AP Wire

Lemonade stand protection bill headed to the governor’s desk

by The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's neighborhood lemonade stands will soon be off-limits for ticketing.

Lawmakers have given final passage to a bill exempting minors engaging in sales of less than $500 a year from having to pay an occupational license tax.

Sen. Gary Smith, a Norco Democrat, says he introduced the measure after municipal officials have written tickets to children for not having an occupational license to sell lemonade at their local stands.

Stunned — and dismayed — lawmakers unanimously approved the bill in both the House and Senate. A 35-0 vote Monday in the Senate sent the measure to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who intends to sign it into law.

The new law will take effect Aug. 1.