Illinois bill would repeal Reproductive Health Act, ban abortion

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Legislation introduced in the Illinois Statehouse would repeal the Reproductive Health Act and effectively ban abortion statewide.

House Bill 1333, introduced by Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-115th), Rep. Tony McCombie (R-89th), and co-sponsored by Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-117th) would also create several laws that would make full abortion or partial-birth abortions illegal, except in cases of a medical emergency in which the mother’s life is endangered.

The law would apply to both surgical and medication-based abortion procedures.

In addition, the bill would also give fathers the legal ability to sue mothers who pursue an abortion against their wishes or without their knowledge.

It would also task the Department of Children and Family Services to assist with the adoption or foster placement of unwanted or endangered children.

The bill was filed in January and has been assigned to the Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee.

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, turning the subject of abortion access over to individual states.

Under Pritzker, Illinois has some of the strongest abortion protection laws in the nation. It is bordered by states that have banned abortions like Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Missouri, making the state an ideal location for relocated abortion clinics.

Under Illinois law, state and local jurisdictions cannot provide any information or expend any resources to help an out-of-state entity investigate legal healthcare, including abortions or gender-affirming care, provided in Illinois.