Stuart Law Will Expand Access to Milk Banks for New Parents

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – New mothers in Illinois will be better informed when it comes to breast milk donation and how to obtain donated breast milk if needed, under a law passed by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, which recently went into effect.

“Milk banks are a crucial part of our efforts to ensure a safe and adequate supply of donor breast milk, but they are reliant on the generosity of volunteers,” Stuart said. “That’s why it’s important that we inform mothers about their options when it comes to donation—as well as how to potentially obtain milk from a milk bank.”

Stuart passed House Bill 2519, which requires that all hospitals with a birth center provide information on how to donate milk to non-profit milk banks to all new parents, free of charge. It will also include the contact information for nonprofits, in case those parents need to access services, then or in the future. The bill was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 30. 

“Ensuring that every Illinois newborn has reliable access to a safe supply of breast milk is a team undertaking,” Stuart said. “It takes the combined efforts of hospitals, doctors, nurses, non-profits, government officials and—absolutely not least—the donors themselves. As with any large-scale initiative, information is half the battle, and that’s what we set out to address with this legislation.”

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