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Texas House passes bill legalizing lemonade stands run by children


The Texas House passed a bill on Wednesday to legalize lemonade stands run by children.

The bill, sponsored by Texas Rep. Matt Krause (R), legalizes temporary lemonade stands and other stands selling nonalcoholic beverages operated by minors on both private property or public parks, The Dallas Morning News reported.

"Today is lemonade freedom day," Krause said after the bill received initial approval on Tuesday. "It's a great day for our Texas entrepreneurs."

The measure overturns a ban from the Texas Food Establishment over health concerns from homemade drinks.

A similar bill was passed by Colorado state lawmakers earlier this month.

Young entrepreneurs in the state will be allowed to make a profit if the bill passes in the state Senate.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has signaled support for the legislation on Twitter, saying "it's a shame that a law for this is even needed."

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Lawmaker wants to make lemonade stands legal in Texas. It's a shame that a law for this is even needed. #txlegehttps://t.co/fbSPcbXZQO
- Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 20, 2019

Land Commissioner George P. Bush posted a video of his Twitter account of him buying lemonade from a special stand run by children outside of his office.

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oday, 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

"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."

The ban on lemonade stands is unbeknownst to many parents in Texas and other states which ban the makeshift businesses, the newspaper noted.

A lemonade stand set up by sisters trying to raise enough money to take their dad to a water park for Father's Day was shuttered by police in 2015, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.

Popular lemonade brand CountryTime last year pledged to help kids cover the costs of city permits if they ran into government red tape.

The "Legal-Ade" reimbursed kids and their families up to $300 if they are ticketed by city officials. The promotional campaign has since ended.