Bill to Legalize Child-Run Lemonade Stands Passes Texas House
Republican-sponsored bill moves to the Senate aiming to make children's stalls legal
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For many budding young entrepreneurs, a classic lemonade stand is a child's first taste of great American capitalism.
However, an Obama-era tightening of health and safety regulations outlawed child-run micro businesses from operating without permits from the local government.
Now, a bill sponsored by Texas Republican lawmaker has just passed the house, that aims to make the kids pop-up stalls legal.
House Bill 234, sponsored by Texas State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth), would make it legal for children to operate temporary lemonade stands or other pop-up stands selling nonalcoholic beverages in public parks and on private property, the Dallas Morning News reported.
“Yesterday was one small step for lemonade, today is one giant leap for young entrepreneurs,” Krause said on Wednesday the bill passed in the House.
Of all the days to pass HB 234 out of the House - National Lemonade Day at @raisingcanestx. Just like it was meant to be! 🙂 Excited that we are empowering young entrepreneurs to start their first businesses. Now, on to the Senate where @SenJaneNelson will lead the effort. pic.twitter.com/YIf96ml6YP
— Matt Krause (@RepMattKrause) March 21, 2019
After HB 234 received initial approval on Tuesday, Krause decalred it was "lemonade freedom day," according to the Dallas News.
"It's a great day for our Texas entrepreneurs."
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According to Fox News, once the bill passed on Wednesday, the congressman said, "Yesterday was one small step for lemonade, today is one giant leap for young entrepreneurs."
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott made his support of the bill known on Tuesday, tweeting that "it's a shame that a law for this is even needed."
George P. Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and land commissioner for Texas, posted a video of himself buying lemonade from enthusiastic children for $1 on Tuesday before the measure was approved.
Today, a very enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs set up shop to sell lemonade to @txglo employees. I stopped by for a glass (or 2). Thanks to @repmattkrause for taking a stand for #LemonadeFreedom #HB234 pic.twitter.com/EjVKhvLeLL
— George P. Bush (@georgepbush) March 19, 2019
"So HB 234 would allow children in Texas to set up a lemonade stand. Can't think of anything more basic, more entrepreneurial, more creative for a child to begin the idea of learning the value of a dollar," Bush said.
"Literally, the value of a dollar today is buying just a glass of lemonade."
He said the legislation "goes far to build imagination and creativity in our great state.
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Krause said the idea to legalize the stands came after County Time Lemonade ran a promotion called "Legal-Ade" that paid for fines and permits for children in the U.S. who couldn't legally operate lemonade stands.
The bill now moves to the Senate for approval.
