Pritzker signs two reproductive health bills, including one led by UIUC students

ui7-news
4 days ago
2 min read

by Mary Piacente

UI7 Newsroom Reporter/Anchor

Gov. Pritzker signs HB3709 bill — photo credit UI7 Newsroom

Two bills supporting reproductive health access, including one led and lobbied for by students at the University of Illinois, were signed into law by Governor J.B. Friday at the University YMCA in Champaign.

HB3709 requires higher education institutions with pharmacies or student health centers to provide contraceptives, abortion pills and consultations with healthcare providers that can provide abortions. It will go into effect at colleges and universities for the 2025-2026 school year.

Pritzker commended the legislation as not only a testament to student advocacy but a needed defense against the Trump Administration’s fight to limit abortion access throughout the country – especially in GOP controlled states like Texas.

“Illinois is holding the line, and we are fighting back,” Pritzker said.

HB3709 was pitched and lobbied for by members of the University of Illinois’ branch of Planned Parenthood Generation of Action, starting as a student referendum that called for McKinley Health Center to provide emergency contraception in 2024.

Emma Darbro, former co-president of the University of Illinois’ PPIA GenAction, said that her and colleague Grace Housey have been advocating for reproductive health access since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. They spoke in front of the House Higher Education Committee in March in support of student abortion pill access.

“We wrote student policy as students and for students, so to be able to contribute to the passage of state law as our last act of love for our peers has really been so rewarding,” Darbro said.

Pritzker also signed HB3637, which expands shield laws that protect healthcare providers from disciplinary action if they provide medical services lawful in the state of Illinois.

State Rep. Dagmara Avelar and Sen. Celina Villanueva spoke on behalf of HB3709, with other guests including state Sen. Paul Faraci and Rep. Karina Villa.