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IPHA Advocacy Alert

March 17, 2026

Below is a list of bills that IPHA is tracking which will be heard in committees.  Please consider filing a witness slip to make your voice heard on issues that are important to you and your community.

List of Bills in Committee with links for submitting witness slips

Bills in Committee – Week of March 16 - 20, 2026

HOUSE INSURANCE | Rep. Jones: (217) 782-8087 (Wed., Mar. 18, 2026, 3:00 PM, Room C-1 Stratton Building)

HB4500 - INS-BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS (REP. MARGARET CROKE) Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that, for policies of accident and health insurance amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, coverage for pregnancy and postpartum care shall include medically necessary blood pressure monitors for pregnant or postpartum insured persons or beneficiaries. Effective immediately.   IPHA Position:  Monitoring

HOUSE ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT | Rep. Ammons: (217) 558-1009 (Wed., Mar. 18, 2026, 5:00 PM, Room 114 Capitol Building)

HB4773 - CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERFUND (REP. ROBYN GABEL) Creates the Climate Change Superfund Act. Creates the Illinois Climate Change Superfund as a special fund in the State treasury. Requires at least 40% of the Fund to be spent on projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities facing climate change impacts. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules within one year, including regarding the apportionment of liability for climate change for payments into the Fund by responsible parties, regarding qualifying expenditures from the Fund, and regarding an Illinois Climate Change Superfund Program. Requires the Agency to establish procedures to challenge its determinations of liability for climate change and provides for judicial review under the Administrative Review Law. Makes findings. Defines terms. Provides that the Act is severable. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.  IPHA Position:  Monitoring

HOUSE JUDICIARY - CRIMINAL | Rep. Slaughter: (217) 782-0010 (Wed., Mar. 18, 2026, 5:00 PM, Room D-1 Stratton Building)

HB4333 - DUI-CHANGE LIMIT 0.08 TO 0.05 (REP. DANIEL DIDECH) Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if, at the time an act is alleged to have been committed by any person while driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, there was an alcohol concentration of 0.05 (rather than 0.08) or more, it shall be presumed that the person was under the influence of alcohol. Makes conforming changes in the Act, the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, the Boat Registration and Safety Act, and the Workers' Compensation Act. 

IPHA Position: SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES | Rep. LaPointe: (217) 782-8400 (Thu., Mar. 19, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room C-1 Stratton Building)

HB4379 - ADULT CHANGING STATIONS (REP. AMY BRIEL) Amends the Equitable Restrooms Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall (1) ensure that one or more of the public restrooms is designated as an adult changing station, with certain requirements, (2) maintain, repair, and replace each adult changing table as necessary, (3) clean each adult changing station with the same frequency as the other public restrooms, and (4) provide sufficient floor space to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Provides that the owner or operator of each State-owned building and the owner or operator of each public building (rather than only the owner or operator of each State-owned building) shall ensure that the entrance to each restroom has conspicuous signage and that the central directory for the building, if it exists, indicates the location. Provides that any public building or State-owned building that is constructed on or after January 1, 2029, and any public building or State-owned building with an estimated renovation cost of at least $10,000 that requires the issuance of a building permit for the renovation and that is renovated on or after January 1, 2031, must contain and provide access to not less than one powered, height adjustable, adult changing table, installed per the manufacturer's recommendations, in a single occupancy restroom that is universal to gender and available to the public. Adds and changes definitions. 

IPHA Position:  Monitoring

HOUSE JUDICIARY - CIVIL | Rep. Gong-Gershowitz: (217) 782-4194 (Thu., Mar. 19, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room 114 Capitol Building)

