Villanueva advances measure to safeguard reproductive health care records

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Celina Villanueva advanced a measure to ensure reproductive health care records are not being improperly disclosed.

"Our fight for access to reproductive and gender-affirming care is far from over," said Villanueva (D-Chicago). "It is our duty as a safe haven state to preserve people's right to care while ensuring their livelihood won't be put in jeopardy by restrictive, overarching laws of other states."

Last year Villanueva led House Bill 4664 - a law to shield out-of-state patients and in-state providers from legal action originating from other states regarding abortions performed here. To expand upon that measure and provide further protections, Villanueva is spearheading House Bill 5239 this year.

The measure would ensure that location information and health records for reproductive health care performed in Illinois would not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Further, it would ensure that units of local governments could not assist in imposing a civil or criminal liability against a person or provider who received reproductive or gender affirming care in Illinois.

"Continuing to legally protect those seeking or providing reproductive health care is essential to the safety and wellbeing of millions of people," said Villanueva. "As women's rights remain under attack at the national level, we must take appropriate steps in Illinois to not only expand rights and access to care - but protect people seeking such care."

House Bill 5239 passed Senate Executive Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.