Category: Illinois Legislature

Ryan Bill Aims to Expand Public Defender Assistance in Illinois Courts

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Ryan Bill Aims to Expand Public Defender Assistance in Illinois Courts

Ryan Bill Aims to Expand Public Defender Assistance in Illinois Courts State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is expanding legal assistance for Illinois drivers charged with driving under the influence (DUI) with a new measure that will allow public defenders to represent DUI clients in both criminal cases and civil hearings. “If a driver charged…

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Crime, Illinois Legislature, Law, News, NewsWire, Police

Ryan calls High School Language Requirement “burdensome” and pushes to remove it

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Ryan calls High School Language Requirement “burdensome” and pushes to remove it

Ryan calls High School Language Requirement “burdensome” and pushes to remove it State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is seeking to remove the two-year foreign language requirement Illinois high school students must complete to receive a high school diploma. “Schools are facing a shortage of qualified teachers who can teach foreign languages,” Ryan said. “And…

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Culture, Education, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Hastings leads effort to protect Illinois clients and attorneys from private equity interference

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Hastings leads effort to protect Illinois clients and attorneys from private equity interference

Hastings leads effort to protect Illinois clients and attorneys from private equity interference State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced legislation that would safeguard the professional independence of attorneys and protect clients from undue influence by private equity investors, hedge funds and investor‑backed management services organizations. “This legislation is about ensuring that legal decisions in Illinois…

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Economy, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire

Hastings calls for fair distribution of water infrastructure investment

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Hastings calls for fair distribution of water infrastructure investment

Hastings calls for fair distribution of water infrastructure investment State Senator Michael E. Hastings called on the Illinois Commerce Commission to ensure fairness and balance in a proposed $200 million infrastructure plan filed by Illinois American Water ─ raising concerns about how those investments are distributed across the state. During a hearing in Springfield, Hastings…

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Frankfort, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Senator Michael Hastings

Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley High Schools Take Top Spots in Statewide Financial Literacy Contest, Win Bright Start College Savings Scholarships

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Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley High Schools Take Top Spots in Statewide Financial Literacy Contest, Win Bright Start College Savings Scholarships

Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley High Schools Take Top Spots in Statewide Financial Literacy Contest, Win Bright Start College Savings Scholarships Treasurer Michael Frerichs Hosts 2026 Illinois Personal Finance Challenge. VIDEO is available CLICK HER A team of four students from Naperville Central High School will compete in the National Personal Finance Challenge in Atlanta, Georgia,…

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Education, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, youth

Welch, House Democrats Advance Measure Enshrining Voting Rights Act in State Constitution

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Welch, House Democrats Advance Measure Enshrining Voting Rights Act in State Constitution

Welch, House Democrats Advance Measure Enshrining Voting Rights Act in State Constitution Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats are standing up to Washington’s attacks on voting rights by advancing a state constitutional amendment ensuring every person’s voice is heard—guaranteeing these rights in Illinois ahead of an anticipated Supreme Court ruling gutting the…

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Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire

Hastings’ missing persons identification measure passes Senate

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Hastings’ missing persons identification measure passes Senate

Hastings’ missing persons identification measure passes Senate State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on his missing persons investigation work ─ passing legislation in the Senate that would accelerate the timeline for critical forensic data being added to state and national databases. “Law enforcement often starts, and sometimes stops, with criminal databases like CODIS for…

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Crime, Illinois Legislature, Law, Michael Hastings, News, Police, Senator Michael Hastings

Senator Michael Hastings: “Storm chasers” have no place in Illinois

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Senator Michael Hastings: “Storm chasers” have no place in Illinois

Senator Michael Hastings: “Storm chasers” have no place in Illinois State Senator Michael E. Hastings passed legislation through the Senate aimed at protecting Illinois homeowners from deceptive and high pressure contractor practices that often follow severe weather and natural disasters. “In light of some tragic storms in the area, we need to protect Illinois’ residents,”…

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Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Senator Michael Hastings, Weather

Hastings supports updating online harassment law

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Hastings supports updating online harassment law

