(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 1950 to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Illinois.
The governor announced his decision with a press release Friday morning.
“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak,” said Pritzker.
The governor said no physician, health care provider or pharmacist is required to participate in the option.
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, responded with a statement 24 minutes later. McCombie said she opposed the bill because compassion must be paired with caution.
“This bill goes too far without the protections Illinois families deserve. Coroners, who will be responsible for determining causes of death, were never brought into the conversation. Stakeholders raised red flags that were brushed aside. Those gaps pose real and dangerous consequences,” McCombie said.
SB 1950 started as a bill about sanitary food preparation when it was filed in February. It passed nearly unanimously in April. In the House, the measure was amended the final week of spring session and passed with a vote of 63 to 42 on May 29.
During fall veto session, the Senate approved the amended Senate bill in the early morning hours of Halloween.
The option to prescribe life-ending drugs will be available on Sep. 12, 2026, when the Medical Aid in Dying bill goes into effect.
