this license may be made outside the hours established by the municipality for
on-premises consumption. Licenses under this subdivision are not valid unless first approved
by the commissioner of public safety.
new text end

new text begin (d) The licensee shall notify prior to any private catered event:
new text end

new text begin (1) the police chief of the city where the event will take place, if the event will take place
within the corporate limits of a city; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the county sheriff of the county where the event will take place, if the event will be
outside the corporate limits of any city.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.412, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Licenses prohibited in certain areas.

(a) No license to sell intoxicating liquor
may be issued within the following areas:

(1) where restricted against commercial use through zoning ordinances and other
proceedings or legal processes regularly had for that purpose, except licenses may be issued
to restaurants in areas which were restricted against commercial uses after the establishment
of the restaurant;

(2) within the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds, except as provided under Laws 1983,
chapter 259, section 9, or Laws 1999, chapter 202, section 13;

(3) on the State Fairgrounds, except as provided under section 37.21, subdivision 2;

deleted text begin (4) on the campus of the College of Agriculture of the University of Minnesota;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end within 1,000 feet of a state hospital, training school, reformatory, prison, or other
institution under the supervision or control, in whole or in part, of the Direct Care and
Treatment executive board or the commissioner of corrections;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end in a town or municipality in which a majority of votes at the last election at which
the question of license was voted upon were not in favor of license under section 340A.416,
or within one-half mile of any such town or municipality, except that intoxicating liquor
manufactured within this radius may be sold to be consumed outside it; and

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end within 1,500 feet of any public school that is not within a city.

(b) The restrictions of this subdivision do not apply to a manufacturer or wholesaler of
intoxicating liquor or to a drugstore or to a person who had a license originally issued
lawfully prior to July 1, 1967.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.412, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Employment of minors.

No person under 18 years of age may deleted text begin serve or deleted text end sell
intoxicating liquor in a retail deleted text begin intoxicating liquor deleted text end establishment new text begin that has an off-sale intoxicating
liquor license. Notwithstanding section 181A.115, a person 17 years of age may serve or
sell intoxicating liquor in a retail establishment that has an on-sale intoxicating liquor license,
provided that the service or sale is supervised by an employee of the establishment who is
over 17 years of age new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 340A.417, is amended to read:

340A.417 SHIPMENTS INTO MINNESOTA.

(a) Notwithstanding section 297G.07, subdivision 2, or any provision of this chapter, a
winery licensed in a state other than Minnesota, or a winery located in Minnesota, may ship,
for personal use and not for resale, not more than deleted text begin two deleted text end new text begin four new text end cases of wine, containing a
maximum of nine liters per case, in any calendar year to any resident of Minnesota age 21
or over. Delivery of a shipment under this section may not be deemed a sale in this state.

(b) The shipping container of any wine sent under this section must be clearly marked
"Alcoholic Beverages: adult signature (over 21 years of age) required."

(c) It is not the intent of this section to impair the distribution of wine through distributors
or importing distributors, but only to permit shipments of wine for personal use.

(d) No criminal penalty may be imposed on a person for a violation of this section other
than a violation described in paragraph (e) or (f). Whenever it appears to the commissioner
that any person has engaged in any act or practice constituting a violation of this section,
and the violation is not within two years of any previous violation of this section, the
commissioner shall issue and cause to be served upon the person an order requiring the
person to cease and desist from violating this section. The order must give reasonable notice
of the rights of the person to request a hearing and must state the reason for the entry of the
order. Unless otherwise agreed between the parties, a hearing shall be held not later than
seven days after the request for the hearing is received by the commissioner after which
and within 20 days after the receipt of the administrative law judge's report and subsequent
exceptions and argument, the commissioner shall issue an order vacating the cease and
desist order, modifying it, or making it permanent as the facts require. If no hearing is
requested within 30 days of the service of the order, the order becomes final and remains
in effect until modified or vacated by the commissioner. All hearings shall be conducted in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 14. If the person to whom a cease and desist order
is issued fails to appear at the hearing after being duly notified, the person shall be deemed
in default, and the proceeding may be determined against the person upon consideration of
the cease and desist order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true.

(e) Any person who violates this section within two years of a violation for which a
cease and desist order was issued under paragraph (d), is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(f) Any person who commits a third or subsequent violation of this section within any
subsequent two-year period is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Sec. 7.

Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter 4, article 5, section 12, is amended to
read:

Sec. 12. FOOD HALL LICENSE; MINNEAPOLIS.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 340A.101, subdivision 25, 340A.401, or
340A.410, subdivision 7, or any other law or ordinance to the contrary, the city of
Minneapolis may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license for a licensee serving as an
anchor tenant for a food hall deleted text begin to be located at 501 30th Avenue Southeast deleted text end . The license may
allow service and consumption anywhere within the licensee establishment, and anywhere
within the larger food hall, provided that the larger premises is specified in the on-sale
license. Multiple independent food vendors will be able to utilize a common seating area
under the control of the liquor license holder to allow the public to purchase and consume
food from third parties while also consuming licensed beverages sold by the license holder. new text begin
Licenses may only be issued for food halls at the following locations:
new text end

new text begin (1) 501 30th Avenue Southeast; and
new text end

new text begin (2) 800 LaSalle Avenue.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the city of Minneapolis
and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin SPECIAL LAW; CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 340A.101, subdivision 25; 340A.401; or
340A.410, subdivision 7, or any other law or ordinance to the contrary, the city of St. Louis
Park may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license to a licensee serving as an anchor
tenant for a food hall located in any portion of the mall commonly known as The Shops at
West End. The license may allow service and consumption anywhere within the licensee
establishment, and anywhere within the larger food hall, provided that the larger premises
is specified in the on-sale license. Multiple independent food vendors will be able to utilize
a common seating area under the control of the liquor license holder to allow the public to
purchase and consume food from third parties while also consuming licensed beverages
sold by the license holder.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the St. Louis Park City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO; SPECIAL LICENSE.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law, local ordinance, or charter provision to the contrary, the
city of Mankato may issue an on-sale wine and malt liquor intoxicating liquor license to
Minnesota State University, Mankato, for events at the Taylor Center, and for other locations
within the boundaries of the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato, that are
described in the approved license applications, provided that a license for any location other
than the Taylor Center is issued for a space that is compact and contiguous. A license under
this section authorizes sales on all days of the week, subject to the hours and days of sale
restrictions in Minnesota Statutes, and any reasonable license conditions or restrictions
imposed by the licensing authority. All other provisions of Minnesota Statutes not
inconsistent with this section apply to the license authorized under this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the Mankato City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin CITY OF BLOOMINGTON; ON-SALE LICENSE.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law or ordinance to the contrary, the city of Bloomington
may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license for the Dwan Golf Course, which is located
in and owned by the city. The provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 340A, not
inconsistent with this section, apply to the license issued under this section. The city of
Bloomington is deemed the licensee under this section, and the provisions of Minnesota
Statutes, sections 340A.603 and 340A.604, apply to the license as if the establishment were
a municipal liquor store.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the city of Bloomington
and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin TEMPORARY LICENSES; LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin Lake of the Woods County may issue temporary licenses pursuant to law for premises
of the Baudette Arena Association, without regard to the restriction set forth in Minnesota
Statutes, section 340A.412, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clause (6).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the Lake of the Woods
County Board of Commissioners and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 12. new text begin SPECIAL LIQUOR LAW; CITY OF ROCHESTER.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law, ordinance, or charter provision to the contrary, the city
of Rochester may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license to the Historic Chateau Theater,
located in the city at 15 1st Street Southwest. The license authorizes sales on all days of the
week to persons attending performances, exhibitions, or any other events at the theater. The
provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 340A, not inconsistent with this section, apply to
a license issued under this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the Rochester City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end

Sec. 13. new text begin SPECIAL LICENSE; CITY OF SPRINGFIELD.
new text end

new text begin The city of Springfield may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, an on-sale wine
and strong beer license, or an on-sale including Sunday intoxicating liquor license for the
city-owned facility known as the Springfield Area Community Center, notwithstanding any
law, local ordinance, or charter provision. The provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter
340A, not inconsistent with this section, apply to the license issued under this section. The
city of Springfield is deemed the licensee under this section, and the provisions of Minnesota
Statutes, sections 340A.603 and 340A.604, apply to the license as if the facility was a
municipal liquor store.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon approval by the Springfield City
Council and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021.
new text end