Bars across the Twin Cities area will probably be staying open a few hours later during the Republican National Convention.

Governor Pawlenty signed a bill Thursday that will allow local governments to extend bar hours until 4 a.m. in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area during the convention. The current cutoff time for bars is 2 a.m.

From Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, bars will be able to stay open later as long as the cities where they are located agree to the change. Local governments would be allowed to charge special permit fees of up to $2,500.