HILLSDALE COUNTY, Mich. – Michigan lawmakers have introduced plans to simplify the process for voters to repeal a ban on Sunday alcohol sales at bars and restaurants in Hillsdale County.
The county, which is located in the south-central area of the state and borders Indiana and Ohio, is the only remaining county in Michigan with this type of alcohol ban, according to a release from the Michigan House Republicans.
The “blue law” ban prohibits the sale of spirits and mixed spirit drinks for on-site consumption from 7 a.m. each Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday,” according to the release. So, people are allowed to buy alcohol at stores on Sundays, but not at bars and restaurants.
Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) and Sen. Joe Bellino (R-Monroe) introduced legislation that “would allow the county to put a repeal measure on the ballot more easily with clearer proposal language.”
“Bars and restaurants in Hillsdale County have lost business to Indiana and neighboring communities because of county restrictions,” said Wortz. “People want to vote so they can weigh in on changing the county rules and allowing drink sales on Sundays. However, a convoluted state law restricts local decision-making. By cleaning up the repeal process, our plan will increase local control and allow voters to give local businesses and customers more freedom.”
The legislation, House Bill 4398 and Senate Bill 264, would make it easier for the measure to be placed on the ballot and make the language on the ballot clearer, according to the lawmakers.
“The people of Hillsdale County should get to decide whether to get rid of the old ban on Sunday spirit sales,” said Bellino.“Unfortunately, the state of Michigan makes it difficult even to allow county voters to make their voices heard. Our common-sense plan will remove unnecessary legal barriers — so residents can choose to remove the weekly ‘closed for business’ sign on the county borders.”
The lawmakers said the current law requires the ballot to ask “if the county should prohibit liquor sales,” and these bills would change the language so that voters would be asked “if the county should permit liquor sales,” meaning voting “yes” would repeal the ban.
It would also bring the number of signatures required to get the measure on the ballot down to five percent of the voters who voted in the most recent Secretary of State election. The previous threshold was eight percent.
Senate Bill 264 was referred to the Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs, and House Bill 4398 is set to be referred to committee next week, according to the release.
For more information, you can click here to read Senate Bill 264.
