Decatur – Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation Wednesday that will massively expand abortion access in Illinois.
State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) voted against Senate Bill 25, which removes all rights for the unborn, and is appalled that the Governor signed it into law.
“This pro-abortion, anti-life legislation is a travesty,” Rep. Caulkins said. “It makes abortion a fundamental right in Illinois and takes away any right to life for the unborn. SB 25 is the biggest expansion of abortion in Illinois since Roe v. Wade. As a conservative, pro-life Republican, I am appalled that Governor Pritzker approved this horrific law.”
Senate Bill 25, the so-called “Reproductive Health Act,” makes many sweeping changes to Illinois’ abortion laws, establishing abortion as a fundamental right in Illinois. It further provides that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under the law. It repeals the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975, the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act, and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act, which specifies that a medical professional who declines to recommend or perform an abortion procedure cannot be held liable for damages. The new law contains intentionally vague definitions that will provide for a significant expansion of post viability abortions. Establishing abortion as a fundamental right means Illinois will not be able to enforce its parental notification law that requires parents of minor children to be notified if their daughter seeks and obtains an abortion.
“In practice, this new law will remove the parental notification requirement that has been a critically important part of Illinois law,” Rep. Caulkins said. “A new, vague definition of viability is also a central part of SB 25. Furthermore, according to the House sponsor, this law will serve as a beacon for women seeking an abortion to come to Illinois. SB 25 is not about protecting women’s health. It will deregulate the abortion industry, eliminate the rights of unborn babies and eliminate restrictions on late term abortions. These extreme, expansive changes to our abortion laws will sadly make Illinois the abortion capital of the Midwest.”
Senate Bill 25 passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 65-50-4, with every Republican voting ‘No.’ Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law as Public Act 101-0013.