HB4359 - LONG-TERM CARE BILL OF RIGHTS (REP. NICOLLE GRASSE) Creates the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Establishes rights for a client who lives in a long-term care facility, or who receives home care services from a home care provider, from discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, actual or perceived gender expression, or actual or perceived HIV status. Provides that an aggrieved person may enforce violations of the Act against a long-term care facility or a home care provider and the staff of the long-term care facility or home care provider through a civil action. Sets forth provisions concerning gender identity in client records; required training for all long-term care facilities and home care providers; arbitration agreements; interpretation of the Act; and enforcement of rights, including civil penalties and other administrative actions. Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act, and the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act to require compliance with the Sexual orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression in Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Act. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act to include intentional misgendering and unlawful discrimination in the definition of "abuse".   IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB5300 - DCEO-FOOD DESERT ZONES (REP. SONYA HARPER) Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may, upon an ordinance adopted by a municipality or a county, certify an area as a food desert opportunity zone if the area is a food desert and if the area meets other specified criteria. Provides that grocery stores that open in a food desert opportunity zone may receive certain incentives under the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Amends those Acts to make conforming changes.  IPHA Position:  Monitoring

HOUSE EXECUTIVE | Rep. Williams: (217) 782-2458 (Thu., Mar. 19, 2026, 10:00 AM, Room 118 Capitol Building)

HB1811 - CONTROLLED SUB-PMP-INTERSTATE (REP. NATALIE MANLEY) Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act concerning the Prescription Monitoring Program. Provides that interstate data sharing agreements shall be mutual. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall only share data if the reciprocal state provides equal access to data of the reciprocating state to all authorized users, licensed health care entities, and application vendors regardless of their method of connection to the Prescription Monitoring Program for interstate data sharing. Effective immediately. 

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Executive Committee

IPHA Position: SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HJ53 - PROFESSIONAL DEGREES-LICENSURE (REP. LINDSEY LAPOINTE) Expresses the belief that nursing, social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education are professional disciplines that require advanced graduate education, professional licensure, and adherence to rigorous ethical and clinical standards. Lists the graduate degrees that should be considered professional degrees. States that any state agency, public university, or entity receiving state funds should take all necessary steps to avoid discrimination against individuals holding these graduate degrees in hiring, promotion, compensation, professional development funding, or other terms and conditions of employment based on any federal student loan classification. Urges the United States Department of Education to include all graduate degrees in nursing, social work, counseling, therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education in its definition of "professional degrees" for federal student loan purposes. Urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to advocate for legislation to ensure that graduate students in all health and human services professions have access to adequate federal student loan funding to complete their professional education. Commits to exploring state-level solutions to support graduate education in health and human services professions, including but not limited to scholarships, grants, loan repayment assistance programs, and other workforce development initiatives. Expresses support for the licensed health and human services professionals in Illinois who serve our most vulnerable populations with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the public good. 

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HOUSE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION | Rep. Hirschauer: (217) 782-1653 (Thu., Mar. 19, 2026, 2:00 PM, Room 118 Capitol Building)

HB18 - FOID-DENIAL & REVOC-STALKING (REP. DANIEL DIDECH) Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police has authority to deny an application for or to revoke and seize a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued under the Act if the Illinois State Police finds that the applicant or the person to whom the card was issued is or was at the time of issuance a person who has been convicted of misdemeanor stalking in another jurisdiction or a similar misdemeanor offense in another jurisdiction. 

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Gun Violence Prevention Committee

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here - introduced bill | File a witness slip here – HCA #1

HB34 - ELEC CD-FIREARMS POLLING PLACE (REP. BOB MORGAN) Amends the Election Code. Provides that any person who carries or possesses a firearm while present in a polling place, except a peace officer in the performance of his or her official duties, shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. 

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Gun Violence Prevention Committee

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB3320 - RIFL ACT (REP. KEVIN OLICKAL) Creates the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act. Establishes a firearms manufacturer licensing program in the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, with certain requirements, including that the sum of all fees for firearms manufacturer licenses shall be equal to the public health costs and financial burdens from firearm injuries and deaths. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a manufacturer of firearms may not operate in this State without a license from the Department and that a manufacturer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000,000 per month. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, a retailer may not sell a firearm to a consumer in this State from a manufacturer who does not have a license from the Department and that a retailer who violates this provision is subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, with certain requirements. Establishes the RIFL Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with certain limitations. Provides that the proceeds from fees under the licensing program shall be deposited into the RIFL Fund. Establishes a financial assistance program in the Department with moneys from the RIFL Fund for financial assistance to victims of firearms and for other purposes. Provides that the Department shall contract with a program administrator to administer the financial assistance program, with certain requirements. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for financial assistance to victims of firearms, with certain requirements, including regarding exemption from certain State taxes. Provides that the Department may contract with a program administrator to implement or administer any part of the Act, with certain requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall report certain information to the Department. Provides that the Department may provide for other civil penalties of no more than $1,000 per violation. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce the Act. Makes other provisions. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. 

