Pritzker Signs Bills to Protect Reproductive Rights, Expand Emergency Care Access for Pregnant Women

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a series of bills designed to safeguard access to emergency medical care for pregnant women, strengthen Illinois’ shield laws, and ban discrimination based on reproductive health choices.

““Across the nation we can see extremists are ramping up their efforts to restrict and punish women seeking to exercise their rights and control over their own bodies. We can’t wait around and be reactive when the latest attacks come. The pro-choice majority in this country need to be proactive,”,” Pritzker said.

The bills signed include:

• HB581: Ensures pregnant women can access necessary emergency medical care.
• HB5239: Restricts information state and local agencies can release, including to other states seeking information about individuals who have traveled to Illinois for abortion or gender-affirming care.
• HB4867: Expands the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on reproductive health decisions.

“These laws were crafted to shield Illinoisans from future attacks by the US Supreme Court and other bad actors who will attempt to impose their backward ideology on the rest of us,” Pritzker said.

As Democrats gear up for the November elections, they view abortion rights as a pivotal issue. A Gallup poll conducted in June shows 54% of Americans support abortion rights, while 41% oppose them.

Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged to work with Congress to reinstate protections similar to those provided under Roe v. Wade. She also criticized former President Donald Trump for appointing justices who played a role in overturning the landmark decision.

“As a result of his action, today in America one in three women live in a state with a Trump abortion ban,” she said in a stump speech. “We will pass a bill to restore reproductive freedom, and I will proudly sign it into law.”

Since the 2022 Supreme Court decision, six states have passed constitutional amendments on abortion, with 12 more potentially adding similar measures to their ballots this November.

Republicans have largely shifted their stance from pushing for national abortion restrictions to advocating for state-level control over the issue.

According to the Associated Press, the number of abortions performed in the U.S. increased during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the months leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In Illinois alone, the number of abortions rose by more than 2,600 per month, based on data from the Society of Family Planning.

Pritzker emphasized that the new laws ensure that women in Illinois, as well as those traveling from other states, are protected from persecution and discrimination. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton affirmed the state’s commitment to being a place where comprehensive reproductive healthcare is both accessible and respected. Attorney General Kwame Raoul also expressed pride in collaborating with Pritzker’s administration to draft this legislation, which aims to solidify Illinois as a safe haven for those seeking abortion and gender-affirming care.