Welcome to Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings' Legislative Website

Hastings: Local leadership and state action come together to support storm recovery

FRANKFORT — State Senator Michael E. Hastings today commended Governor JB Pritzker for issuing a state disaster proclamation for communities devastated by the July 27 storms.

“This is what local leadership and state action look like when they work together,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “After the July 27 storms, our counties stepped up immediately. I toured the damage, met with local officials and residents, and asked the governor to stand with the south suburbs. Today’s disaster proclamation is the result of that work.”

The proclamation follows Hastings’ request that the governor declare the hardest-hit areas a disaster zone, as well as local disaster proclamations issued by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.

Read more …

Alyssa's Law passes in Illinois, requiring mobile panic alert systems in schools

New Illinois law cracks down on unfair insurance rate increases

Hastings on Illinois advancing Alyssa’s Law: ‘School Safety Isn’t abstract — it’s personal’

RICHTON PARK — Today, State Senator Michael E. Hastings joined Mayor Rick Reinbold and other local officials, educators and advocates at Richton Square School to highlight the recent signing of Alyssa’s Law, legislation Hastings co-authored to strengthen school emergency response across Illinois.

“As a dad, school safety isn’t abstract to me, it’s personal,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Every morning I drop my children off at school and every afternoon I pick them up. Like every parent, I’m placing a quiet kind of trust in the people who care for them during the day. That trust is sacred.”

House Bill 5107, known as Alyssa’s Law, was signed into law last week. The measure requires every public school district and private school in Illinois to consider the use of a mobile panic alert system, known as Alyssa’s Alert, when developing their emergency and crisis response plans by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year. The systems allow school staff to instantly notify first responders, improve response times and coordination, and integrate with existing 911 infrastructure.

Read more …