BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican-led Legislature has voted to repeal the state’s longstanding Sunday business restrictions.The National Conference of State Legislatures says North Dakota is the only state that prohibits shopping on Sunday morning. The ban is rooted in religious tradition.Senators voted 25-21 to repeal the restrictions on Tuesday. That sends the bill to Republican Gov. Doug Burgum. He’s expected to sign it.North Dakota law once required most businesses to stay closed on Sundays. It was changed in 1985 to allow grocery stores to open. In 1991, the Legislature agreed to let most businesses to open on Sundays but not before noon.Lawmakers have defeated several measures over the years to end the Sunday morning shopping prohibition, most recently in 2017.

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BISMARCK  (INFORUM)  — The North Dakota Senate agreed to repeal the state’s ban on Sunday morning shopping Tuesday, March 19.

The Senate approved House Bill 1097 in a 25-21 vote, sending it to Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican who has already signaled his intent to sign the legislation undoing the so-called “blue law.” Senators narrowly defeated a similar bill in 2017.

The state House approved the repeal bill two months ago.

North Dakota became the final state to permit Sunday shopping when retailers were allowed to open their doors after noon in the early 1990s. Today, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters and other businesses are exempt from the law that makes it a Class B misdemeanor to operate a business before noon on Sunday.

The repeal would take effect Aug. 1.