Dear friend,
From backroom politics in Springfield to costly mismanagement of federal programs, Illinois families are paying the price for a lack of transparency and accountability. In this update, I’m sharing how I’m standing up for fairness in our courts, demanding better oversight of state agencies, and pushing back against legislation that would hurt job creators and working families. I’m also excited to highlight two local initiatives — our Summer Reading Challenge and Back to School Drive — that invest in students and support those in need. And finally, I’m honored to be selected as part of the 2025 Edgar Fellows Program, where I’ll work alongside fellow leaders from across Illinois to develop thoughtful, bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our state.
Honored to Be Named an Edgar Fellow
I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as part of the 2025 Class of the Edgar Fellows Program. This opportunity brings together 41 public policy leaders from across Illinois to take part in a weeklong executive leadership training at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this August.
The Edgar Fellows Program, founded by former Governor Jim Edgar, focuses on respectful collaboration and finding common ground to address the biggest challenges facing our state. I’m grateful to be included in this group of diverse and dedicated leaders, and I look forward to learning, listening, and building strong working relationships that will help me better serve the people of our district.
You can view more information and a list of the 2025 Edgar Fellows here.
Stand for Fairness — Stop Senate Bill 328
What if someone from another state could sue an Illinois business — even if the case had nothing to do with Illinois?
That’s exactly what Senate Bill 328 would allow.
The bill would let out-of-state plaintiffs sue out-of-state businesses in Illinois courts, simply because the business is registered here — even if the dispute has no real connection to our state. That’s a big problem for our court system, our employers, and our economy.
To make matters worse, lawmakers used a last-minute legislative trick known as “gut and replace” to rush this language through. That meant little time for public input or debate — and raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
SB 328 would flood our court system with out-of-state lawsuits, delay justice for Illinois families, and drive up legal costs for local businesses. And when businesses face the threat of more lawsuits, they hesitate to grow, invest, or hire — which means fewer opportunities and more economic strain on working families.
This isn’t about technicalities. It’s about real impacts on real people.
My colleagues and I have filed a lawsuit challenging how this bill was passed. That case is moving forward in Sangamon County, with arguments expected in August.
Governor Pritzker has until August 29 to veto this bill. If he doesn’t act, it becomes law. I’m urging him to do the right thing — stand up for transparency, fairness, and Illinois families — and veto SB 328.
Our courts should serve the people of Illinois — not be hijacked by cases from across the country.
Sign my petition here to tell Governor Pritzker to veto SB 328 and stand up for fairness, transparency, and Illinois families.
Children’s Summer Reading Program – Ready, Set, Read!
I invite all students entering 1st through 12th grade to participate in the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge! There is only a few weeks left to participate! Read 8 books by August 8th and earn an official certificate from the Illinois Senate — plus, you’ll be invited to a fun ice cream social celebration!
To get started, visit www.senatordarbyhills.com/events/
Back to School Drive!
It’s time to gear up for back to school! I’m teaming up with Barrington Children’s Charities to collect backpacks and school supplies for students in need right here in the 26th District. If you’re out shopping, grab a few extras and help us make sure every student starts the year ready to learn! Drop-offs are open now through August 8.
For more information, visit www.senatordarbyhills.com/events/
Illinois Faces Costly SNAP Penalties
My colleagues and I are calling for increased transparency after recent reports have emerged showing Illinois could owe the federal government over $700 million annually due to high error rates in its administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to help supplement their grocery budgets. However, Illinois has recently been found to have one of the highest error rates in the country, currently ranking worse than 38 other states in payment accuracy.
Federal law now requires states with error rates above 10 percent to repay 15 percent of total SNAP benefits. Illinois’ rate hit 11.56 percent in fiscal year 2024, one of the highest in the nation, according to USDA data.
I am calling for increased transparency and urging the Administration to take immediate action to fix the errors and stop the fraud and abuse in the SNAP program.