SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Committed to maintaining women’s reproductive healthcare rights, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, passed a measure out of the House chamber on Monday safeguarding access to medication abortion in the state of Illinois.
“With federal 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 Avelar. “Locking in these protections maintains that a woman has absolute autonomy of her body.”
Avelar’s House Bill 3637 would strengthen Illinois’ Shield Law by reinforcing the Illinois Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to safeguard access to medication abortion. The Illinois shield law protects healthcare professionals providing lawful healthcare in Illinois, and was strengthened in 2024 to prevent the state from sharing information on lawful procedures done in Illinois. House Bill 3637 takes these protections further by ultimately “future-proofing” Illinois law and preempts federal overreach, ensuring residents have access to medically necessary and life-saving reproductive health medications.
“I’m proud to carry this important legislation that keeps protections strong and out of political overreach,” said Avelar. “I look forward to seeing this bill through the finish line.”
Avelar’s measure passed out of the House chamber and awaits bicameral consideration.
Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar
(D-Bolingbrook)
85th District
Springfield Office:
265-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-4179
District Office:
1050 W. Romeo Rd
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 372-0085