SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois House Democrats passed a plan Tuesday to require public universities and community colleges with student health services to provide contraception and medication abortion.

Campus healthcare professionals would be tasked with discussing contraception and abortion options with students before sending prescriptions to campus pharmacies. 

It also states that these services could be provided through in-person appointments, telehealth, or other licensed providers.

"Take pressure off of our local clinics and Planned Parenthood organizations who have been inundated with the need for services here in Illinois because of the restrictions on access to abortion in many of our neighboring states," said Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). 

Students would be able to pay out-of-pocket or use their health insurance to receive the reproductive healthcare.

House Bill 3709 passed out of the House on a partisan 74-40 vote and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. If passed out of the Senate and signed into law, campus health centers would be required to provide the reproductive healthcare services at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

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