Governor Pritzker signs reproductive rights protections into law

NORMAL, Ill. – Earlier this week, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed HB4664, a sweeping reproductive rights and gender affirming care omnibus bill that protects health care providers and their patients from legal attacks by neighboring states and expands health care access and options across the state.

The act takes major steps to expand access by guaranteeing that abortion medications, PEP/PrEP, and gender-affirming care be covered by insurers at no extra cost to consumers and requires local government employers to offer insurance plans that provide coverage for these treatments, as well as for birth control.

In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned last June, Illinois has seen a sharp uptick of individuals traveling from out of state to receive an abortion. The new bill includes landmark protections to shield individuals and providers from criminal discovery in their home state, and extraditions related to providing reproductive health care.

“Here in Illinois, we hold certain ideals: abortion is health care,” said Gov. Pritzker. “A medical decision should be made between a patient and their doctor — no one else. Last summer, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, I made a promise that Illinois would remain a beacon of hope and an island for reproductive justice for all who seek it. This bill fulfills that promise.”