SPRINGFIELD – Following the federal administration suggesting plans to restrict abortion medications, State Senator Karina Villa sponsored a new law to ensure reproductive care remains accessible in Illinois.

“Abortions save lives. Denying care to any woman will lead to unrepairable harm and even death, which is preventable,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “In Illinois, we trust women. We will continue to strengthen a woman’s right to choose and ensure reproductive care is accessible to all in our state.”

The new law ensures that if the FDA revokes its approval for a drug it previously approved prior to Jan. 1, 2025, the drug is protected under state law so long as its safety is backed up by peer-reviewed research and the World Health Organization continues recommending the drug. This ensures access to mifepristone and other abortion medications should the current federal administration take steps to restrict approval of those drugs.

Additionally, the law prohibits the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and health care institutions from taking disciplinary or non-disciplinary action against a provider’s authorization to provide medical care under their scope of practice as long as the care is lawful in Illinois. The law applies regardless of whether a patient is an Illinois resident or not.

“With federal reproductive protections under constant attack, safeguarding abortion medication in Illinois is essential to preserve women's personal freedoms and ensure people can make decisions about their bodies without interference," said State Representative Dagmara Avelar (D-Bolingbrook). “This bill locks in these protections, mitigates federal overreach, and maintains that a woman has absolute autonomy over her life and health.”

House Bill 3637 was signed into law on Friday and is effective Jan. 1, 2026.