Hayli Martenez sells lemonade in front of her home in 2019.

Shutterstock.com (background); Illinois Policy Institute (Hayli Martenez)

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She Inspired a New Law

A law in Illinois supports young business owners like Hayli Martenez.

May 9, 2022
By Karen Grimaldos

As You Read, Think About: How did Hayli help get a law passed? 

On a hot summer day in 2017, 9-year-old Hayli Martenez set up a lemonade stand outside her home in Kankakee, Illinois. She thought it would be a great way to earn money for college. But Hayli, now 13, had no idea how that simple decision would end up changing her life. 

Hayli’s lemonade stand was a success, and before long she was selling new flavors, including blue lemon and hello yellow. She named her business Haylibugz Lemonade. In June 2019, a local newspaper wrote an article about the young entrepreneur.

But the news coverage turned out to be bad for Hayli’s business. Officials from the local health department soon demanded that she shut it down. They said Hayli needed a permit for her lemonade stand and that it didn’t meet health code requirements. 

Although Hayli didn’t think it was fair to prevent a kid from selling lemonade in her front yard, she had no choice but to stop. 

It was a hot summer day in 2017. Nine-year-old Hayli Martenez set up a lemonade stand outside her home in Kankakee, Illinois. She thought it would be a great way to earn money for college. But Hayli, now 13, had no idea how that simple decision would end up changing her life.

Hayli’s lemonade stand was a success. Before long she was selling new flavors, including blue lemon and hello yellow. She named her business Haylibugz Lemonade. In June 2019, a local newspaper wrote an article about the young entrepreneur.

But the news coverage turned out to be bad for Hayli’s business. Officials from the local health department soon demanded that she shut it down. They said Hayli needed a permit for her lemonade stand. It also didn’t meet health code requirements.

Hayli didn’t think it was fair to prevent a kid from selling lemonade in her front yard. But she had no choice but to stop. 

Speaking Up

News of Hayli’s shutdown spread and caught the attention of an official in the county government. Inspired by Hayli’s story, he drafted a bill, or a plan for a law, that would make it easier for kids to run lemonade stands. The bill landed on the desk of Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce, who agreed to sponsor it. 

Joyce invited Hayli to speak in support of the bill to a committee of state senators in March 2021. Hayli and her mom drove nearly three hours to the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois. They even brought samples of Hayli’s lemonade so the lawmakers could try it. 

Although Hayli was excited to get the chance to tell her story, she was worried about addressing the group of senators. 

“I was so nervous that my voice started to quiver,” she says. “I was talking extra fast, and I was running out of breath!” 

But Hayli quickly gained confidence when she remembered who she was there to represent. 

“I wanted to stick up for the little people, for boys and girls,” she explains. 

Hayli’s speech was convincing, and the bill eventually passed in both parts of the Illinois General Assembly: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Last July, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law. Hayli’s Law officially went into effect on January 1 of this year. It allows kids under 16 in Illinois to sell lemonade and other drinks without a permit. 

“I made history!” Hayli says.

News of Hayli’s shutdown spread. It caught the attention of an official in the county government. Inspired by Hayli’s story, he drafted a bill, or a plan for a law. lt would make it easier for kids to run lemonade stands. The bill landed on the desk of Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce. He agreed to sponsor it.

Joyce invited Hayli to speak in support of the bill to a committee of state senators in March 2021. Hayli and her mom drove nearly three hours to the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois. They even brought samples of Hayli’s lemonade so the lawmakers could try it. 

Although Hayli was excited to get the chance to tell her story, she was worried about addressing the group of senators. 

“I was so nervous that my voice started to quiver,” she says. “I was talking extra fast, and I was running out of breath!” 

But Hayli quickly gained confidence when she remembered who she was there to represent. 

“I wanted to stick up for the little people, for boys and girls,” she explains. 

Hayli’s speech was convincing, and the bill eventually passed in both parts of the Illinois General Assembly: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Last July, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law. Hayli’s Law officially went into effect on January 1 of this year. It allows kids under 16 in Illinois to sell lemonade and other drinks without a permit. 

“I made history!” Hayli says. 

Courtesy Office of Patrick Joyce

“Hayli was fearless and determined,” says Illinois State Senator Patrick Joyce.

A Bright Future

Hayli has big plans for the future. She wants to go to college and become a doctor. 

For now, she’s back in business and will be selling her lemonade again this summer. Hayli hopes her experience and the law that was passed in her honor will encourage other young entrepreneurs.

“Don’t let anyone stop your dreams,” she says.

Hayli has big plans for the future. She wants to go to college and become a doctor.

For now, she’s back in business and will be selling her lemonade again this summer. Hayli hopes her experience and the law that was passed in her honor will encourage other young entrepreneurs.

“Don’t let anyone stop your dreams,” she says.

A Law Is Born

You read about how Hayli’s Law got passed in Illinois. The process for passing federal, or national, laws is similar. This chart shows how a bill can become a federal law. 

 

CONGRESS

↓

A bill is introduced in the U.S. Senate.*

↓

A committee of senators reviews the bill and votes to move it forward.

↓

The full Senate debates the bill and votes on it.

↓

If the Senate approves the bill, it goes to the House of Representatives. 

↓

The steps above are repeated in the House.

↓

A bill that is approved by both parts of Congress goes to the president.

↓

PRESIDENT

↓

The president may sign the bill into law.

↓

OR

↓

The president may decide not to sign or veto the bill. The bill then becomes law after 10 days. 

OR

↓

The president may veto, or reject, the bill. Then it goes back to Congress.

↓

The bill can still become law if two-thirds of the members of each part of Congress vote to override (cancel) the president’s veto.

 

*This chart shows a bill starting in the Senate, but a bill can also start in the other part of Congress, the House of Representatives.

A Law Is Born

You read about how Hayli’s Law got passed in Illinois. The process for passing federal, or national, laws is similar. This chart shows how a bill can become a federal law. 

 

CONGRESS

↓

A bill is introduced in the U.S. Senate.*

↓

A committee of senators reviews the bill and votes to move it forward.

↓

The full Senate debates the bill and votes on it.

↓

If the Senate approves the bill, it goes to the House of Representatives. 

↓

The steps above are repeated in the House.

↓

A bill that is approved by both parts of Congress goes to the president.

↓

PRESIDENT

↓

The president may sign the bill into law.

↓

OR

↓

The president may decide not to sign or veto the bill. The bill then becomes law after 10 days. 

OR

↓

The president may veto, or reject, the bill. Then it goes back to Congress.

↓

The bill can still become law if two-thirds of the members of each part of Congress vote to override (cancel) the president’s veto.

 

*This chart shows a bill starting in the Senate, but a bill can also start in the other part of Congress, the House of Representatives.

1. Why is a new law in Illinois called Hayli’s Law?

2. What is the meaning of addressing? What clues in the article help you know?

3. Hayli says “Don’t let anyone stop your dreams.” What does she mean?

1. Why is a new law in Illinois called Hayli’s Law?

2. What is the meaning of addressing? What clues in the article help you know?

3. Hayli says “Don’t let anyone stop your dreams.” What does she mean?

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