A bill to reinstate part of North Dakota’s “Blue Law” has been soundly rejected by the House. The measure introduced by Bismarck Republican Representative Matthew Heilman would prohibit most stores from being open between the hours of 6 am and noon Sundays.

If passed, the law to bring back North Dakota’s blue laws would force retail businesses, or stores that vend a majority of retail items, to close on Sunday mornings and penalize those that don’t.

The House Industry, Business and Labor Committee recommended not passing a bill aiming to bring back the state’s “Blue Law.”