(WWJ) On a hot summer day in Michigan, there's nothing like a cold cup of lemonade.
So, should kids be allowed to sell it?
A bill that aims to protect the rights of Michigan children who want to run their own lemonade stands has passed the state House unanimously.
The legislation House Bill 6007, was introduced by State Rep. Cam Cavitt (R- Cheboygan), after some young entrepreneurs reached out to him about the issue.
Cavitt said he believes that kids should be able to operate lemonade stands without excessive government fees and regulations.
“It’s time to raise a glass and celebrate,” said Cavitt. “Children from our community initially brought this issue to my attention when their local health department demanded that they pay repeated fees to run their lemonade stand. We shouldn’t let red tape stand in the way of kids making an effort to work hard and learn about the values of entrepreneurship. Today, we took action in the House to make life a little sweeter for kids across our state.”
The bill will ease regulatory requirements for lemonade stands operated by minors that make under $5,000 per year.
Earlier this month, Cavitt gave testimony along side some kids from Presque Isle County, who were notified by their local health department that if they wanted to sell lemonade, they would need to pay $57 bi-weekly and jump through other hoops.
Currently, oversight of lemonade stands varies by locality, with some health departments requiring permits and charging licensing fees.
Cavitt thanked his colleagues for the overwhelming support for the bill.
“It’s refreshing to see Republicans and Democrats come together to support our youth,” Cavitt said. “This is a practical change that will make it easier for our kids to gain real business experience and develop civic responsibility. I was glad to see the votes pour in.”
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