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4471 - CRIM CD-CONVERTIBLE PISTOLS (REP. JUSTIN SLAUGHTER) Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when the person knowingly manufactures, sells, or offers to sell, purchases, receives, manufactures, imports, or transfers a convertible pistol. Establishes penalties. Provides exemptions. Provides that a machine gun also includes any convertible pistol equipped with a switch. Defines "convertible pistol", "switch", and "common household tool". Contains a severability provision.

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4760 - CONSTRUCTION-SANITARY REQS (REP. THERESA MAH) Amends the Construction Site Temporary Restroom Facility Act. Changes the Act's short title to the Construction Site Temporary Restroom Facility and Sanitary Conditions for Menstruation and Lactation Act. Repeals a provision which specifies that separate toileting facilities are not required for males and females if individual portable toilet facilities are used by an owner of a portable building or building under construction to provide access to a restroom. Provides that, if a woman or an individual who menstruates is present on a work site and there are 10 or more workers of any gender at the work site, then a separate toilet facility shall be provided at the work site and designated for use by women and individuals who menstruate. Requires employers in the construction industry to provide their workers who menstruate and are performing construction activities on a work site with minimum sanitary conditions. Describes the required minimum sanitary conditions. Requires employers in the construction industry, upon request, to provide their workers who are lactating and performing construction activities on a work site with reasonable accommodations needed to express breast milk. Describes reasonable accommodations for lactation. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2027, the Department of Public Health shall provide guidance to employers on the accommodations to be provided. Authorizes employees of construction sites to call the certified local public health agency with jurisdiction over a construction site to request an inspection if noncompliance with the Act is suspected. Prohibits retaliation by employers if a call is made by an employee on a construction site for suspected noncompliance with the Act. Provides that any owner who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of the Act commits a petty offense and is subject to a fine to be determined by the certified local public health agency (rather than only being subject to a petty offense). Defines "employer". Effective immediately.   IPHA Position: Monitoring

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS-HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | Rep. Moeller: (217) 782-8020 (Fri., Mar. 20, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room 114 Capitol Building)

HB4392 - MEDICAID-CHILDREN'S DENTAL (REP. JOYCE MASON) Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2027, the reimbursement rates for all dental services for children shall be increased 50% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2027. 

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4393 - MEDICAID-DENTAL COMPREHENSIVE (REP. JOYCE MASON) Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that on and after January 1, 2027, the rates paid for children's dental comprehensive oral exams, periodic oral exams, problem focused exams, behavior management codes, sealants, resin-based composites-posterior teeth, and extraction and surgical extraction codes shall be increased by 33% above the rates in effect on December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2027. 

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4579 - $IDPH-LOCAL HEALTH PROTECTION (REP. LAURA FAVER DIAS) Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2026. 

IPHA Position:  SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4730 | SNAP-FRESH PROGRAM BENEFITS (REP. DAGMARA AVELAR) Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to, subject to available funding, establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to households subject to termination of the household's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or a reduction in the household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of one or more members of the household failing to meet SNAP work requirements. Provides that, for eligible households whose SNAP benefits were reduced or terminated, FRESH benefits shall be provided as a one-time lump sum payment distributed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. Requires the Department to make FRESH program applications available online and at local Family and Community Resource Centers immediately upon the first of the month following the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that an application for FRESH benefits shall not be deemed an application for any other public aid provided under the Code. Requires the Department to provide within a specified time frame FRESH benefits to households' that experience a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits prior to or after the first month following the effective date of the amendatory Act, if certain application submission deadlines are met. Requires the Department to publish monthly data reports on the FRESH program and to include such data in the Department's annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits the Department and local governmental units from considering a household's receipt of FRESH benefits when determining the household's eligibility for other assistance provided under the Code. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are inoperative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately. 

