I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I have two big upcoming events this week. Come stop by! On Wednesday, I am hosting an educational event designed to help parents and caregivers better understand online safety, social media, and the hidden threats children may face, and on Thursday I am hosting a Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event in partnership to safely dispose of unused medications.
💻 Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World
Wednesday, August 26 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Barrington Park District
235 Lions Drive, Barrington
💊 Palatine Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event
Saturday, August 29 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Palatine Police Department
595 N. Hicks Rd., Palatine
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.
Topics below include:
- WGN News: Highlighting E-Motor Safety and Legislation
- Information Session for Property Tax Assessments and Appeals
- Groundbreaking ceremony for the Grassmere, Haverton, and Oaksbury (GHO) Stormwater Drainage Project
- Mark Your Calendars! Upcoming Events Near You
WGN News: Highlighting E-Motor Safety and Legislation
We cannot ignore the growing safety concerns surrounding e-motor vehicles, especially when it comes to our children.
Too many kids are being injured, and tragically, some have lost their lives. As a mother, these stories are heartbreaking. We have to keep talking about these dangers and make sure parents and young riders understand the risks.
The bill I co-sponsored, SB3484, to strengthen safety standards for e-motor vehicles is on Governor Pritzker’s desk. He had until August 30th to sign it into law. If he takes no action, it will automatically become law, with the new requirements taking effect January 1st.
In the meantime, we cannot wait to talk about safety. We need to keep raising awareness and doing everything we can to prevent another tragedy. WGN TV
CBS News: Alpha-gal syndrome and Darby’s TICK Act
CBS News recently highlighted the growing threat of Alpha-gal syndrome, a serious allergic reaction that can develop after a tick bite and leave people unable to safely consume red meat and other products.
This is exactly why I passed the TICK Act in Illinois.
The law requires Alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to be reported and tracked statewide and by county, with the information made available to the public. It also helps ensure Illinois has the data we need to better understand these diseases and protect families.
Tick-borne illnesses are a growing public health concern. Awareness, better tracking, and early recognition matter.
Watch CBS News’ report to learn more about Alpha-gal syndrome and how to protect yourself from tick bites. You can also learn more about my TICK Act here.
Information Session for Property Tax Assessments and Appeals
Want to learn more about your 2026 property tax assessment and how to file an appeal? Barrington Township and the Cook County Assessor’s Office are hosting an information session to help residents better understand the assessment and appeals process.
Thursday, August 27, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library
As homeowners continue to face rising property taxes, I’m working on legislation to provide meaningful relief, including:
- SB 3540 & SB 3844: Strengthening taxpayer protections and limiting property tax growth
- SB 2745 & SB 4029: Expanding relief for seniors and residents with disabilities
- SB 3781 & SB 3849: Increasing homeowner tax relief
- SB 3782: Protecting homeowners from property tax foreclosures
- SB 3848: Providing relief from rising homeowners insurance costs
- SB 3959: Supporting first-time homebuyers with a $500 tax credit
I’ll continue working to make property taxes more affordable and provide greater protections for Illinois homeowners.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Grassmere, Haverton, and Oaksbury (GHO) Stormwater Drainage Project
Last week, my office attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Grassmere, Haverton, and Oaksbury (GHO) Stormwater Drainage Project. This project represents years of hard work and intergovernmental cooperation to address the chronic flooding problems that have occurred on IL Route 59 between IL Route 22 and Cuba Road in North Barrington.
Project improvements include the replacement of a failed stormwater pipe under IL Route 59 and the installation of downstream stormwater conveyance systems. This includes construction of open channels and limited amount of piping. When complete, this project will significantly reduce the more than 20-year flooding problem on this stretch of road, mitigate the flooding on a local street, and provide flooding relief to private property owners.
IL Route 59 between IL Route 22 and Cuba Road will be closed through Tuesday, September 15th to replace the large box culvert under the highway. A map of the detour route can be viewed here.
I am pleased to see this project come to fruition and want to commend the Village of North Barrington and all the community partners involved for addressing this problem and improving road conditions for our community.
Mark Your Calendars! Upcoming Events Near You
There’s something happening all year 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.
August Events
💻 Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World
Wednesday, August 26 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Barrington Park District
235 Lions Drive, Barrington
💊 Palatine Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event
Saturday, August 29 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Palatine Police Department
595 N. Hicks Rd., Palatine
September Events
💊 Mundelein Medicare 101
Tuesday, September 8 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Mundelein Police Department
221 N. Lake St., Mundelein, IL 60060
🎓 Virtual Financial Aid Webinar
Wednesday, September 9 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Virtual Event
💡 Utility Bill Clinic
Thursday, September 10 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Palatine Senior Center
505 S. Quentin Road, Palatine, IL 60067
💼 Job Fair
Monday, September 21 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Mundelein Park & Recreation District
1401 N. Midlothian Rd., Mundelein
🛡️ Hawthorn Woods Senior Fraud Prevention Seminar
Wednesday, September 23 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
The Barn at Village Hall
2 Lagoon Drive, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047
🚗 Free Car Seat Safety Inspection
Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Algonquin Police Department
2200 Harnish Dr., Algonquin, IL 60102
🚙 Palatine Township Mobile DMV Event
Wednesday, September 30 | 10:00 AM
721 S. Quentin Rd., Suite 101, Palatine, IL 60067
👵 Wauconda Senior Health Fair
Wednesday, September 30 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wauconda Township
505 West Bonner Road, Wauconda, IL 60084
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