Texas House passes bill to legalize kids’ lemonade stands

Texas House Rep. Matt Krause sponsored the legislation, declaring Tuesday “lemonade freedom day” after the bill received initial approval. After the bill’s passage he said, “Yesterday was one small step for lemonade, today is one giant leap for young entrepreneurs,” according to the Dallas Morning News.

Texas law prohibits the sale of the lemonade because homemade drinks are illegal under the Texas Food Establishment Rules due to health concerns.

There has been pushback to Texas and other states’ laws prohibiting lemonade stands. The Country Time Lemonade company last year setting up an initiative called “Legal-Ade” that reimburses kids who have been fined and pays for prospective vendors’ permit fees.

On Tuesday, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush urged support for the bill, posting a video on Twitter buying lemonade at a stand set up outside the Texas General Land Office. Bush is the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

“I can’t think of anything more basic, more entrepreneurial, more creative for a child to begin learning the value of a dollar. Literally,” he said after purchasing a drink.

Now that the bill passed the House, it heads to the state Senate next. If passed, the legislation goes to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has shown support for the bill on Twitter, saying it is “a shame that a law for this is even needed.”