IPHA Position: SUPPORT | File a witness slip here

HB4732 - LEAD-SAFE WATER ACT (REP. MARCUS EVANS, JR.) Creates the Lead-Safe Water for Families Act. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall establish and administer a program to provide lead-reducing water filters at no cost to Medicaid-eligible households with children or expectant mothers. Requires outreach, application procedures, and rulemaking. Requires annual reporting to the General Assembly. Declares findings and states the purpose of the Act. Defines terms.  IPHA Position: Monitoring

HOUSE PUBLIC HEALTH | Rep. Stava: (217) 782-6578 (Fri., Mar. 20, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room C-1 Stratton Building)

HB1052 - FOOD TRUCK FREEDOM ACT (REP. DAVE VELLA) Creates the Food Truck Freedom Act. Provides that a municipality, county, or township may create a license or permitting scheme for a food truck to operate within its jurisdiction. Provides that a food truck license or permit obtained from a municipality, county, or township in Illinois has full force and effect in all other jurisdictions in Illinois so long as that license or permit was issued after: (1) an inspection by a local health department that uses recommendations made by the Food and Drug Administration concerning food trucks and (2) an inspection by a local fire department that uses recommendations made by the National Fire Prevention Association concerning food trucks. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a municipality, county, or township from imposing placement or zoning restrictions or fees so long as those restrictions and fees are uniformly applied to all food trucks, regardless of the food truck's license or permit jurisdiction. Defines "food truck". Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2026. 

IPHA Position:  OPPOSE, as introduced | File a witness slip here

HB4596 - IDPH-COMBAT MISINFORMATION (REP. DAVE VELLA) Creates the Combating Health Misinformation Act. Establishes the Health Misinformation Response Unit within the Department of Public Health to monitor and counter health misinformation. Requires the Department to offer public health literacy grants. Requires the Department of Public Health to recruit and train trusted messengers to assist in communicating accurate health information. Requires certain entities that distribute or communicate health-related information in the State to disclose funding sources, as well as to provide citations for alleged facts. Allows the Department of Public Health to request that information from those entities. Provides that specified entities that knowingly violate certain provisions of the Act commit an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Amends the School Code to require health literacy to be taught as part of a comprehensive health education program, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. Makes conforming changes to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.   IPHA Position:  Monitoring

SENATE LIQUOR | Sen. Holmes: (217) 782-0422 (Fri., Mar. 20, 2026, 2:00 PM, Virtual Room 1)

SB2085 - LIQUOR-FROZEN DESSERTS (SEN. ERICA HARRISS) Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that "alcoholic liquor" and "alcohol-infused products" does not include frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that "frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor" means ice cream or other frozen desserts that are made with liquor, wine, beer, cider, or any combination thereof and that contain more than 0.5% but not more than 5% of alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts that contains more than 5% alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell, give, or deliver frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of 21. Provides that a person under the age of 21 may not purchase, possess, or consume frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises or for consumption on the premises unless it contains specified notices and warnings. Provides that no manufacturer or distributor of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor shall sell the product to a person intending to sell at retail individual servings of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor or packages of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises, unless, with each shipment, the manufacturer or distributor provides a written notice that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor may be sold at retail only if the retailer complies with specified requirements and provides a written copy of those requirements. Provides that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor are subject to all applicable food safety laws, rules, standards, and requirements, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to make a conforming change.  IPHA Position:  Monitoring

FAQ: How to File a Witness Slip

Don't forget, a phone call can be a very fast, immediate way to communicate your position on a bill or an issue with your Illinois legislator.  

  • Phone for Illinois House: 217-782-8223
  • Phone for Illinois Senate: 217-782-5715
  • Phone for Governor’s Office: 217-782-0244

 

Please reach out to us if you have questions or want to discuss bills. The Illinois Public Health Association is so grateful for your partnership and advocacy on public health issues that impact our communities.

If you have questions, please contact Conny Moody, IPHA Government Relations and Compliance, at cmoody@ipha.com or email advocacy@ipha.com.

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