Welcome to Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings Legislative Website

Hastings landmark insurance reform passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD — Capping off years of advocacy and negotiations, State Senator Michael E. Hastings carried legislation that would protect Illinois homeowners from unfair rate hikes similar to those endured in the last few years.

“On behalf of my neighbors back home, I have made it my mission to get them the answers they deserve on their insurance bill,” said Hastings. “There is no world where insurance companies should get away with 20% or more rate hikes without having to explain where those numbers are coming from.”

House Bill 4273 would prohibit a company selling homeowners insurance from increasing premiums by more than 10% without first notifying the consumer 60 days prior. This would give consumers the necessary time to shop around and find a better rate. Most importantly, the bill would prohibit homeowners insurance premiums from being excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. The measure would be overseen by the Illinois Department of Insurance, with set rules for hearings on newly fled rates.

The legislation would also ban cost shifting, a practice where losses or high-claim payouts in other states are shifted unfairly onto Illinois homeowners.

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Hastings school safety measure “Alyssa’s Law” passes in committee

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is advancing legislation aimed at improving emergency response in Illinois schools using mobile panic alert systems. The bill seeks to provide schools with modern tools to quickly alert first responders in the event of a crisis.

“As a dad, school safety isn’t abstract to me, it’s personal,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Schools should have reliable, straightforward tools that help protect our kids and give staff a direct line to law enforcement and emergency services.”

House Bill 5107 would require school districts and private schools to consider the use of a mobile panic alert system in the development of their school emergency and crisis response plans by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year.

Mobile panic alert systems, sometimes known as Alyssa’s Alert, allow school staff to instantly communicate emergencies to first responders, enabling faster response times and better coordination across agencies. The legislation would also emphasize compatibility with 911 infrastructure to ensure alerts reach the proper emergency channels without delay.

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

SPRINGFIELD — 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 are made by attorneys, not by outside investors focused on profits,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Clients deserve counsel whose loyalty is to them, not to remote financial interests.”

The bill would prohibit private equity groups, hedge funds and related entities from interfering with lawyers’ professional judgment, controlling client records or setting staffing standards based on competency or proficiency. It would also ban investor‑linked fees tied to law firm revenues or profits — a move supporters say reinforces ethical legal practice and strengthens client protections.

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Hastings calls for fair distribution of water infrastructure investment

SPRINGFIELD — 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 questioned ICC representatives about the scope and location of the proposed improvements.

“After analyzing what has been filed before the Illinois Commerce Commission, it strikes me that the majority of the investment is taking place in the southern part of Illinois, primarily in St. Clair County and around the Belleville area,” said Hastings (D-Franfkort). “There is nothing wrong with that, because their infrastructure is outdated, but when you compare that to what is being invested in the southwest suburbs, specifically Homer Glen, Orland Hills and Bolingbrook, it is disproportionate.”

The ICC confirmed the proposal and noted the investment is intended to address aging systems, replace lead service lines and remove per- and polyfluoroalkly substances, or PFAs, and other contaminants from drinking water. Hastings acknowledged the importance of those upgrades but raised concerns after reviewing the company’s filing of approximately $200 million. Hastings emphasized that the proposed rate increase would be shared by customers statewide.

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