Minnesota is one step closer to tightening its standard for drunken driving to 0.08 percent blood-alcohol concentration.

With overwhelming votes in the House and Senate shortly before dawn Sunday, the Legislature approved reducing the limit from the current 0.10 percent effective Aug. 1, 2005, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. It now heads to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Passage of the measure – SF58 – would bring the state in compliance with a federal decree that states adopt the lower limit or lose federal highway dollars.

Minnesota is one of only two states (Delaware being the other) yet to conform to the federal mandate. Colorado and West Virginia lowered their limits earlier this year.

Holdouts had until last year to pass the lower limit, after which they began losing road money. Minnesota will get the money the federal government withheld as soon as the new law takes effect. But the money will not earn interest.