June 1, 2026

Hills’ Highlights: AI Safety, Budget and Data Centers

Early this morning at nearly 5 a.m., the Illinois Senate concluded its spring legislative session by passing the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 state budget after another long and hectic final stretch in Springfield.

Topics below include:

Balancing Innovation and Public Safety in AI
Making Ticket Sales Fair for Illinois Families
Senator Hills Issues Statement on $56 Billion Budget Passage
Fighting Against Data Centers in Our Communities
Legislation to Require Diaper Ingredients Transparency
Blood Drive Tuesday, June 2^nd
Swap Your IPASS and Search for Unclaimed Property – June 3^rd

Balancing Innovation and Public Safety in AI

As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly evolve, I believe it is important that public safety, transparency, and accountability keep pace with innovation. That is why I was proud to serve as a chief co-sponsor of Senate Bill 315 to strengthen artificial intelligence safety measures in Illinois.

This bill takes a balanced approach by supporting innovation while also ensuring there are meaningful safeguards, independent oversight, and clear standards for responsibility. AI is already shaping how decisions are made and how systems operate across our state, and Illinois must be proactive in making sure these technologies are developed responsibly and with the public’s trust in mind.

This legislation also protects employees who raise concerns about safety risks and helps ensure we are addressing potential harms before they occur, not after.

SB 315 passed both the Senate and the House and is on its way to the Governor’s desk.

Making Ticket Sales Fair for Illinois Families

One of my favorite things about live music and events is the way they bring people together. I still remember my first concert, seeing Wham!, and I know many Illinoisans can remember their own first concert or special live event just as clearly.

Across the communities I represent, families regularly attend concerts, festivals, fairs, sporting events, and other local gatherings that help bring neighbors together and create lasting memories. These experiences should be accessible to the people they are meant for.

Unfortunately, today’s ticket-buying process has become increasingly difficult for everyday consumers. Automated bots and unfair purchasing tactics can overwhelm online sales in seconds, making it harder for families and young people to fairly access concerts, sporting events, and other live experiences.

This issue recently became personal for my family when my daughter tried to purchase tickets to a local event she was excited to attend. She followed the process, waited in the queue, and believed she had secured valid tickets, only to later learn they were not legitimate. It was frustrating and disappointing, and it underscored how unfair the current system can be.

That’s why I was proud to be a co-sponsor of SB 318, cracking down on automated ticket-buying practices and deceptive tactics that hurt consumers. Everyone, not just those with the fastest technology or deepest pockets, deserves a fair opportunity to enjoy the cultural, entertainment, and community events that make our district and our state such great places to live.

SB 318 passed both the Senate and the House and is on its way to the Governor’s desk. Watch a video of Senator Hills speaking on this bill here.

Senator Hills Issues Statement on $56 Billion Budget Passage

Every family knows what it means to make a budget work. When costs go up, they do not get to spend more. They sit down, decide what matters most, make tough choices, and live within their means. That is what responsible budgeting looks like, and it is what taxpayers should expect from the government they fund.

Unfortunately, Springfield just did the opposite. This budget is the largest in Illinois history and comes after state spending has grown by roughly 40 percent over the last several years. While families are being asked to do more with less, state government continues to spend more than ever.

Meanwhile, families and seniors are being squeezed from every direction. Illinoisans face some of the highest property taxes in the nation, rising energy bills, and higher costs for nearly everything they buy. Every extra dollar spent on utilities, groceries, or taxes is a dollar that cannot be spent on a family’s priorities.

A responsible budget would have started by addressing these challenges. This one did not.

I voted no because the families I represent deserve better. They deserve a government that lives within its means, respects taxpayers, and makes affordability the priority it should be.

Fighting Against Data Centers in Our Communities

We all have major concerns on data centers which is why I’m fighting for a moratorium of at least of a year to give us the opportunity to create guardrails and protect local communities and our natural resources.

In the meantime, I filed Senate Bill 1050 to

Protect local residential areas with at least a 3 mile required radius
Protect our waterways from contamination
Address noise reduction concerns

Legislation to Require Diaper Ingredients Transparency

As a mom and legislator, I know how important it is for families to feel confident in the products they use every day for their children. That’s why I am proud to co-sponsor House Bill 4702, legislation that would require diaper manufacturers to clearly list ingredients on packaging sold in Illinois.

Parents and caregivers deserve to know exactly what is in the products they are putting on their babies and loved ones, especially for those with allergies, sensitivities, or skin conditions. This commonsense measure will help families make more informed decisions and bring greater transparency to products many households rely on daily.

The legislation was recently passed by the Senate with bipartisan support and now heads to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

Hills’ Highlights: AI Safety, Budget and Data Centers

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