Minnesota committee advances bill requiring concerts, large venues to provide free drinking water

The Minnesota Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on March 11 considered Senate File 1910, a bill that would require entertainment venues to provide access to free drinking water at events.

Senator Umu Verbatim, the bill author, told the committee the measure is aimed at ‘‘ensuring the basic well-being and safety of attendees at entertainment venues’’ and said venues could comply in one of three ways: provide water on site, allow attendees to bring sealed bottled water, or allow empty bottles and provide refill stations. The author said the bill allows venues to ‘‘limit the type or the size of the water bottle in order to protect the safety of others.’’

Three testifiers described personal experiences supporting the bill. Audrey Stenzel, a 15-year-old student and performer from Shoreview, said she became dizzy at a concert after being prevented from bringing an empty bottle into the venue and urged lawmakers to act. ‘‘All Minnesotans deserve to feel safe and hydrated at our events, and I urge you to vote yes on Senate File 1910 to protect all of our Minnesota consumers,’’ Stenzel said. Eleanor Anderson, a student at Saint Catherine University, described multiple concert incidents in which security distributed water that ‘‘didn't make it past the first few rows’’ and urged the committee to prevent future dehydration events. Joel Carlson, who said he represents Minnesota United and manages a venue, said his organization ‘‘supports the effort’’ but asked for clearer statutory language about the kinds of bottles permitted; he said his stadium allows empty transparent plastic bottles and uses refill stations.

Committee members asked about safety concerns related to large or metal containers being used as projectiles. Senator Umu Verbatim and witnesses noted the amendment adopted earlier in the hearing allows venues discretion to limit container types and sizes for safety reasons.

The committee recorded adoption of an author's amendment (A2 as described in committee discussion) by voice vote. After the testimony and questions, the committee laid Senate File 1910 over for possible inclusion, as the record states. The committee did not take a roll-call vote on the bill itself during this hearing.

The bill's supporters framed it as a public-health and consumer-protection measure; venue representatives asked for clearer statutory definitions to reduce enforcement and screening ambiguity. The committee discussion noted existing venue practices—testimony cited Xcel Energy Center, First Avenue, and Minnesota United as venues that already permit refill bottles or provide refill stations.

If the committee advances the bill, future steps would include further amendments for definition clarity and possible referral to other committees or floor action.