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Minnesota’s “Grandparent’s Happy Hour” bill signed into law

By CNN

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — Minnesota seniors living in assisted living communities and nursing homes will soon be able to enjoy a glass of wine or beer at resident happy hours without facilities navigating liquor licensing hurdles.

Gov. Tim Walz signed the bipartisan measure Tuesday, known as the “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” law, during a ceremony at Amira Choice in Champlin.

The new law allows assisted living facilities, nursing homes and boarding care homes to serve alcohol to residents and their guests during organized social events, provided facilities notify the state and meet required safety standards. The law takes effect Aug. 1.

The legislation was inspired by residents at Amira Choice after staff learned the facility could host happy hours but could not legally serve alcohol because no existing liquor license fit its situation.

Walz said the law is about giving seniors greater autonomy and removing unnecessary government barriers.

“Providing the autonomy and the dignity and the choices that belong to you. You have earned the right to make your own choices,” Walz said. “Government can get out of the way, allow people to make their choices and do this right.”

Resident Anita LaBrun, who advocated for the legislation, said the change is about more than drinks.

“Happy hour is our connection, laughter, sharing stories from our lives,” LaBrun said. “It brings friends together and helps make everyday moments special.”

Supporters say the law recognizes assisted living communities as residents’ homes and gives older adults more opportunities to socialize while maintaining existing health and safety protections.

The Grandparents’ Happy Hour provision is part of a broader omnibus liquor bill that also updates liquor licensing laws for businesses, attractions and college campuses across Minnesota.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Florida DMV denies woman a driver’s license over a name mismatch that began at just 18 months old

By CNN
Click here for updates on this story    NORTH FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) -- Cara Marshall, 51, was denied a Florida driver’s license in Lee County after discovering her maiden name doesn’t match the name on her certified birth certificate, a discrepancy stemming from a decision her mother made decades ago."I'm not sure who I am anymore honestly," Marshall said.Marshall believed her maiden name to be Hendrix, as listed on her marriage license and old school pictures. However, she recently learned that her mother had changed her name when she was a year and a half old after marrying her stepfather."My mother never told me. She changed it herself, when I was a year and a half out when she married my stepfather," Marshall said.Marshall explained that her mother registered her in school and completed paperwork using the Hendrix name, hiding the fact that her biological father was Ronald Sniffen, whose last name should have been legally used."She did all the paperwork that way registering me in school and everything and never told me about it. She wanted to hide the fact that I had a different father," Marshall said.Marshall believes social pressures and stigmas at the time may have influenced her mother’s decision."In fact, she told me she wanted everyone's name to be the same. She took it upon herself without doing it legally and now here I am," Marshall said.For decades, the discrepancy didn’t affect Marshall’s life. She attended school, worked, married, voted, and held a Real ID driver’s license in multiple states."In North Dakota I got a Real ID in 2022 and then we moved to South Dakota in 2025 and I got the Real ID down there…never had a problem and I was in and out in two minutes," Marshall said.However, after moving to Florida, the DMV denied her request for a license because her maiden name and the name on her certified birth certificate don’t match."It makes me go 'who am I?' How do I prove this now?" Marshall said.Her case raises broader questions about the consistency of federal Real ID standards across states."If every state is following the federal Real ID standards, why are other states willing to issue her a license and Florida isn’t?" Marshall said.Marshall expressed frustration with the situation."They're setting me up to fail," she said.The extent of this issue remains unclear, and answers are still pending.Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
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