IPHA Advocacy Alert

IPHA Advocacy Alert

Both the House and Senate are in committees this week. Friday, March 27, is the House Bill Substantive Committee Deadline.

List of Bills in Committee with links for submitting witness slips

Although there are many bills we are tracking, IPHA is highlighting the following bills this week:

HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES | Wed., Mar. 25, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room C-1 Stratton Building

HB4606 - DHS-NEWBORN HOME VISITING (REP. LAURA FAVER DIAS) Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to design, implement, and maintain a statewide program to provide voluntary short-term universal newborn home visiting services to all Illinois families with newborn infants for the purpose of promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of newborn infants and their parents or caregivers. Requires the Department to: (i) consider recommendations from the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant report when adopting rules to implement the universal newborn home visiting program; and (ii) consult, coordinate, and collaborate with specified stakeholders when designing the universal newborn home visiting program. Contains provisions concerning grant awards for the establishment or expansion of local universal newborn home visiting programs; criteria for the selection of eligible service models; program requirements; program data collection and reporting; and other matters. Effective July 1, 2027. IPHA Position: Support | Link to Witness Slip

HOUSE JUDICIARY - CIVIL |Wed., Mar. 25, 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 | Link to Witness Slip

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS-HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | Thu., Mar. 26, 2026, 8:00 AM, Room 114 Capitol Building

HB4579 - $IDPH-LOCAL HEALTH PROTECTION (REP. LAURA FAVER DIAS) Appropriates additional $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 | Link to Witness Slip

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 [email protected] or email [email protected].