By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The fall veto session is scheduled so Illinois state lawmakers can act on bills the governor vetoed, but lawmakers could use the time to pass new laws when they meet next week.
Lawmakers have six days of session scheduled when they return to Springfield on Monday. The fall session is considered veto session, where lawmakers can act to either override the governor’s veto of bills, override any changes he made to bills, or pass new legislation for the governor to sign.
It’s unclear how much will get done.
State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, said there will likely be some measures to cleanup technical issues regarding the state budget or for the adult-use cannabis legislation.
Lawmakers will return amid a broad federal corruption investigation that has included the names of several state lawmakers and wrapped in various industries including energy, gambling, red-light cameras and others.
“My guess is the Democrats really don’t want to get together a whole heck of a lot during veto session,” Butler said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a couple of days canceled.”
Lawmakers are scheduled to be in session Oct. 28, 29 and 30. As of Thursday, there weren’t any committees scheduled for Oct. 30. Lawmakers then return for the final three days of session for the year on Nov. 12, 13 and 14.
State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, said she doesn’t expect much to happen in the six days.
“I think that the Spring will be a much more eventful time,” Scherer said.
After a rash of health issues linked to vaping, there could also be a focus on regulating the industry, and it won’t just be the bubble-gum flavored e-cigarette juice Illinois lawmakers seek to ban – menthol cigarettes and flavored smokeless tobacco could be included.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported a second vaping-related death in Illinois on Thursday.
“At this time, a total of 153 people in Illinois, ranging in age from 13 to 66 years old, with a median age of 22, have experienced lung injuries after using e-cigarettes or vaping,” the department said.
In a hearing set for Monday, lawmakers will discuss House Bill 3883, which would ban flavored products for vaping.
Dan Reinke, owner of 3D Vapor, which has shops in the Metro East area, said that will affect adults who use flavored e-cigarettes to kick tobacco.
“What we have that got into the situation that we’re in today is a black market problem and banning flavored vaping products is only going to create a worse black market problem,” Reinke said.
The proposed flavor ban won’t just impact e-cigarettes. Josh Sharp, executive vice president of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association and the Illinois Association of Convenience Stores, said it would also ban flavored tobacco products such as menthol. That will affect gas stations in border communities he said.
“All you’re going to do is disperse these consumers,” Sharp said. “They’re still going to get the product. So this bill doesn’t at all solved the problem that it’s intended to, or that it seeks to.”
Lawmakers return Monday. They have six days scheduled before the end of the year.
Because there aren’t many vetoes to deal with other issues could come up range from cleaning up gambling expansion, student-athlete compensation, and downstate police and fire pension consolidation, which the governor said he wants lawmakers to tackle this fall.
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