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N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has killed a bill that would have repealed North Dakota’s longstanding Sunday business restrictions.

The bipartisan measure aimed at lifting the state’s so-called blue laws was narrowly defeated 50-44 on Monday.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says about a dozen states have some form of Sunday sales laws, but only North Dakota prohibits shopping on Sunday morning.

North Dakota residents can order alcohol at a restaurant or bar late Sunday morning but must wait until afternoon to go shopping because of the ban that’s rooted in religious tradition.

North Dakota law once required most businesses to stay closed on Sundays. It was changed in 1985 to allow grocery stores to open.

The Legislature in 1991 allowed most businesses to open on Sundays but not before noon.