SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles is now law.

“This measure helps us evolve by better utilizing the latest technology to track criminal actions,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We already know that there is technology readily available to track carjackers and kidnappers as they travel from Point A to Point B. It is essential that we empower law enforcement with these tools to successfully apprehend these criminals.”

Nationwide, carjackings are on the rise, but without formal coordination between authorities and vehicle manufacturers, law enforcement officers had little to no ability to access real-time tracking information.

SPRINGFIELD – Residents across the Southland will have a new law in place to protect them from annoying auto-renewal fees, thanks to the support of State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“We have all fallen victim to unclear auto-renewal fees,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This new law will now require companies to explicitly disclose their automatic contract renewal terms to increase transparency and ensure consumers know the terms of the services.”

Hastings served as a cosponsor on Senate Bill 328 which requires clear and conspicuous disclosures of a contract's automatic renewal terms. This includes items like whether the contract will continue until it is canceled, the deadline by which the consumer must cancel to avoid the automatic renewal fees, the amount of the recurring charges, along with other contract provisions.

The new law also requires companies to provide residents with a retainable acknowledgment of the contract's automatic renewal terms, cancellation policy, and information regarding how to cancel.

“This is a good step in the right direction to put a stop to confusing gimmicks and pesky fees,” Hastings said. “We need to continue toward ending this deceitful practice.”

Senate Bill 328 was signed into law on Friday, June 9 and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings fought for a significant milestone in the expansion of the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program.

“This monumental legislation makes greater investments in our children,” said Hastings (D- Frankfort). “The cost of financing higher education can be overwhelming. The expansion of this grant program will help increase accessibility for middle class families at our state’s universities and colleges.”

House Bill 301 will make the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program permanent, increase transparency in the program to allow more students to take advantage of it, increase access for part-time students and make changes to the matching requirements for the public universities.

Since the 2019-2020 academic year the AIM HIGH program has provided merit-based, means-tested student financial aid to first-time, full-time undergraduate students and transfer students who are Illinois residents attending any of the 12 Illinois public four-year universities. AIM HIGH-participating universities are required to provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet certain eligibility requirements, as well as those established by each individual university.

The initiative adopts changes to help ensure that the AIM HIGH Grant Program targets those most in need, further amplifying its impact.

“Our children are the future leaders of our great state,” said Hastings. “It’s our goal to provide students with the opportunity to be successful – this legislation is a step in the right direction to do just that.”

House Bill 301 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings spearheaded a measure through the Senate that would allow the Tinley Park – Park District to renovate a degraded building into a sports park and recreational space for residents in the community to utilize.

“Tinley Park is a great place to raise a family, yet all this empty space has been ignored for over a decade,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This has been an eyesore for the community, and something needs to be done about it.”

SPRINGFIELD – Working across the aisle and in tandem with law enforcement, State Senator Michael E. Hastings championed a measure to help police and sheriffs quickly track stolen vehicles.

“We have technology at our fingertips to allow us to track carjackers as they travel from Point A to Point B – there’s no reason we shouldn’t be utilizing it,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Law enforcement officers are ready to help. It’s vital we give them the tools to do so.”

Carjackings are on the rise. Yet under current law, law enforcement officers have little to no ability to access real time tracking information.

The all-too-common occurrence led Hastings to pass House Bill 2245, which requires Illinois car manufacturers to establish a 24/7 hotline for police and consumers to utilize in case of a carjacking or kidnapping. This would give police real-time assistance with locating vehicles – allowing them to find the perpetrator and arrest them before they get away.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois may soon have a law on the books to help law enforcement quickly track stolen vehicles, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings. 

Hastings (D-Frankfort) advanced House Bill 2245, which requires Cook County to establish a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of a stolen vehicle.

“We must embrace technology to give law enforcement the tools to track carjackers and tackle this epidemic,” Hastings said. “The quicker we are able to locate where a carjacker is, the safer our communities will be.”

Law enforcement officers said they are at a disadvantage when it comes to putting a stop to the crime because they can’t access real-time tracking information after the incident.

This measure would also allow law enforcement to contact auto manufacturers around the clock to ping where the car is located – allowing police to find the perpetrator and arrest them before they get away.

FRANKFORT – State Senator Michael E. Hastings encourages women to schedule their annual breast cancer screening exam during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Those who may not have scheduled a mammogram due to COVID-19 are especially encouraged to make an appointment.

“Early detection is key,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort).  “Making an appointment for your yearly exam is critical to your health and well-being.”

Breast cancer affects over 250,000 women and 2,400 men in the United States every year, and the National Cancer Institute reports an estimated 9.4 million screening tests that normally would have taken place in 2020 did not happen due to the pandemic. 

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a helpful reminder for women to schedule their yearly exams, and this simple test saves lives,” said Hastings. “If you still need to make an appointment for your annual breast cancer appointment, please prioritize calling your doctor to set up an appointment.”

IDPH reminds the public that the department’s Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) offers free breast exams and mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women. The program also supports diagnostic services and assists with referrals for treatment options.

To enroll in IBCCP, women can call the Women’s Health Line 888-522-1282 (800-547-0466 TTY). The Women’s Health Line will be able to walk women through the eligibility requirements and the screening process.

Hastings’ office is available to answer questions. To contact, please call (815) 464-5431 or visit www.SenatorHastings.com.

FRANKFORT – As World Mental Health Day approaches on Oct. 10, State Senator Michael E. Hastings is urging Illinoisans to work together to end the stigma around mental health.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) has spent his career advocating for mental health funding and support for residents throughout the 19^th Senate District. Not only this day but year round, he reiterates the importance of checking in on residents’ mental wellbeing.

“Our mental health is key in ensuring you lead a happy and healthy life,” said Hastings. “We need to work together to end this stigma and take care of ourselves.”

Hastings urges residents who are struggling or know someone else who is in need of assistance to call the Illinois Warm Line at 866-359-7953 to connect with a peer support specialist.

This year he passed House Bill 1321, a new law to provide mental health resources to the state’s first responders. This initiative was signed into law in May.

“Our first responders have difficult jobs and often find themselves in high stress situations,” said Hastings. “This new law will help provide our municipalities and law enforcement agencies provide our officers with the tools to check in on their mental health.”

Hastings championed this measure to ensure that first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and public safety telecommunicators across Illinois have full access to supportive and responsive behavioral health services and treatment.

He also supported Senate Bill 3617 which focuses on expanding the current workforce by accelerating the process for out-of-state clinicians applying for licensure in Illinois. In Illinois, there are only 14 behavioral health care professionals for every 10,000 Illinois residents.

“I pledge to continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help alleviate this workforce shortage,” said Hastings. “We need to continue to work together to combat this crisis and connect with lifesaving resources.”

For more information on resources available in Illinois, residents can also visit www.dhs.state.il.us.