SPRINGFIELD – To address workforce gaps in the behavioral health care workforce across the state, State Senator Rachel Ventura worked alongside State Representative Nabeela Syed on House Bill 3487, which was signed into law Friday.

“Our state’s rural areas continue to suffer due to a lack of mental health professionals,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Accurate and recent data can greatly assist in addressing the behavioral health care workforce needs we have in this state. When we know the totality of the situation, we can come up with better solutions, such as grants or improved training programs to help this essential field.”

House Bill 3487 requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to request voluntary demographic and employment data — including primary language, anticipated retirement year and ZIP code — when individuals apply for or renew behavioral health licenses. The goal is to generate more accurate data to better understand and address service gaps across Illinois.

"The shortage of social workers, counselors, therapists and other caregivers that Illinois' mental health community has had to make up for – and Illinois mental health patients have had to live with – demands a strong response," said Syed (D-Inverness). "Without data, we can't make forward progress, and currently there is simply not enough information on behavioral health practitioners to accurately craft new approaches. I'm proud to join my colleagues in the Senate to work to correct that and ensure Illinoisans get the care they need."

House Bill 3487 was signed into law Aug. 15, and goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – In a continued effort to expand access to health care while protecting affordability, State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh partnered together on House Bill 1577, which was signed into law on Friday .

The new law clarifies university participation in Illinois’ dependent coverage law, and ensures student health insurance plans remain affordable and sustainable for those who rely on them most.

“Expanding health care access must go hand in hand with protecting affordability,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This legislation supports the intent of the original law while making sure we don't unintentionally burden students with higher premiums. We’re committed to building a more inclusive health care system — one that meets people where they are, including our students.”

House Bill 1577 is a follow-up to a law that took effect in January 2025, which requires health insurance plans to offer dependent coverage to an insured person’s parent or stepparent. That landmark law was designed to help multigenerational households and caregivers access essential care, and only applied to parents or stepparents living with or receiving at least six months of care from the insured individual. Highly specialized insurance products, like Medicare supplement plans and hospital-only coverage, were excluded from these provisions.

House Bill 1577 explicitly exempts student health insurance plans from this requirement — a clarification that was always intended but needed to be codified.

House Bill 1577 was signed into law on Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative from State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Hoan Huynh was signed into law on Friday, seeking to protect Illinoisans from out-of-pocket charges for ongoing treatments if the appointment was scheduled before their provider was removed from the insurance network.

“This legislation provides time for a transition of care for those currently undergoing treatments with scheduled appointments. It's one small change that can bring a bit of peace of mind to those currently undergoing changes in their medical journey,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “As a former actuarial analyst, I saw firsthand how insurance companies prioritized profits over health care — that being the main reason I left the industry. When a doctor has been removed from a network, patients need time to transition.”

House Bill 3796 requires insurance to continue covering an ongoing course of treatment for up to 90 days if a provider is removed from the network, as long as the patient scheduled their appointment prior to being notified of the provider’s removal from network.

The bill specifies that this does not apply to any follow-up appointments after 90 days from the date of notice or to appointments that are rescheduled for a later date.

"When treating chronic conditions, patients' health outcomes are correlated to their ability to maintain continuity of care," said Huynh (D- Chicago). "No one should be subject to surprise crushing medical expenses just because their insurance company removed a provider. This bill will lower health care costs and improve the lives of policyholders throughout the state."

House Bill 3796 was signed into law Aug. 15, 2025 and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Michelle Mussman worked together on a new law that will expand the types of contraception pharmacists can dispense to include emergency contraception and non-hormonal options.

“By allowing pharmacists to prescribe all types of contraceptives, including non-hormonal options, we are improving access so that every individual can make the best choice for birth control,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Women come in all shapes and sizes so it only stands to reason that medication should be tailored to them as needed.”

House Bill 3489 expands the type of contraception pharmacists can offer to include hormonal, non-hormonal and emergency contraceptives, including Plan B (levonorgestrel pill), Phexxi (non-hormonal), and Ella (ulipristal acetate pill).