Several new public health laws are now in effect in Illinois as of Jan. 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in areas ranging from maternal care to overdose reporting and medical education.
With the start of the new year, recently passed legislation has gone into force, including new requirements for health care providers serving pregnant patients, expanded clinical access for college students, and changes to emergency medication access. A separate medical aid-in-dying law is scheduled to take effect later this year, in September.
“The New Year offers a critical opportunity to advance public health and protect Illinois families through new laws and innovative strategies,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We thank Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly for their leadership in enacting a series of public health measures that include improving overdose reporting, addressing maternal health disparities, and promoting a One Health approach to safeguarding communities.”
Vohra added that the department is working closely with partners to ensure the new laws are implemented effectively and lead to measurable improvements in health outcomes statewide.
Here’s a breakdown of the new public health laws now in effect or set to begin later this year:
House Bill 3645 allows first responders to share limited information about suspected overdoses with the Illinois Department of Public Health. The data will be submitted to the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program to help officials track overdose trends, respond more quickly, and improve prevention efforts.
Senate Bill 119 requires health care professionals to test pregnant patients for prenatal syphilis during the first examination and again in the third trimester to ensure timely treatment.
House Bill 3709 mandates that public colleges and universities provide students access to health care professionals who can prescribe and dispense contraception and medication abortion, along with information on how to obtain those services.
Senate Bill 291 establishes a state One Health Commission within IDPH. The commission will focus on health issues that link humans, animals, and the environment, including zoonotic diseases, insect-borne illnesses, and antimicrobial resistance. The commission will be co-chaired by the IDPH director and the president of the University of Illinois System or their designees.
House Bill 2462 authorizes IDPH to issue standing orders allowing approved entities and individuals to obtain epinephrine auto-injectors and administer them during severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.
House Bill 2517 requires health care professionals who provide maternal health services to complete a one-hour implicit bias training course as part of license renewal, aiming to address persistent racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.
Senate Bill 1950, the Medical Aid in Dying law, will take effect in September. It allows eligible terminally ill patients to request medication to peacefully end their life under physician supervision. Physicians must report required details to IDPH within 60 days after a patient’s death if the law’s provisions are used.
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