In Support of Women’s Health, Lewis Champions Expanded Insurance Coverage for Ovarian Cancer Screenings
A new law signed July 10 expands insurance coverage for certain ovarian cancer screening tests. I was proud to support this measure.
House Bill 4203 amends the Illinois Insurance Code to broaden the types of ovarian cancer screenings covered for individuals considered at risk of developing the disease. Current Illinois law requires coverage for certain ovarian cancer surveillance tests for individuals considered at risk.
The legislation broadens the definition of individuals considered at risk for ovarian cancer and expands coverage to include medically viable detection and diagnostic methods, including imaging and blood test screenings.
The new law takes effect on January 1, 2028.
New Law Supported by Senator Lewis Establishes AI Safety and Transparency Standards
A new Illinois law I was proud to support this year will establish safety, transparency, and accountability standards for some of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence companies.
Senate Bill 315, modeled after similar laws in California and New York, creates the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act. The law applies to large frontier AI developers and requires them to develop and publicly post a safety framework for their frontier AI models.
Under the new law, large frontier developers must submit regular summaries of catastrophic risk assessments involving their internal use of frontier AI models to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). Developers must also report critical safety incidents to IEMA-OHS and the Attorney General within 72 hours. If an incident poses an imminent risk of death or serious physical injury, it must be reported within 24 hours.
Beginning January 1, 2028, qualifying developers must also undergo annual independent third-party audits. The law includes standards to help ensure auditors have the proper expertise and are free from financial conflicts of interest.
The new law also requires developers to file disclosure statements with IEMA-OHS and allows the agency to publish a public list of compliant large frontier developers. Companies that fail to comply could face civil penalties of up to $1 million for a first violation and up to $3 million for subsequent violations.
The legislation was signed into law on July 6, and most provisions take effect January 1, 2027.
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events in 24th District
I want to thank everyone who attended my free electronics recycling event in Wheaton on July 11. This year’s event was an incredible success, with more than twice the number of vehicles participating compared to last year’s event. I am grateful for the tremendous response and encouraged to see so many residents taking advantage of this opportunity to recycle their unwanted electronics responsibly.
By recycling old computers, televisions, phones, and other electronic devices, we are helping keep hazardous materials out of our landfills while allowing valuable resources to be recovered and reused. Those who participated made a meaningful contribution to protecting our environment and promoting a cleaner, healthier community.
Up next on my outreach events calendar is a comprehensive Senior Expo in Roselle on July 30. In addition to having over 60 businesses and agencies that cater to the needs of seniors all under one roof, we will also be collecting non-perishable food donations and toiletries for the Bloomingdale Township Food Pantry.
Upcoming events in the 24th District include:
- July 30: Senior Expo in Roselle
- August 5: ICASH/Unclaimed Property in Warrenville
- August 12: IPASS on Demand in Winfield
- August 15: Document Shredding & Food Collection Drive in Carol Stream
- August 20: Disability Resource & Job Placement Fair in Carol Stream
- August 29: Kids Safety Exp in Bloomingdale
You can learn more about these events on the Events page of my website. New events are added regularly, so please visit the site often to remain up to date on outreach events near you.
Lewis Helps Secure Park District Grants
The OSLAD park district grant portal is open for 2026 submissions. OSLAD is a state-funded grant program that provides financial assistance to local governments for the acquisition and/or development of land for public parks, open space, nature areas, and outdoor recreation projects.
I wanted to take a moment to highlight a few OSLAD grants I helped bring to the 24th District that are helping to fund wonderful improvements in our communities. The photos above were taken at recent gatherings at two parks that received OSLAD grants.
I recently joined the Itasca Park District for the grand reopening and ribbon cutting for Usher Park. For this project, I helped secure a $600,000 OSLAD grant that helped make the renovations possible. You can click here to hear my brief remarks at the reopening event.
I also recently had an opportunity to meet with Winfield Park District Executive Director Tom Bower and tour renovations to Oakwood Park that were made possible through a $600,000 OSLAD grant. Improvements include pickleball courts, a new playground, a beach volleyball area, and more.
