Black resigned from the Illinois House effective December 22, 2010.
The Republican county party chairs of the district appointed Hays to succeed Black.
[1] For the 96th General Assembly, House Minority Leader Tom Cross appointed Hays to the following committees: Appropriations-Higher Education; Financial Institutions; Railroad Industry; and Transportation, Regulation, Roads.
[2] On July 7, 2017, Hays announced his retirement from the Illinois House citing the budget impasse and on June 22, 2018, gave an effective date of resignation of September 7, 2018.
[3][4] On February 12, 2016, he was named as an Illinois state co-chair of John Kasich's presidential campaign.