Welcome to Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings Legislative Website

Hastings supports measure to ban ‘junk’ fees

SPRINGFIELD — To support families amid a national affordability crisis, State Senator Michael E. Hastings supported a measure that would ban ‘junk’ fees that trick consumers.

“When you decide to purchase a product, you have made that decision with the displayed price in mind,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Now companies are dinging you at the last moment before checkout with made up fees that increase your checkout price by 20 or 30 percent. No honest business operates like this.”

House Bill 228 would make it unlawful for any business to advertise, display or offer a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or surcharges before taxes.

According to a Consumer Reports analysis, junk fees cost an average family of four close to $3,200 each year.

“This isn’t some back-alley black market,” said Hastings. “If you need to trick your customers to make a profit then it is time to find another line of work.”

House Bill 228 passed both chambers and heads to the governor’s desk for consideration.

Hastings: Freedom is never free

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings supported a resolution to honor the United States Marine Corps through renaming a portion of Interstate Route 80. Hastings, who served as a U.S. Army officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom, rose in support of the resolution alongside other veteran legislators.

“It is important to acknowledge that freedom is never free,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “We owe a lasting debt of gratitude to the brave U.S. Marines who serve our nation with courage and honor. This highway, named after the motto of the Marine Corps, represents an eternal and collective commitment to the success of our battles and the progress of our nation.”

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Hastings looks to close private equity loophole influencing law firms

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings passed 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.

“Private equity companies are starting to get creative with how they influence law firms,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “It is time for Illinois to act decisively and shut down this loophole that is being abused.”

While Illinois currently has laws limiting outside influence on law firms, private equity companies have found a new loophole using ‘management service organizations.’ Through MSOs, private equity can control key aspects of a law firm like billing, technology, marketing and administrative staff, enabling the control of firm strategy without technically owning the practice.

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Hastings bill shields domestic abuse survivors from ‘coerced debt’

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate on Thursday unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael E. Hastings that would give survivors of domestic violence a powerful legal defense against ‘coerced debt.’

“Survivors should not have to escape their abuser only to be trapped by debt they never chose,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This bill gives victims a real tool to break free from financial control and rebuild their lives.”

The bill, which Hastings is leading on a bipartisan basis with State Representative Nicole La Ha, would define coerced debt as any consumer loan debt, excluding mortgages, incurred through fraud, duress, intimidation, threat, force, coercion, undue influence or the non-consensual use of a person’s identity by a family or household member as a result of domestic abuse, exploitation or human trafficking.

It would establish coerced debt as an affirmative defense in any lawsuit or arbitration seeking to collect such a debt. Survivors could argue that all or part of the debt was forced upon them, potentially relieving them of responsibility.

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