Registration Portal Now Open for April 22 Mobile DMV Event in Wheaton
Demand for DMV driver services transactions remains high in this region. In fact, a mobile DMV event that will be held this week in Wheaton is already full.
Due to the popularity of these events, I am happy to announce that I will be hosting another mobile DMV event in Wheaton on Wednesday, April 22. For the event, I will be hosting the Secretary of State’s Mobile Driver Services team from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Wheaton City Council Chambers, located at 303 West Wesley Street, Wheaton.
Available services at this April 22 event include:
- REAL I.D.
- Driver’s License/State I.D. Cards (renewal, replacement, corrections)
- Free State I.D.s for seniors age 65+
- License Plate Renewal Stickers
- Organ/Tissue Donor Registration
- Motor Vehicle Registration
- Seniors Aged 65+ Free State I.D. Cards
Registration is required for this event and all appointments are expected to be filled. Those wanting to secure an appointment should email my office at constituentservices@senatorlewis.com, or call the office at (630) 349-0645 as soon as possible. Additionally, before coming to the event, attendees are asked to visit the official website for the Illinois Secretary of State to learn about identification requirements for specific services. This is especially important for those seeking a REAL I.D. You must have the proper documents with you if you want to complete a REAL I.D. transaction.
Please note that seniors aged 78+ must visit an established Secretary of State Driver Services facility to renew a driver’s license. Payments for services must be made by check, credit card, debit card, or money order. No cash will be accepted. For additional information or help with pre-registration, please call my office.
Lewis Co-Sponsors Legislative Package to Strengthen Protections for Children and Crack Down on Exploitation
This year I am co-sponsoring a legislative package to strengthen protections for children and crack down on trafficking, grooming, sexual exploitation, and predatory offenders.
The package is designed to close dangerous gaps in Illinois law, increase penalties for serious crimes involving minors, and ensure offenders who exploit children face stronger consequences.
The legislative package includes:
- Senate Bill 284, also known as Andrew’s Law, would eliminate plea deals for individuals charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, trafficking in persons involving a minor, or grooming, preventing those charges from being reduced to lesser offenses. The bill would also make it a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to work at, volunteer at, or be present at a facility that exclusively provides entertainment for minors.
- Senate Bill 1572 would increase penalties for human trafficking and related crimes by raising each offense by one felony class. For the most serious Class X offenses, the bill would set a prison sentence of 9 to 45 years.
- Senate Bill 2381 would require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of unauthorized video recording of minors in private spaces if the offense was found to be sexually motivated. The measure responds to a gap in current Illinois law that has allowed some offenders to avoid registration even in cases involving the secret recording of children in bathrooms, locker rooms, or other private areas.
Protecting children must remain a top priority, and Illinois laws should reflect the seriousness and lasting harm caused by trafficking, grooming, and sexual exploitation.
Lewis Hosts Hundreds at Youth Job Fair
I want to thank everyone who came out last week for my second annual Youth Job Fair that was co-hosted with State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro. It was an incredibly successful event that featured over 40 businesses that are actively hiring for summer help, full-time employment, and internships. The event was open to students and young adults across the 24th District aged 16-21.
As an added feature for this year’s fair, students had an opportunity to have a free professional headshot taken and have their resume reviewed by human resources professionals. Additionally, attendees had access to an interactive workshop hosted by WorkNet DuPage that helped high school students uncover the valuable skills they already gained through volunteering, sports, clubs, part-time jobs, and everyday activities. Participants learned how to identify, articulate, and apply those skills to college, vocational training, and future careers. They also explored strategies for continued skill building, even in activities that aren’t directly related to their dream job, and gained practical tips for resumes, applications, and interviews.
Feedback from this event was very positive, and I will definitely be bringing this event back next year.
As a reminder, I am still looking for a few more paid summer interns. These internships offer hands-on experience and provide direct exposure to the inner workings of a State Senator’s office operations. Interns also gain valuable professional skills in the areas of communication, community outreach, and constituent services, and develop meaningful connections with elected officials and public service professionals that can support future careers in law, government, or advocacy.
To learn more about my paid internship program, please call my office at (630) 349-0645. You can also click here to be taken to the application form.
Project Next Generation Library Grants
I take great pride in bringing state resource dollars back to communities, schools, libraries, park districts, and other units of government in the 24th District. Congratulations to the Bensenville Community Public Library District and the Wheaton Public Library for their recent receipt of Project Next Generation grants. Bensenville received a grant totaling $9,718, and Wheaton received $40,000 in grant funds.
