Illinois Gov. Pritzker Requires Abortion Pills at Public Colleges

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 3709, mandating all public colleges and universities in the state to provide access to medication abortion and contraception through campus health centers, pharmacies, or licensed external providers starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. The legislation requires institutions with student health centers to employ medical professionals authorized to prescribe abortion pills and to publicly display abortion options on their healthcare websites, with off-campus referrals if services cannot be provided on-site. This law makes Illinois the first Midwestern state to guarantee campus access to medication abortion, joining states like California, Massachusetts, and New York that have enacted similar measures. Proponents emphasize the importance of safeguarding young women's reproductive rights amid increasing abortion access restrictions nationwide, while opponents, including Students for Life Action and Illinois Right to Life, argue that the policy endangers student health and turns colleges into abortion distribution centers. Governor Pritzker framed the law as fulfilling his commitment to protect women's medical decisions and intends to continue advocating for reproductive healthcare access. The legislation has incited both strong support from abortion rights activists and significant criticism from pro-life groups and some Republican lawmakers.