Manley Prepares for Veto Session, Working to Pass Clean-Up Bill for Hearing Aid Legislation

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – With the upcoming veto session starting next week, state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is preparing to advocate for her constituent’s needs in Springfield as well as work on legislation to help implement a bill she recently passed.

“This veto session, we will be working on a number of bills to help improve the lives of residents,” said Manley. “Veto session gives us an opportunity to continue to evaluate major bills that will have far-reaching impacts on Illinoisans and allows us to make changes that will ensure that we are passing the best version of bills that will have the most positive effects on our state.”

Veto session, which will take place on Oct. 24-26 and Nov. 7-9 this year, occurs yearly after regular session, which generally takes place from Jan. through May. During veto session, the General Assembly responds to vetoes by the Governor on bills that were passed during regular session. After a bill is passed by the House and Senate, the Governor may approve the bill, allowing it to become law, veto a bill in its entirety, or make an amendatory veto, which recommends proposed changes for the bill. After a bill is vetoed, it returns to the General Assembly to either accept the Governor’s veto, which for a total veto stops the bill from becoming law or for an amendatory veto changes the bill to the Governor’s specifications, or they can vote to override the veto, which requires a 3/5th majority rather than a simple majority needed to pass most laws. The General Assembly may also pass laws during veto session.

Earlier this year, Manley passed a bill bringing Illinois into compliance with federal over-the-counter hearing aid guidance, making it easier for residents to access hearing aids. To ensure that the bill can be implemented correctly, Manley is working to pass a clean-up bill this veto session. Manley has worked on a number of hearing aid-related bills over the years, including a bill that requires insurance companies to offer optional coverage for hearing instruments, saving residents thousands of dollars on hearing aid costs.

“I know how important it is for people to have access to affordable hearing aids because my mother needed hearing aids during her later years,” said Manley. “I have seen first-hand how prohibitively expensive hearing aids can be for people who need them, especially older adults on fixed incomes who have a hard time replacing them if they are ever broken or lost. I hope to use this upcoming veto session to ensure that the bill I passed earlier this year is implemented well so that residents can have better access to hearing aids as soon as possible.”