Michigan Boys Try To Sell Lemonade, End Up Helping Write A Bill

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/11/2026) One Friday last summer, the Mielke boys set up their lemonade stand at the Rogers City Famers Market, just as they have the last three summers.

Only this time, the market managers served them papers displaying the new rules: They were prohibited from selling lemonade without a license from the local health department.

So, the boys did what they were told. They went to the health department office, only to find out it would cost them $57 every two weeks to keep selling lemonade.

This time, they did not do exactly that. They instead went to the Cam Cavitt Coffee Hour to get down to business and change Michigan law.

Thus, HB 6007 was born to loosen some food licensing rules, including exempting youth-run lemonade-style stands on private property from local permits and exempting businesses that offer simple free snacks like coffee or popcorn. It would also shift certain complex food-processing oversight back to MDARD, change Bridge Card eligibility standards for food retailers and revise how MDARD can revoke local health department certification.

Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), the bill sponsor, had a field day Thursday morning with lemonade puns during his testimony in front of the House Regulatory Affairs Committee. He sat alongside the three Mielke boys who brought lemonade and a tip jar as they joined him during testimony.

“When they brought this to my attention, it left a sour taste in my mouth,” Cavitt said. “These young entrepreneurs weren't asking for special treatment. They were simply trying to make the best of lemons and learn the rewards of hard work along the way. We shouldn't be squeezing kids with unnecessary fees and regulations when all they're trying to do is sell a few cups of lemonade."

He praised the young boys for not just throwing their hands up and quitting when learning about the new rules. They instead, “turned lemons into lemonade” by bringing the issue to their representative to find a solution.

“That's exactly the kind of civic engagement and entrepreneurial spirit we should be encouraging,” Cavitt said.

Cavitt testified on another bill, HB 5789, which he said is aimed at increasing transparency when state agencies consider replacing cement products made in Michigan. The bill would not require the state to use a specific product, but would require agencies to show their work, consult stakeholders and consider economic impacts before moving away from Michigan-made materials.

The committee also heard testimony on HB 5033, sponsored by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw), that would raise the threshold requiring schools to hire a licensed architect or professional engineer for construction, reconstruction or remodeling projects. He described the current threshold of $15,000 from nearly a century ago as archaic and forces districts to pay consultant fees for similar projects. He argued there aren't any projects that cost that low, “even in the U.P.”

His bill would raise the threshold to $5 million, which immediately sparked questions as to how he decided on such a high number. Though Kelly agreed it should be lowered to around $1 million, the number he threw out in the early stages of crafting the bill.

Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) also testified for HB 5116 which would increase the chip slaves limit for nonprofit millionaire parties from $20,000 to $40,000. Supporters said the current limits cites into how much charities can raise after paying event costs, dealers, renter fees and payouts.

Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) testified on HB 4894, which he said would help make it easier for experienced construction workers to qualify as building inspectors.