Abortion-rights Rally
An abortion-rights protest rally was held in front of the Springfield Federal Courthouse Friday June 24, 2022 held by “The Resistor Sisterhood” as a reaction to the overturning of Roe by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Thomas J. Turney, State Journal-Register
A little more than one week after a neighboring state saw abortion restrictions go into effect, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a slate of bills expanding reproductive rights in Illinois.
The new fetal heartbeat law in Iowa, signed into law by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in July, bans most abortions in the state six weeks into a pregnancy. It went into effect on July 29 and drew swift condemnation from pro-abortion groups throughout Illinois.
Responding to Midwestern states enacting restrictions and the platform of the Republican presidential ticket, which he claims will take those restrictions nationwide, Pritzker said the three bills he signed into law on Aug. 7 would help protect the state’s status as an abortion haven for years to come.
“They’re under attack,” Pritzker said of reproductive rights during a press conference in Chicago. “We see it every day from the other side of the aisle from the presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Republicans and from Project 2025 that outright says that they want to ban abortion in the United States.
“I think that frightens many people across the country.”
Here’s what you need to know about the bills the governor signed.
More: Pritzker formally calls on sheriff to resign following Sonya Massey shooting
House Bill 581
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case against Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA in June, which permits doctors to provide abortion services during medical emergencies.
Democratic lawmakers pushed the legislation that would codify the federal law in case the nation’s high court overturned EMTALA. With Pritzker’s signature, the state is now prepared if the challenge was heard by the Supreme Court at a later date.
The bill led by Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, also grants the Illinois Department of Public Health the right to investigate hospitals for violations and could issue penalties starting at $50,000.
More: Illinois House moves to protect emergency abortions ahead of US Supreme Court ruling
House Bill 5239
Another bill adds additional protections in the state’s interstate shield law.
Already having protections for patients and providers that travel to Illinois for reproductive health services, the new law prohibits state and local jurisdictions from disclosing information, or providing resources, to assist any out-of-state agency conducting an investigation into someone receiving legal abortion services in the state.
House Bill 4867
Pritzker also signed a bill expands the list of protected parties in the Illinois Human Rights Act. The new law prohibits discrimination against people for their reproductive health decisions, including abortion, in vitro fertilization and fertility treatment.
It comes after the governor recently signed a bill to ensure insurance companies provide coverage for infertility treatments that are recommended by a physician.
Contact Patrick M. Keck: pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
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Publish date : 2024-08-08 21:35:00
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