After hearing arguments that the move would help bars and restaurants along the Minnesota border, the North Dakota House has endorsed allowing city and county governments to extend local bar closing times to 2 a.m.

Fargo bar owners lobbied for the measure, saying they have watched customers trek across the border to Moorhead, Minn., since the city extended its closing time by an extra hour in July 2003. Until then, bars in both cities shut at 1 a.m.

"This bill will give communities who wish the option to keep their bars open … to protect their businesses," said Rep. Andy Maragos, R-Minot.

Representatives approved the bill, 63-28 Monday, without debate. Maragos, who explained the details of the measure, was the only lawmaker to speak about it before Monday's vote. It now goes to the state Senate for review.

Bar and restaurant owners in Fargo and Grand Forks came out in force to support the legislation. The City Council in East Grand Forks, Minn., has not agreed to allow the city's bars to stay open until 2 a.m., but the council is expected to take up the question again.

The bill has an emergency clause, meaning it could take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds support in the House and Senate and the governor signs it. Otherwise, it would take effect Aug. 1, after most of the summer had passed.

In the House, the measure received exactly the 63 votes it needed to keep the emergency clause. It needs 32 votes in the Senate.

"It's a bill that's important because we have to be seen as moving to protect our businesses when they are threatened," Maragos said in a House floor speech. "We didn't ask for this fight, but I think it's time for us to finish it."

The bill is HB1383.