Illinois House Passes Abortion Rights Bill As Other States Restrict Access

By Meha Ahmad
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, shown here in 2018, is the House sponsor for the Reproductive Health Care Act. She said on the floor Tuesday that the bill solidifies a woman’s right to “self determination” in making their own health care decisions.
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, shown here in 2018, is the House sponsor for the Reproductive Health Care Act. She said on the floor Tuesday that the bill solidifies a woman’s right to “self determination” in making their own health care decisions. AP Photo/John O’Connor
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, shown here in 2018, is the House sponsor for the Reproductive Health Care Act. She said on the floor Tuesday that the bill solidifies a woman’s right to “self determination” in making their own health care decisions.
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, shown here in 2018, is the House sponsor for the Reproductive Health Care Act. She said on the floor Tuesday that the bill solidifies a woman’s right to “self determination” in making their own health care decisions. AP Photo/John O’Connor

Illinois House Passes Abortion Rights Bill As Other States Restrict Access

By Meha Ahmad
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The Illinois House expanded access to abortion care on Tuesday with the passage of the Reproductive Health Act, or SB 25. The vote comes as a growing number of conservative-majority states pass more restrictive laws.

Six states so far—including Georgia, Alabama and Missouri—have passed legislation steeply restricting abortion access, some to the point of effectively banning the practice.

Rep. Kelly Cassidy, the sponsor of the RHA bill, called these laws “a war on women,” and said the same would not happen “on my watch,” adding that her legislation codifies current practice in the state.

WBEZ reporter Carrie Shepherd stops by the studio for the latest on this story.

LEARN MORE: Reproductive Health Act Passes Illinois House To Expand Abortion Care Rights In The State (WBEZ 5/28)