Texas House passes bill to legalize kid-run lemonade stands

Children operating lemonade stands will no longer be breaking the law if a new piece of Texas legislation passes.

The Texas House nearly unanimously passed House Bill 234, sponsored by Texas Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, on Wednesday to legalize lemonade and other nonalcoholic beverage stands run by children, according to the The Dallas Morning News.

"Yesterday was one small step for lemonade, today is one giant leap for young entrepreneurs," Krause said on Wednesday after its final passage in the chamber, according to the DMN.

The Texas Food Establishment had previously banned lemonade stands because of health concerns. According to the Tyler Morning-Telegraph, police have shut down at least one booth before because two young girls did not have proper permits.

The bill has support from at least one young entrepreneur. Eight-year-old Austinite Branson Burton shared his support for the bill last month during testimony in front of the House State Affairs committee. Burton said he made more than $300 in revenue during last year’s "Lemonade Day," a program that encourages kids to become entrepreneurs.

"This bill will support me and thousands of other kids to have the chance to start their own lemonade business without having to go figure out and pay for city permits or being worried about getting in trouble with the health department," Branson said.

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#HB234pic.twitter.com/EjVKhvLeLL

— George P. Bush (@georgepbush)March 19, 2019

The bill has also received support from high-ranking Republican legislators on Twitter, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Land Commissioner George P. Bush. Bush who tweeted a video showing him buying from a lemonade stand outside his downtown Austin office.

"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 in the video. "I'm encouraging my fellow Texans to support this piece of legislation that goes far to build imagination and creativity in our great state."

While selling lemonade still remain illegal, the squeeze on the stands will be stopped if the measure passes the Senate and is signed by the Governor.