Glowiak Hilton protects consumers from automatic renewal fees

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton would require clear notice to be given to consumers before they enter contracts that automatically renew.

“From streaming services to cell phone contracts, contracts are regularly renewed without clear consent from consumers,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “We must ensure consumers are aware of automatic renewal commitments before accepting the terms.”

Glowiak Hilton’s measure would require businesses to give notice to consumers before a contract renews. It would also allow consumers to terminate automatic renewal contracts more easily by phone or online – something that is often not offered by companies. Businesses that offer free trials or reduced one-time offers must also provide notice before the promotional period ends.

“Businesses take advantage of the loopholes automatic subscriptions present,” said Glowiak Hilton. “Addressing these loopholes gives people assurance that they are receiving transparency when making a purchase.”

Senate Bill 328 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and awaits further consideration.

Glowiak Hilton secures over $2.2 million for local park districts

DUPAGE COUNTY – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton secured over $2.2 million for renovations and improvements for five park districts throughout DuPage County.

“Supporting our park districts is a meaningful investment in our communities,” said Glowiak Hilton (D – Western Springs) “When our parks improve, so does the well-being of our residents. I am excited to see children and families enjoy these renovations in the near future.”

Nearly $60 million in grants were awarded to 118 park districts across the state through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants, administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This is the largest amount of funding since the program began 36 years ago.

Five park districts in the community have received a combined $2,240,300 in funding, including:

• Elmhurst Park District – $340,300
• Carol Stream Park District – $400,000
• Bloomingdale Park District – $300,000
• Lombard Park District – $600,000
• Addison Park District – $600,000

This funding will allow these park districts to make much needed renovations, create and restore recreational facilities, and expand sidewalks throughout parks.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more information on the OSLAD grants.  

Measure led by Glowiak Hilton would combat “spoof” calls that deliberately falsify caller IDs

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure led by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton would prohibit “spoof” calling – a misleading tactic call scammers use to disguise their caller ID.

“Many Illinoisans receive scam calls every day,” said Glowiak Hilton (D – Western Springs). “This measure prohibits spoof calling to ensure our residents can trust who is on the other end of the phone.”

Senate Bill 160 prohibits spoof calls – and would no longer allow people to use a fake caller ID. The measure would also require automated telemarketers to state the organization they represent, the purpose of the call and require them to confirm that the individual wants to continue with the call. If the caller refuses the organization’s solicitation, the business must ensure they will not call the individual again and must take the steps necessary to remove the individual from their records.

“Far too often, people receive multiple calls from the same group even after they have stated they do not wish to be contacted again,” said Glowiak Hilton. “Consumers deserve to be protected and feel a sense of transparency from companies.”

The measure passed the Energy and Public Utilities committee on Thursday and now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

Glowiak Hilton calls for fiscal responsibility following governor’s budget address

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) released the following statement after hearing the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget:

“Illinois residents deserve a fiscally responsible budget. We must deliver funding that supports our schools, workforce development, small businesses and our local governments. I hope to see the governor continue to be fiscally responsible with our pension obligations. Ensuring that the state is being responsible with hard earned tax dollars needs to be our top priority.”

“I was pleased to see that this budget proposes making additional payments above and beyond what is required for our pension ramp. In order to get out of the pension mess that the state has incurred, we need to continue to make fiscally responsible decisions that further the health of our state’s finances.

“The expansion of our labor force in Illinois requires well-funded educational programs. The new training programs that this proposal offers funding for will go a long way for the next generation. These new forms of training will strengthen our workforce by giving workers the educational tools that they need, and create new jobs in Illinois.”

“In the months to come, I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we pass a balanced and responsible bipartisan budget.”