Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a new law on Wednesday aimed at protecting the privacy of patients seeking reproductive health services, including abortion, by restricting access to related electronic medical records. The legislation, which takes effect July 1, prohibits healthcare providers and electronic records systems from sharing information about abortion and other reproductive health care obtained in Illinois with out-of-state entities without patient consent.
The measure, passed largely along party lines by the Illinois General Assembly in May, comes amid heightened concerns following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the federal constitutional right to abortion. Several states have since enacted stricter abortion restrictions and, in some cases, criminal penalties targeting providers and those who aid patients in obtaining abortions out of state.
Addressing the legislation in a news conference, Pritzker emphasized the importance of protecting private health data from being used for political prosecution or persecution. He said no state should be allowed to “weaponize medical information” to undermine abortion rights that remain protected in Illinois. The law requires electronic medical record providers, including Wisconsin-based Epic Systems—which operates MyChart—to segregate abortion-related data and block its transfer across state lines without permission.
Democratic state Senator Celina Villanueva, the bill’s sponsor, described the law as a safeguard for people seeking critical healthcare, ensuring they do not live in fear of persecution due to potential exposure of their private information. She highlighted protections for both Illinois residents and those traveling to the state for care.
In addition to the privacy law, Illinois expanded access to contraceptives by authorizing trained pharmacists to dispense certain prescription and over-the-counter contraceptives, including emergency contraceptives, without a doctor’s prescription. The Illinois Department of Public Health’s updated standing order applies to licensed pharmacists statewide and includes provisions requiring patient self-assessments and pharmacist training. Department Director Dr. Sameer Vohra framed the move as part of a broader public health strategy to empower residents to make informed reproductive health decisions and increase access to essential care.
However, Pritzker acknowledged ongoing challenges related to unequal access, such as pharmacy closures and pharmacist shortages in some urban and rural areas. He pointed to recent legislation targeting pharmacy benefit managers as an effort to support independent pharmacies and improve medication availability.
The reproductive health privacy law and expanded contraceptive access come as Pritzker campaigns for a third gubernatorial term and contemplates a future presidential bid. During the signing event, Pritzker’s campaign contrasted his positions on abortion rights with those of his Republican opponent, Darren Bailey, who has taken a hardline stance opposing abortion even in cases of rape and incest.
Bailey responded on social media, accusing Pritzker of focusing on a “made-up culture war” to avoid discussing economic issues such as affordability and population loss in Illinois.
Reproductive rights continue to be a prominent and divisive issue in Illinois politics, particularly in the wake of Dobbs, with advocates emphasizing their importance to voters while opponents call for a shift in policy focus toward economic concerns.