VILLA PARK – Local residents are invited to join State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton and State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock for a cup of coffee and conversations on Aug. 10.

“A good cup of coffee and a conversation can go a long way,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “I hope residents will take this opportunity to chat about any issues or concerns that they may have.”

The free event will be held Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Funky Java Coffee, located at 40 S. Villa Ave. #6 in Villa Park. The Coffee and Conversation serves as an open forum for community members to share their concerns and talk with the senator and representative about state issues. Coffee will be provided for attendees.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to make medication more accessible to Illinoisans, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton’s new law prohibits pharmacists from refusing to fill a written prescription.

“Pharmacies must accept doctors’ prescriptions for approved medication regardless of how the prescription is sent to them,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Every Illinoisan deserves the right to their medication when they need it.”

In response to the opioid epidemic, Illinois passed a law in 2021 requiring prescriptions of controlled substance to be sent electronically. However, some pharmacists have been refusing to fill non-electronic prescriptions despite exceptions under the law. Glowiak Hilton’s new measure will clarify this process by prohibiting pharmacists from refusing to fill paper or non-electronic prescriptions.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to address the nursing shortage in Illinois, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton passed a law to extend the time nurses can practice while waiting for the review of their license application.

“Long application waiting periods should not affect a nurse’s ability to work,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This initiative ensures our medical facilities are filled with qualified professionals who can continue to provide high-quality care under supervision while awaiting their license.”

Under the new measure, advanced practice registered nurses with pending applications will be allowed to practice under supervision for six months while waiting for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s review of their application. Previously, this status was revoked after three months. These nurses would need to have completed at least 250 hours of continuing education in their area of certification and have at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience to be applicable for this opportunity.

According to The Illinois Update, over half of registered nurses in Illinois are over the age of 55, with the state being projected to see a nursing shortage of 15,000 by 2025. Glowiak Hilton’s law will help combat this shortage and bring more nurses to hospitals within the state.

“Illinois’ nursing shortage is a crisis, and we cannot turn away accredited professionals,” said Glowiak Hilton. “Our nurses provide compassion and care for patients — turning them away would cause even more harm for those who desperately need immediate care.”

House Bill 5047 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.

GLENDALE HEIGHTS – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton will be partnering with State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock and the Glendale Heights Police Department for a free Shred Day Event on Saturday, July 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Glendale Heights Civic Center located at 300 E. Fullerton Ave, in Glendale Heights.

“We are committed to helping our community protect their personal information,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This shred event is an excellent opportunity for residents to securely dispose of their personal documents and protect their privacy.”

The event will proceed until noon or whenever the shred truck is full. There is a limit of two boxes of documents per car.

Examples of documents with personally identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, utility bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts.

Residents with questions can reach out to Glowiak Hilton’s office at 630-785-3177.