A bill banning the use of expiration dates and service fees on retail gift cards used in Minnesota cleared another big hurdle today, passing the House by a large margin – 95 to 37.

The House bill includes just one amendment from the Senate version that passed in mid-April: an effective date of August 1, 2007 that applies to gift cards issued or sold on or after that date. A House official said authors of the House bill cleared the amendment with Sen. Katie Sieben (DFL-Cottage Grove), the Senate version’s chief sponsor, before the vote today and expect the bill to move to the governor in a matter of days without any further delays.

The governor has expressed neither opposition nor support of the bill and legislative officials are not sure whether he’ll approve or veto it.