Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced legislation out of the Senate to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to issue state licenses in four weeks.

“Health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and a variety of others are ready to enter their respective industries but are waiting months for their professional licenses to be issued by the state,” Glowiak Hilton said. “With this initiative, I hope to expedite the time it takes IDFPR to process applications and allow residents to get to work more quickly.”

As chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Glowiak Hilton prioritizes legislation to benefit workers and support economic development throughout the state. Under the legislation, IDFPR will be required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase microchip production and attract companies to invest in Illinois, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced legislation to create a series of tax credits to support the semiconductor industry.

“The United States depends on microchip imports to fulfill local needs,” said Glowiak Hilton, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “With semiconductor supply chain and worker shortages intensified by the pandemic, we can use this opportunity to build the industry in Illinois and create job opportunities for residents.”

SPRINGFIELD – Following the governor’s budget address Wednesday, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) issued the following statement:

“Appropriating higher funding for public education, local governments and public safety initiatives offers relief for many of the burdens exacerbated by the pandemic. Fiscal responsibility is key, and I look forward to negotiations.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To improve convenience and accessibility for working people, state licenses from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would be issued in four weeks under an initiative by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs).

“Health care workers, accountants and cosmetologists are ready to enter their respective industries but are unable to get started without a professional license from the state,” Glowiak Hilton said. “With this initiative, I hope to expedite the time it takes IDFPR to process applications and allow residents to enter the work force sooner.”

As chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Glowiak Hilton prioritizes legislation to benefit workers and support economic development throughout the state. Under the legislation, IDFPR will be required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – Seven additional small businesses in the 24th Senate District were awarded $350,000 in combined funding from the Back to Business grant program to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the support of State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs).

“By offering support to some of our state’s hardest hit industries - including dining, hospitality, salons, fitness and the arts - we are lending a hand to a diverse, inclusive group of small business owners,” Glowiak Hilton said. “These grants will allow many DuPage County businesses retain employees, cover operating expenses and serve patrons effectively as our economy recovers from financial strains.”

The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget. So far – thanks to strong support from Sen. Glowiak Hilton – DCEO has provided $111 million in B2B grants to nearly 3,000 small businesses throughout the state with an emphasis on disproportionately impacted areas.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To give consumers options in contracts set to automatically renew, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) introduced a measure to require companies to give a clear notification of the agreement’s terms before the consumer accepts.

“Automatic renewal contracts have become increasingly popular in recent years due to streaming services, retail, cell phone companies and more,” said Glowiak Hilton, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. “To ensure consumers are aware of the automatic renewal commitment, this initiative requires companies to reiterate the contract before consumers accept its terms.”

OAKBROOK TERRACE – With snow flurries starting to appear in the forecast, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is reminding commuters and residents with travel plans of the winter road conditions map on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Getting Around Illinois website.

“Winter weather can impact road conditions quickly, and getting reliable information to travelers is essential to prevent vehicles from sliding and crashing on the roadways,” Glowiak Hilton said. “I encourage residents and commuters to check the Getting Around Illinois website when snow and freezing temperatures are predicted in the forecast.”

Previously, the map displayed conditions by county. New this year, the map shows how weather events are impacting roads, including the ability to identify and zoom in to a location, travel route or destination with current information recorded by plow drivers.

Individuals can interact with the map to understand how weather events are affecting roads across the state. The winter road conditions map is available on IDOT’s website.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – First-year students applying to any of Illinois’ public universities will now only need to submit one form on Common App, and State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) applauded the step to increase accessibility to higher education opportunities.

“Applying to college can be tedious and expensive,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By using Common App, Illinois is simplifying the process and working to ensure individuals have access to higher education opportunities.”

This fall, all 12 public universities in Illinois will be available on the Common App platform, thanks to a $1 million state investment.

For families concerned about the cost of submitting college applications, waivers are available for low-income students. In addition, some colleges and universities either have no application fees or will waive fees if needed.

“Many applicants and their families are hesitant to start the college journey because of the associated costs,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Luckily, there are several aid options available to help reduce the financial burdens associated with applying for college.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Common App website for informational resources, including a first-year application guide, videos and a complete list of institutions that use the application.