For the latest round of grant submissions, applications are being accepted through August 31, 2026. Over the last three years, approximately $11.6 million in OSLAD funds have been awarded to communities in this district, and I would like to see that number increase!
A total of $37.5 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. The program can help cover a portion of eligible project costs, with additional assistance available for qualifying economically distressed communities. Communities whose parks need to be rebuilt because of storm damage are also encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois Grantee Portal before applying. Applications must be submitted through the Amplifund Grant Management System by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 31.
To learn more about grant eligibility and how to apply, click here.
Grant Dollars Flowing to Local Communities
In recent weeks, there have been several other grant awards that will benefit communities in the 24th District.
Pharmacy Support Program
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) recently announced $24.7 million in funding for the Illinois Pharmacy Support Program, an initiative to strengthen access to pharmacy services across Illinois. Over $512,000 is headed to pharmacies in the communities I represent.
The program is designed to assist pharmacies around the state most at risk of closure or financial strain, particularly those serving in rural areas, low-income communities, or populations with limited access to health care. Each grant totaled $56,892, and the following communities in the 24th Senate District are receiving grants:
- Send Rx: Elk Grove Village
- MARA Pharmacy: Schaumburg
- Windy City Pharmacy: Schaumburg
- Walgreens #05468: Addison
- Rana Regan Pharmacy: Bloomingdale
- Walgreens #03993: Carol Stream
- Kester Drugs Oswald’s Pharmacy: Naperville
- Village Rx: Glen Ellyn
- Walgreens #09024: Bensenville
Cemetery Relief Grant Program
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) recently awarded grant funds to units of local government to assist with cleaning up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care. We are pleased to announce that Milton Township has been awarded a $20,000 Cemetery Relief Fund Grant.
Senator Lewis: Out and About in the 24th District
As we continue to enjoy the heart of summer, I have remained busy in the communities that comprise the 24th Senate District. Over the last two weeks, I have held several meetings with constituent groups and have attended several community events. In the photo collage above (L-R), I am shown at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Recap Session, discussing issues impacting our communities and our state. I also was in attendance for the Pazzi Trattoria Grand Opening in Bloomingdale on July 16th, and stopped by an ICASH/Unclaimed Property event I co-hosted in Wood Dale, where I helped residents of the 24th District connect with over $5 billion in cash, property, and other assets currently being held by the State of Illinois. Important and productive conversations were had at all of these events, and I truly enjoy these opportunities to connect with the people I represent.
Lewis Supports New Law to Increase Transparency for Utility Customers
Illinois consumers will soon have a clearer understanding of the fees and surcharges included on their monthly electric utility bills thanks to legislation that was recently signed into law.
House Bill 5524, which I was happy to support, requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) to compile information on electric utility fees and surcharges and make that information publicly available in a clear and accessible format.
Under the new law, information regarding charges collected through electric utility bills will be reported, including identifying which amounts are remitted to the state and which amounts are retained by utilities. The goal is to provide consumers with greater transparency regarding how their utility bills are structured and where their money is going.
Utility bills have become increasingly complex, making it difficult for consumers to understand the various fees and charges included in their monthly costs. Providing clear and accessible information will help Illinois residents make more informed decisions and better understand how their energy dollars are being spent.
House Bill 5524 received unanimous support in both chambers of the General Assembly before being signed into law by the Governor.
ComEd Extends Deadline for Small-Medium Business Customer Relief Fund
ComEd has extended the application period for its Customer Relief Fund for small and medium-sized businesses with overdue balances. The program offers qualifying businesses one-time matching grants up to $500 to help offset past-due bill balances and improve financial stability.
To receive a bill credit, business customers must first apply and then make a payment toward their past-due balance. ComEd will match the pre-approved amount, up to $500, while funds are available. Customers are still responsible for any remaining balance, and normal collection activity will continue.
The fund is available to eligible small- and medium-sized business customers (under 500 kW) who are behind on their electric bill payments. To be eligible, businesses must:
- Be active at the time of application
- Have a past-due bill balance
- Have no unpaid tampering fees and no bankruptcy
- Have a commercial Meter Account
Home-based businesses and Non-Profit organizations are ineligible for this specific program. Click here to learn more about the program, and click here to access the application.