Happy New Year!
As you probably know, many new state laws take effect on Jan. 1. This year, we added almost 300 new statutes to the books. A good number of those were just technical fixes, but I wanted to make sure you know about some of the most important laws that will make life better for you and our neighbors.
- HB 2443: Insurers must now cover medically prescribed hearing aids and services for individuals of all ages.
- HB 3639: Prices for epinephrine injectors, which are used when someone is having a life-threatening allergic reaction, are now capped at $60 per twin-pack.
- HB 4589: Recyclable metals dealers must track vehicle information for catalytic converters to prevent illegal sales.
- HB 4911: Gym memberships can now be canceled online or via email, if those options were used for the initial contract.
- HB 5561: Employees are protected from retaliation for exposing workplace practices they believe violate the law.
- SB 2654: Vehicles that are stolen and later towed will not incur storage fees if recovered within seven days, and owners of towed cars can retrieve essential items from their vehicles, such as medical devices and textbooks.
- SB 2764: Businesses offering free trials longer than 15 days must email consumers three days before the cancellation deadline.
- SB 3201: Law enforcement officers will now be trained to better recognize and respond to individuals with autism.
- SB 3471: Illinois drivers can now request free replacement plates if their license plates are stolen.
- SB 3479: Businesses offering veteran or military benefit services for a fee must disclose all terms upfront.
A full list of laws that took effect Jan. 1, 2025, can be found here.
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Help spice up someone's life with our January spice drive for local food pantries
Cinnamon-spiced baked apples. Spaghetti sauce fragrant with basil and oregano. Chili with a kick of cumin and cayenne.
Spices are integral to our cooking and our cultural heritage, but they're often overlooked when people make donations to our food pantries.
In an effort to help provide a full range of ingredients for all, my office is collecting spices for the month of January. Donations will benefit Glen House Food Pantry and Outreach House.
To donate, you can shop our Amazon Wishlist to deliver spices directly to our office, or you can pick up an extra jar or two on your next trip to the grocery store. Contact our office at 630-812-9292 or email reptch42@gmail.com to schedule a time to drop off donations.
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Get a healthy start to your new year
with Fitness Free Week in Glen Ellyn
Ready to get started on those new year's resolutions? You can explore some new health options – at no cost! – during Free Week, now through Jan. 7 at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road in Glen Ellyn.
The Glen Ellyn Park District is offering free access to the fitness center and group fitness classes. To participate, simply register at the Ackerman SFC front desk.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older with a valid ID; youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more, you can click here.
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Don't know the words? Hakuna Matata! You can still enjoy a Friday Night Sing-Along in Lisle TOMORROW
Everybody is invited to sing along with Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and all the other beloved characters in the Disney animated classic, The Lion King, tomorrow (Friday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m at the Lisle Library District, 777 Front Street.
The event is for children ages 5 to 14. The song lyrics will be projected on the screen, so it will be easy for everybody to sing along. For more information, you can click here.
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Looking for a new career opportunity? Don't miss the Naperville Park District Job Fair SATURDAY
If you're looking for a new job opportunity, you should stop by the Naperville Park District job fair on Saturday, Jan. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive.
This free event is intended for a variety of job seekers, from high school students (ages 15 and up) to senior adults. There will be full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions available with a number of community businesses and organizations.
For more information, you can click here.
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Learn tools to tackle kids' motivation loss and get them on track with GPS on Jan. 9
What causes kids to lose motivation, and what can we do about it? You can learn some tools to help on Thursday, Jan. 9, at noon and 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Psychologist and learning expert Ellen Braaten comes to GPS to provide insight into the children and adolescents who have lost interest in engaging in anything other than video games and social media scrolling. She will offer a compassionate guide to the myriad biological, psychological and social factors that affect motivation and help you build a plan that boosts your child’s confidence and engagement in real life.
As you may know, GPS is a locally based educational consortium dedicated to presenting distinguished, relevant, high-profile authors, clinicians, and educators who share research-based knowledge and practical wisdom. The group's mission is to enhance the resilience and well-being of all students by helping them build relationships, develop coping strategies, and forge responsible decision-making skills.
You can find the Zoom links here. To be placed on a reminder list for GPS events or submit a question in advance, contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at gilda_ross@glenbard.org or 630-942-7668.
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It's getting cold, so don't miss Wheaton's Cocoa and Coffee Crawl on Jan. 11
When it's chilly outside, there's nothing like a hot beverage to help keep you warm. From noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, you can gather the whole family to sample a long list of unique hot cocoas and artisan coffees at your favorite Downtown Wheaton shops and restaurants.
Event check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Wheaton Orthodontic Center, 116 W. Willow Ave., where you'll get your wristband and a map of tasting locations. Tickets are $18 per person, or $25 if you want a souvenir mug. Family tickets are $64 for four. All beverages are alcohol-free. To learn more and purchase tickets, you can click here.
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I'm bringing the mobile DMV to Glen Ellyn on Jan. 14, so reserve your spot today!
We're bringing the mobile driver services unit to Glen Ellyn on Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ackerman SFC, 800 St. Charles Road.
Employees from the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to help with a wide variety of services, including driver's license and state ID renewals (for those aged 74 and under), vehicle license plate sticker purchases, and organ donor registration. It's an easy and convenient way to get these routine tasks completed close to home.
To sign up for your time slot, or if you have any questions, please reach out to my office at reptch42@gmail.com or 630-812-9292.
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A new year means new blood drives in Lombard, starting on Jan. 14
Kick off the new year and National Blood Donor Month by donating at one of the Village of Lombard's blood drives on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
There will be a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yorktown Shopping Center (on the lower level by Von Maur), 203 Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard. You can click here to schedule an appointment.
The blood drive continues from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at First Church of Lombard, 220 S. Main Street. To schedule an appointment, you can click here.
Please make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
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Upcoming Events
We have lots of events coming up, so please take a look and mark your calendars today!
Jan. 16: League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn's State of the Village, at 7 p.m. at the Glen Ellyn Police Station, 65 S. Park Blvd. Doors open at 6:45 pm.
Jan. 17: Mad Fore Plaid Mini Golf, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St.
Jan 17: Arcade Night, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road
Jan. 18: Snowball Slam 3v3 Basketball Tournament, at 8 a.m. at the Downers Grove Park District Recreation Center, 4500 Belmont Road
Jan. 18: Glen Ellyn Preschool Open House, from 9 a.m. to noon at Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave.
Jan. 21: Glen Ellyn Community Blood and Food Drive, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center, 800 St. Charles Road
Jan. 25: Family Building Day, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lisle Recreation Center (MP Room 1 & 2), 1925 Ohio St.
Jan. 25: Grandparent and Me Winter Tea, from 10 to 11:15 a.m at Maryknoll Clubhouse, 845 Pershing Ave. in Glen Ellyn
If you have any questions about pending legislation or other issues related to your state government, please don't hesitate to contact my office at 630-812-9292 or RepTCH42@gmail.com.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay strong,
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Terra Costa Howard
State Representative
42nd District
913 S. Main St.
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 812-9292
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