Avelar Backs New Bill Combatting Health Misinformation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Working to reduce the spread of inaccurate health information, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Romeoville, is backing new legislation that would establish an expert team under the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to monitor and counter the distribution of health misinformation damaging to Illinois residents and consumers. 

“We have seen time and time again how quickly misinformation can spread, putting families and communities at risk,” Avelar said. “By creating a dedicated team to identify and respond to harmful misinformation, we are taking a proactive step to protect public health, strengthen transparency and hold bad actors accountable when they deliberately mislead consumers.”

Avelar backed House Bill 4596, which would establish the Health Misinformation Response Unit under IDPH to monitor the spread of health misinformation on social media, community forums or other web or news sources, in order to develop effective countermeasures, like public health advisories. The legislation aims to protect Illinois’ credibility as a repository of reliable health information, during a time where health decisions out of Washington are increasingly politically aligned, rather than evidence-based.

By utilizing state grants to implement health literacy programs, House Bill 4596 seeks to recruit and train messengers within the new unit to assist with communicating accurate health information to the public, while providing accurate sources for residents. This ensures that the health information sent out to the public comes directly from reviewed sources and is strictly science-based. It also establishes that entities who violate this Act will be held accountable and punished under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. 

“We have a responsibility to meet this challenge head-on by investing in trusted voices and credible information,” said Avelar. “This legislation is about ensuring Illinois residents have access to accurate, science-based health information they can trust. We are not only correcting falsehoods, but also building a stronger foundation of health literacy so residents can make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”