In 2012, Hastings was elected to the Illinois State Senate as one of the youngest Senators in state history. He has worked tirelessly to pass countless pieces of legislation that have improved the social and financial status of the State of Illinois. He currently serves as the Chair of the Veterans Affairs committee in addition to sitting on the Licensed Activities and Judiciary committees.

During his tenure he has earned various accolades, including various “Legislator of the Year” awards from the Mental Health Association of Illinois, Illinois Association of Park Districts, Southwest Community Services, Illinois Police Chiefs Association, Illinois Crime Commission and Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois. He was named a “Friend of Agriculture” by the Illinois Farm Bureau, “Environmental Champion” by the Illinois Environmental Council, “Alumni of the Year” by the University of Illinois School of Business, and selected as a Governor Jim Edgar Fellow by the University of Illinois. In addition to these notable recognitions, Hastings was published in the Council of State Governments magazine for his legislative efforts to combat cyber bullying.

In addition to serving in the Illinois Senate, Hastings practices law in the southwest suburbs and watches countless episodes of Puppy Dog Pals and Paw Patrol with his son Mikey and daughter Maddie. Hastings’ formal education also includes a Master of Business Administration degree with honors from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School.