Welcome to Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings' Legislative Website

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 …

Hastings law cracks down on private influence of law firms

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings led the way on a new law to 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 bill is about one simple truth: Illinois clients deserve attorneys who are loyal to them, not to some distant investor chasing a quarterly return,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort).

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.

Read more …