Exempts lemonade stands operated by persons under sixteen years of age from department of health permitting requirements

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marianne Buttenschon and 3 co-sponsors

Exempts lemonade stands operated by under-16s from Department of Health permits, reducing red tape for young entrepreneurs and their guardians.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Basic Information

Bill Number: A-6083

Title: Exempts lemonade stands operated by persons under sixteen years of age from Department of Health permitting requirements

Status: Referred to Health Committee

Introduced: November 24, 2025

Classification: Assembly bill

Sponsor (primary): Jen Lunsford

Cosponsors: MaryJane Shimsky, Andrew Hevesi, Marianne Buttenschon

Note: The Introduction text provided for A-6083 appears incongruent with the bill’s stated title (the introduction content discusses election-related provisions). The summary below focuses on the bill’s stated purpose and status as a health-related measure about lemonade stands. If a complete text becomes available, it should be reviewed to confirm all provisions.

What the Bill Would Do

Main Purpose: Create an exemption from the Department of Health (DOH) permitting requirements for lemonade stands operated by individuals under the age of sixteen.

Scope: The exemption would apply specifically to lemonade stands run by minors under sixteen. It is designed to reduce regulatory barriers for young entrepreneurs operating informal, small-scale beverage stands.

Key Provisions (as implied by the bill’s title)

The bill would remove the requirement for DOH permits for qualifying lemonade stands.

Likely conditions (not specified in the provided excerpt) typically associated with such exemptions may include limitations on operation (e.g., temporary/mobile stands, non-permanent structures, compliance with basic safety standards). The exact conditions would depend on the final statutory language.

The bill would not necessarily exempt all activities from health/safety rules; it would target permitting requirements specifically.

Who Would Be Affected

Primary beneficiaries: Minors under sixteen who operate lemonade stands.

Household/Guardians: Parents or guardians who oversee the stands and benefit from reduced regulatory burden.

Local health officials: May see changes in permit issuance and regulatory oversight for small, youth-operated stands.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Current Status: Referred to the Health Committee in the Assembly, indicating potential consideration, discussion, and possible amendments in committee before any floor vote.

Action Timeline: As with most bills, further steps would include committee hearings, potential amendments, and votes by the Assembly and Senate, followed by any required gubernatorial action.

Legislative Context

Related/Companion Legislation: S 4795 (companion bill) and several prior-session A and S numbers (e.g., A 11380, A 5120, A 872, A 1848; S 837) indicate ongoing interest in limiting regulatory barriers for small, youth-run food/beverage activities.

Policy Rationale (typical): Supporters argue the exemption fosters youth entrepreneurship and family-friendly small businesses, while critics may emphasize maintaining public health safeguards.

Notes for Readers

The final text of A-6083 will clarify any specific conditions, enforcement mechanisms, penalties for noncompliance, and how this exemption interacts with other health and food-safety regulations. If you’re tracking this bill, watch for the Health Committee reports and any amendments that define “lemonade stand,” operating hours, location limitations, and sanitary requirements.

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