Topics below include:
- Senator Darby Hills Featured in Chicago Tribune Following Withdrawal of Hoffman Estates Data Center Proposal
- Senator Darby Hills Honors Veterans at Lake Zurich America 250 Celebration
- More Than $30,000 Recovered at Senator Hills’ ICASH and I-PASS Event
- New Law Establishes AI Safety and Transparency Standards
- District 76 Back to School Drive
- Route 59 GHO Stormwater Drainage Project Begins This Week
- OSLAD Grant Program Now Open for Applications
- Notice of Funding Opportunity for New Partners to Administer the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program
Senator Darby Hills Featured in Chicago Tribune Following Withdrawal of Hoffman Estates Data Center Proposal
I’m honored to be featured in the Chicago Tribune discussing an issue that’s incredibly important to families across the 26th District.
The decision to withdraw the proposed Hoffman Estates data center rezoning request is a testament to what can happen when residents come together and make their voices heard. Communities spoke up, local leaders listened, and the concerns surrounding transparency and public input could not be ignored.
Their advocacy also highlighted a larger issue: neighboring communities often have little to no voice when developments of this size are proposed near their homes.
That’s why I introduced SB 1050, legislation that would strengthen public notice requirements and require written consent from neighboring municipalities before a data center could be built within three miles of their borders. Communities deserve transparency, meaningful input, and a seat at the table before decisions that could impact them for generations are made.
This conversation isn’t over, and neither is my commitment to protecting local communities while ensuring responsible development across Illinois.
Read the full story here.
Senator Darby Hills Honors Veterans at Lake Zurich America 250 Celebration
I was honored to be featured in the Daily Herald highlighting the Lake Zurich American Legion’s America 250 celebration and the meaningful work being done to recognize our veterans and their families.
It was a privilege to honor CW4 Richard Johnson for his decades of service, remember the sacrifice of Major Paul R. Syverson III, and recognize the dedication of those who continue to preserve the stories of our nation’s heroes.
We must always remember and honor the men and women who have served to protect our freedoms.
Click here to read more.
More Than $30,000 Recovered at Senator Hills’ ICASH and I-PASS Event
I was so glad to welcome residents to our recent ICASH and I-PASS event! These events are a great opportunity to connect people with valuable state services all in one place. Whether it was helping residents search for unclaimed property through ICASH or assisting drivers with I-PASS questions and account services, it was wonderful to see so many people take advantage of these resources. One woman who attended was able to recover more than $30,000, plus interest, that belonged to her mother. Stories like this are exactly why I enjoy hosting these events. You never know what you might find, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help residents reclaim money that may have been sitting unclaimed for years while also making everyday services like I-PASS more accessible.
New Law Establishes AI Safety and Transparency Standards
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work at an incredible pace. While this technology offers exciting opportunities, it also brings new challenges and risks that we cannot ignore.
That is why I was proud to co-sponsor Senate Bill 315, legislation that establishes important safety, transparency, and accountability standards for some of the nation’s largest artificial intelligence developers.
As AI continues to evolve, Illinois must be proactive. This law requires major frontier AI developers to create and publicly share safety frameworks, regularly assess catastrophic risks, and promptly report serious safety incidents to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) and the Attorney General. Incidents posing an immediate threat to public safety must be reported within 24 hours.
Beginning January 1, 2028, qualifying developers will also be required to complete independent annual audits to ensure they are following these safety standards and operating responsibly. Companies that fail to comply may face significant civil penalties.
My goal is to embrace innovation while protecting Illinois families. We should welcome technological advancements, but we also have a responsibility to put reasonable safeguards in place so these powerful tools are developed and used responsibly.
This legislation was signed into law on July 6 and will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Back to School Drive
Our office is proud to partner with OMNI as a drop-off location for a school supply drive benefiting students in Diamond Lake School District 76.
Now through August 7, community members are encouraged to donate back-to-school essentials to help EC-8th grade students start the school year prepared and confident.
Drop-off locations include:
West Oak Campus, 26156 N Acorn Ln, Mundelein
Mundelein Police Department, N Lake St Mundelein, IL 60060
Senator Darby Hills’ office, 795 Ela Road, Suite 208, Lake Zurich
Can’t drop off in person?
You can also shop our Amazon Wish List and have items shipped directly to Senator Hills’ office: Amazon Wish List
For questions, please contact Samira Calderon at 224-548-6845 or scalderon@dist76.org.
We are grateful to partner with OMNI to support students and families in Diamond Lake School District 76 and help ensure every child has the supplies they need for a successful school year.
Route 59 GHO Stormwater Drainage Project Begins This Week
Construction on the Grassmere, Haverton, and Oaksbury (GHO) Stormwater Drainage Project is set to begin the week of July 13, weather permitting. The Village of North Barrington has received all required permits, allowing work to move forward on this long-awaited project.
The improvements will replace a failed stormwater pipe beneath Route 59 and install new drainage infrastructure to help address more than 20 years of chronic flooding that has caused repeated road closures and impacted dozens of nearby properties. Temporary closures of Route 59 will be announced in advance as construction progresses.
OSLAD Grant Program Now Open for Applications
Applications are now being accepted for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program through August 31, 2026.
OSLAD is a state-funded grant program that provides financial assistance to local governments for the acquisition and/or development of land for public parks, open space, nature areas, and outdoor recreation projects.
A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. The program can help cover a portion of eligible project costs, with additional assistance available for qualifying economically distressed communities. Communities whose parks need to be rebuilt because of storm damage are also encouraged to apply.
Except for larger jurisdictions, OSLAD grant awards are currently limited to $1,125,000 for approved land acquisition projects and $600,000 for approved development or construction projects.
In Illinois, eligible applicants include units of local government that are authorized by law to spend public funds for the acquisition and development of land for public park, recreation, or conservation purposes. School districts are not eligible.
Applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois Grantee Portal before applying. Applications must be submitted through the Amplifund Grant Management System by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 31.
To learn more about grant eligibility and how to apply, click here.
Notice of Funding Opportunity for New Partners to Administer the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program
As more Illinoisans take advantage of motorcycle safety training, I’m pleased to see new opportunities that will make these important courses more accessible across our state.
Thanks to changes in state law that took effect earlier this year, the Cycle Rider Safety Training Program can now be offered by a much broader range of organizations. In addition to community colleges and state universities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and businesses are now eligible to provide these free training courses, pending approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The law also removes the old regional boundaries that previously limited where classes could be offered and allows for a wider variety of approved training curriculum. These updates provide greater flexibility to meet the needs of riders and make it easier for communities to expand access to high-quality motorcycle safety education.
To help put these changes into action, IDOT is currently accepting applications from eligible organizations interested in becoming training providers. A total of $6 million in funding is available, with applications due by August 24.Read more here.
Mark Your Calendars! Upcoming Events This Summer
There’s something happening all summer long across the 26th District! I am hosting these events to connect residents with valuable resources, services, educational seminars, family activities, and opportunities to get involved.
📚 Summer Reading Program
April 29 – August 3, 2026
Online Event
💊 Medicare 101
July 14 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Ela Area Public Library, Lake Zurich
♻️ Recycling & Shredding Event
July 18 | 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
St. Francis Church Parking Lot, Lake Zurich
August Events
👨👩👧👦 Kids Fair
August 1 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Foglia YMCA, Lake Zurich
🩸 Blood Drive
August 11 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Palatine Village Hall, Palatine
Stay tuned for more events to be added! Visit www.senatordarbyhills.com/events to follow along and learn more details.
As always, my office is here to help if you have any questions or need assistance with anything. You can contact us here or call (224)662-4544.
Yours truly,
Senator Darby Hills