Senator Lewis Offers FREE Museum Pass
Did you know my office offers a FREE museum pass card for up to four people to visit several of Chicagoland’s world-class museums and zoos? This offer is available to residents of the 24th Senate District. From the Art Institute, to the Field Museum, to Brookfield Zoo, and the Shedd Aquarium and more, this Museum Pass Card is available on a first come first served basis.
The museum pass allows up to four people to gain free entrance to any of the following:
- Adler Planetarium
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Brookfield Zoo
- Chicago Botanic Garden
- Chicago Children’s Museum
- Chicago History Museum
- Dusable Museum of African American History
- The Field Museum
- Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Science and Industry
- National Museum of Mexican Art
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- John G. Shedd Aquarium
Please click here to reserve the pass. The pass is non-transferable and must be used on the date reserved.
Lewis Sponsors Successful Summer Events
During the month of July, I partnered with State Representatives Amy Grant and Jennifer Sanalitro on several successful community outreach events, including a Senior Fair in Roselle, an IPASS on Demand event in Wheaton, and an Illinois Department of Licensing & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) assistance session in Carol Stream. At the IDFPR event, 188 separate licensing cases were successfully closed with satisfactory results. My staff and I host and co-host a variety of outreach events throughout the year in the 24th District, and we work hard to offer useful events for every age range and demographic.
Please mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
- August 27: ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event: Warrenville Park District Building, 3S260 Warren Avenue, Warrenville, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- August 28: Senior Expo: Wheaton Park District Building, 1777 S. Blanchard, Wheaton, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 13: Children’s Safety Expo: Erickson Elementary School, 277 Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 18: Disability Resource and Job Placement Expo: Fountain View Recreation Center, 910 N. Gary Avenue, Carol Stream, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- October 25: Free Document Shredding Event: Wheaton Park District Building, 1777 S. Blanchard, Wheaton, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
PBM Reform Legislation Signed into Law
Legislation I supported this year that seeks to address the unchecked influence and harmful practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) was signed into law on July 1.
House Bill 1697 puts an end to spread pricing, prohibits PBMs from steering patients to their own preferred pharmacies, and requires that 100 percent of rebates go back to patients and plan sponsors where they belong.
According to the Illinois Pharmacists Association, 74 of Illinois’ 102 counties are now considered pharmacy deserts. Senate Republicans argue that entire regions are losing access to trusted, local care simply because PBMs are pushing independent pharmacies out of business. In 2024 alone, more than 85 independent pharmacies in Illinois were forced to close their doors.
Supporters believe the legislation will help hold the line on rapidly rising prescription prices, providing some much-needed relief to Illinoisans struggling to pay for medications.
This proposal was a critical step toward restoring fairness in the pharmacy system and holding down costs for prescriptions.
How to Submit a Witness Slip on the New ILGA Website
On July 1, the Illinois General Assembly launched a major update to its website, www.ilga.gov, marking the most significant redesign in nearly two decades.
While the new layout is more modern and mobile-friendly, it also comes with some changes that may affect how constituents engage with the legislative process.
One of the most important tools available to the public is the witness slip, which allows individuals to express support or opposition to specific bills being heard in committee. If you want your opinion on a bill officially recorded, understanding the new process is essential.
Here is a quick guide to filing a witness slip under the new system:
- Go to www.ilga.gov
- Navigate to either the Senate Schedules or the House Schedules
- Under Hearing Schedules, select the Today, Week, or Month tab
- Click on Details for the hearing you’re interested in
- Select Create Witness Slip
- Fill out the required fields and submit
Senate Republicans have also put together a short video walkthrough to help guide you through the new process. You can watch that video here.
Submitting a witness slip is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make your voice heard in Springfield. Whether you are supporting a bill that impacts your community or speaking out against a proposal you believe would cause harm, your input matters.
Witness slips can only be filed when a bill is assigned to be heard in a committee.
Stay Safe During Hot Weather!
There has certainly been no shortage of hot weather days this summer, and to help ensure people are safe, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) are teaming up together to highlight tips to beat the heat.
Here are some ways the agencies recommends you stay safe during the extreme weather:
- Hydrate with water, not caffeinated or alcoholic beverages
- Wear light-colored, lightweight, and loose-fitting clothing
- Avoid strenuous activity during midday
- Use awnings or curtains indoors to deflect the sun
- Fans will move air around, but they do not lower the temperature
- Use air conditioning inside your home or visit a store or local mall
- Know your local cooling centers in Illinois
- Never leave children or pets in a vehicle
- Get trained in first aid to help those with heat illness
- Check on neighbors and the elderly who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat
To find a cooling center near you, visit: https://keepcool.illinois.gov/.
IDFPR Announces Additional License Types on New Licensing System
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently added 18 more professions available for licensure.
The department’s new system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment), completed Phase 1 in October of 2024 and has a total of 6 phases set to be fully implemented by August of 2026. Below is a description of what the next phases will include:
- Phase 3- Full regulatory transition for DPR (which includes all application types, enforcement integration, and data migration of legacy licenses).
- Phase 4- Full regulatory transition for the Division of Real Estate.
- Phase 5- Full regulatory transition for the Division of Banking.
- Phase 6- Full regulatory transition for the Division of Financial Institutions.
Phase 2, set to be completed in the next few weeks, added all remaining Division of Professional Regulation professions with manual or paper processes, with priority on healthcare professions. This phase is only available for new applications. All 46 initial professional license applications are now available on CORE as well. The 18 new types of licenses available on CORE are listed here.
IDFPR says the public will be updated as each part of the implementation is completed. All application methods and license types will be available on the website for CORE here.
IDOR Urges Late Tax Filers to Act Now
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding taxpayers who missed the April 15, 2025, deadline that there’s still time to file—and that filing promptly can help lower any penalties and interest owed.
Illinois grants an automatic six-month extension to file individual income tax returns, moving the deadline to October 15, 2025. However, this does not extend the time to pay taxes owed. Taxpayers expecting to owe must submit payment using Form IL-505-I (Automatic Extension Payment for Individuals) to avoid penalties on unpaid balances not paid by April 15, 2025.
To avoid future filing issues, IDOR recommends:
- Filing electronically through MyTax Illinois
- Using direct deposit or debit for faster processing
- Setting reminders and signing up for email updates at tax.illinois.gov
For more information, visit tax.illinois.gov.
State Police Graduates Largest Class in 25 Years
The Illinois State Police (ISP) recently marked a major milestone as it graduated its largest cadet class in 25 years with the addition of 95 new troopers.
Cadet Class 150, representing both traditional cadets and lateral entries, completed rigorous training that combined classroom and physical instruction.
In addition to academy training, each trooper will now enter 14 weeks of field training under the guidance of experienced Field Training Officers before transitioning to solo patrol duties.
The 95 troopers reported for official duty on July 13th, joining all ten ISP Troop locations statewide:
For more information about becoming a state trooper, click here.