The Project Next Generation grants, issued through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, support after-school and out-of-school initiatives that engage middle and high school students in educational activities while providing access to technology and mentors in public library settings. The program is funded with $521,044 in federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds and $159,478 in state technology dollars.
All public libraries recognized as full member libraries within their regional library systems were eligible to apply, and each funded library submitted a detailed proposal outlining services and activities to engage students, along with an itemized budget that complies with federal and state cost requirements.
Lewis Attends Career Fair at Lake Park High School
While most of my time is spent in Springfield this time of year, on the days when I am back home in the district, I enjoy meeting and talking with the constituents I represent. This includes our next generation of leaders.
I want to thank Lake Park High School for having me at its Career Fair recently. It was a great opportunity to talk with students about the work I do serving our community both in the district and in Springfield, and learning about the issues that are important to emerging adults. I also enjoyed meeting many of the other vendors and learning more about the opportunities available to students.
Legislation Introduced to Create Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund
As you may recall, a few years ago I passed “Cal’s Law” (HB 2109, Public Act 102-0589), a vital piece of legislation that focuses on health insurance coverage for advanced cancer testing. At its core, Cal’s Law requires insurance companies in Illinois to cover comprehensive cancer testing when a doctor determines it’s medically necessary. It’s an issue that is very important to me, and I remain proud of my chief sponsorship of this incredibly important law.
New legislation has recently been introduced in Springfield to strengthen research efforts to help fight childhood cancer and improve outcomes for young patients across Illinois. I am a strong supporter of this initiative and believe it builds on the successes of Cal’s Law.
Senate Bill 3954 would create the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund, a special fund within the State Treasury Department dedicated to supporting research, prevention, and treatment efforts related to pediatric cancer. The fund would provide grants to physicians, hospitals, laboratories, universities, and other eligible organizations conducting research focused on childhood cancers.
Under the proposal, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services would administer the fund and oversee a grant program designed to support scientific research and innovation related to pediatric cancer. Funding could come from legislative appropriations as well as private donations and other contributions made to support the cause.
The legislation also ensures transparency by requiring the department to submit annual reports to the General Assembly detailing how funds are used and the progress of research initiatives.
In addition to supporting research grants, the bill allows a small portion of the fund to be used to promote awareness and encourage donations to further expand research opportunities within the state.
SB 3954 is currently assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Your Voice Matters! Witness Slips Allow You to Provide Meaningful Input on Bills
Bills are actively moving through the legislative process, and Senate committees are meeting regularly to hear and vet them. It is at this point that you can engage and have your official support or opposition entered into the record. The witness slip portal opens when a bill is assigned for a hearing, and closes immediately following a bill’s hearing.
Your opinions are important! Please click here to view a short video on how to submit a witness slip. These showings of support or opposition are a vital part of the process. We do pay attention and look at the witness slips prior to committee hearings. I strongly encourage you to engage in this meaningful way. Of course, you are also always welcome to call my office or send an email to express your feelings about pending legislation.
Eligibility Expanded for ABLE Accounts
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office recently announced that an estimated 250,000 Illinoisans with disabilities are now eligible to open ABLE accounts, allowing them to save and invest money without jeopardizing access to certain federal benefits.
The expanded eligibility is the result of a change to the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. Previously, individuals were required to acquire their disability before age 26 to qualify for an account. Beginning in 2026, that age threshold has been raised to 46, broadening access to ABLE accounts for people with disabilities in Illinois and across the country.
ABLE accounts are designed to help individuals with disabilities save for important life expenses while maintaining eligibility for programs such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. Prior to the creation of ABLE accounts, people with disabilities generally could not accumulate more than $2,000 in assets without putting those benefits at risk.
The expansion will provide greater financial flexibility for people facing disability-related expenses, including housing, transportation, assistive technology, vocational training, and other quality-of-life needs.
More information about the program can be found at illinoisable.com.
Recent Postal Service Changes Could Impact this Year’s Tax Filings
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is warning taxpayers that recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changes to postmarks could affect 2026 tax filings.
Under the new system, postmarks will show when mail is first processed, not when it is dropped off, which could create potential risks for meeting deadlines on time-sensitive items like tax returns and payments.
IDOR urges taxpayers to mail documents earlier than usual, ahead of the April 15 deadline, to avoid penalties. Those who are mailing close to the deadline should request a free manual postmark at the post office, which will reflect the actual drop-off date. IDOR also emphasizes that electronic filing is the most reliable option to ensure timely submission. Alternatively, taxpayers can drop off returns at an IDOR office, where documents will be date-stamped as proof of receipt.
For more information on this change, click here.