Bill ensuring medication abortion access amid uncertainty with Trump's FDA heads to Pritzker

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could allow reproductive healthcare drugs to be available in Illinois even if the Food & Drug Administration repeals authorization. Progressive Democrats said they are committed to ensuring people can receive medication abortion regardless of Robert Kennedy Jr.'s intentions.

Illinois could become the first state to shield healthcare providers from being punished for prescribing medication abortion if the Trump administration revokes FDA approval for the drugs.

Sponsors said RFK Jr. presents a national threat to reproductive healthcare access and Illinois needs laws in place to keep patients and providers safe. Medication abortion would be protected under state law as long as it is approved for use by the World Health Organization.

"We are allowing a foreign organization to determine if our drugs are safe and effective over our own FDA," said Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt). "This is an extremely dangerous bill."

Rep. Dagmara Avelar (D-Romeoville) said the World Health Organization is made up of scientists and experts analysing drugs. She also noted that the United States had been a WHO member since its inception.

"It is my understanding that the Trump administration followed the directive that was stated in Project 2025 where they had an intent to remove the United States from membership of the World Health Organization," Avelar said.

This change would apply whether a patient requesting medication abortion is an Illinois resident or not. Yet, local Republicans said Illinois needs to stop breaking down safety mechanisms around abortion.

"It opens up providers and pharmacies to great legal risk," said Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton). "But the reasons for it are crystal clear - Trump is bad. This administration is bad, so the doctors and scientists at the FDA have to be bad. And abortion is good."

House Bill 3637 passed out of the House on a 75-39 vote Saturday. It previously passed out of the Senate on a 38-19 vote.