IL House passes banning discrimination based on reproductive health decisions

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – It may soon be illegal in Illinois to discriminate against someone based on their reproductive health decisions.

The state House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday adding reproductive health decisions to the state’s anti-discrimination law.

It would ban people from discriminating against someone when it comes to employment, housing, public accommodations and financial credit.

Reproductive health decisions include prenatal and postnatal care, fertility treatments, including IVF, the use of contraception and whether someone gets an abortion.

“This bill enhances civil rights protections for Illinoisans at a time when we must affirmatively stand up to protect and ensure those rights,” said state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, the bill’s sponsor.

Opponents, including state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, expressed concern the bill did not have adequate protections for religiously-affiliated organizations.

Moeller said the bill does not affect exemptions those organizations already have from the state’s existing non-discrimination law.