Hastings supports updating online harassment law In Illinois, law enforcement officers and prosecutors who charge suspects accused of harassment need updates to the law to reflect today’s use of technology. State Senator Michael E. Hastings is supporting legislation to reflect the realities of how offenses are being committed in the present day. “The world is…

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Crime, Illinois Legislature, Law, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Politics, Technology

Ryan Bill Expands Reduced Fee Services for Seniors and Illinoisans with Disabilities

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Ryan Bill Expands Reduced Fee Services for Seniors and Illinoisans with Disabilities

Ryan Bill Expands Reduced Fee Services for Seniors and Illinoisans with Disabilities State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is sponsoring a bill to expand assistance for Illinois seniors and residents who have a disability by lowering the income eligibility threshold for certain state services at reduced fees. “This is an excellent program that makes registering…

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Baby Boomers, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Seniors

Hastings advances measures to simplify subscription cancellations, & fights for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans to protect Illinois consumers

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Hastings advances measures to simplify subscription cancellations, & fights for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans to protect Illinois consumers

Hastings advances measures to simplify subscription cancellations, & fights for stronger oversight of Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans to protect Illinois consumers SPRINGFIELD — Subscription services often make canceling an active subscription difficult and convoluted in order to make customers give up or forget to cancel the service. To combat this practice, State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced…

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Business, Economy, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, safety, Technology

Ted Dabrowski cuts through the BS and takes on the biggest drain on property taxes

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Ted Dabrowski cuts through the BS and takes on the biggest drain on property taxes

Ted Dabrowski cuts through the BS and takes on the biggest drain on property taxes By Ray Hanania Ted Dabrowski is one of four candidates running for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor in the March 17 Republican primary election. But he is the only one who is speaking to the real challenges of fast-rising…

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Business, Cook County, Education, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Hastings calls for regulation on online prediction markets skirting Illinois gambling laws

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Hastings calls for regulation on online prediction markets skirting Illinois gambling laws

Hastings calls for regulation on online prediction markets skirting Illinois gambling laws SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is calling for support on legislation aimed at addressing online prediction platforms that allow users to wager money on real world events while avoiding the licensing and oversight required of regulated gambling operators in Illinois. “These…

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Government, Illinois Legislature, Law, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District In the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election

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Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District In the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election

Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District in the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election Voters in the 8th District face many challenges and issues that need to be addressed and that are at stake in this election. One of the most important is curtailing rising property taxes. They need to…

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elections, Health, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Hastings: new legislation could save homes, protect equity for families facing tax sales

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Hastings: new legislation could save homes, protect equity for families facing tax sales

Hastings: new legislation could save homes, protect equity for families facing tax sales SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is supporting legislation designed to provide critical relief to Cook County homeowners at risk of losing their homes in the county’s 2023 tax sale. Hastings, a chief co-sponsor on the bill, worked to pass the…

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Frankfort, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Hastings builds on missing persons identification methods

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Hastings builds on missing persons identification methods

Hastings builds on missing persons identification methods SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on his missing persons investigation work by advancing legislation that would accelerate the timeline for critical forensic data being added to state and national databases. “Families dealing with a missing loved one should not have to wait for answers,”…

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Crime, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, NewsWire, safety, Senator Michael Hastings, Technology

Ryan Statement on Budget Preparation for More Affordable Illinois Following Budget Address

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Ryan Statement on Budget Preparation for More Affordable Illinois Following Budget Address

Ryan Statement on Budget Preparation for More Affordable Illinois Following Budget Address CHICAGO — Following the budget address delivered by Governor Pritzker on Wednesday, state Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen, is prepared to begin the long process of securing an affordable budget that will lower the cost of living for Illinois families and improve safety in…

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Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Hastings reacts to FY 27 budget proposal

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Hastings reacts to FY 27 budget proposal

Senator Michael Hastings reacts to FY 27 budget proposal SPRINGFIELD — After hearing the governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) released the following statement: “Our state budget faces real challenges, particularly with uncertainty in federal funding that supports Medicaid and essential services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program….

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Business, Government, Illinois Legislature, Michael Hastings, News, Politics, Senator Michael Hastings