Illinois Valley Times

Illinois State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris), an abortion critic, posted on Facebook that abortion in Illinois will not be impacted by the fall of Roe v. Wade on June 24.

“Despite what you may hear, today’s ruling will have no impact on Illinois. The majority party has already passed some of the most aggressive abortion laws in the nation, including allowing late-term abortions and minors to undergo surgical procedures without notifying their parents,” Rezin said.

Last fall, Illinois Democrats repealed the Parental Notice of Abortion Act that required a minor’s parent or guardian be notified prior to an abortion procedure. The repeal went into effect this June. Critics of the law say that parents should not be sidelined in important medical procedures like abortion.

Illinois has some of the most robust protections for abortion access in the country, which contrasts with the near-total bans on abortion in 22 states, mostly in the South, according to the Chicago Tribune. Over 45,000 women had abortion procedures in Illinois in 2020, with nearly 10,000 of those traveling from out of state. The number of people traveling from out of state to Illinois for an abortion could rise dramatically as the bans take effect.

The passage of House Bill 40 in 2018 saw an increase in taxpayer-funded abortions in Illinois, News Channel 20 reported. Data shows that taxes paid for 1,561 abortions in the first six months of 2018, including one for a 12-year-old child. The law pits low-income people who depend on social services against those with moral and religious objections to their tax dollars being spent on the procedure.

In response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statement of urgency concerning reproductive rights.

"Despite the action of the Supreme Court today overturning Roe v. Wade, the right to safe, accessible reproductive health care is in full force in Illinois -- and will remain so," Pritzker told Illinois.gov. "In Illinois, we've planned for this terrible day, an enormous step backward and a shattering loss of rights. We passed the Reproductive Health Act, enshrining choice as the law of the land in Illinois. We removed the trigger law that would have prohibited abortion in Illinois with the overturning of Roe v Wade. We expanded health care so that finances are not a barrier to receiving reproductive care. In Illinois, we are a state committed to expanding access to reproductive health care including abortion care, contraception access, fertility treatment and gender-affirming care. We've made it clear that we trust people to make the best decisions for themselves about their own reproductive health. In Illinois, we will hold firm to these rights and continue to work with stakeholders to expand them. To that end, I am calling the General Assembly into special session in the coming weeks, with the support and consultation of House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch and Senate President Don Harmon. Together, we are committed to taking swift action to further enshrine our commitment to reproductive health care rights and protections."