Healthcare (Public Health)

Appropriates $300,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants to the Les Turner ALS Foundation for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and for care of those persons affected by the disease. Effective July 1, 2026.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2026.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for local health protection grants for health protection programs. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Instructs the Department of Public Health to require a health care practitioner who is treating a patient diagnosed with epilepsy and at elevated risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient for epilepsy, other than a health care practitioner treating that patient in an emergency situation, to provide that patient with certain written information regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Requires the Department to provide that written information to health care practitioners and post the information on the Department's website. Requires the Department to ensure that the information is culturally and linguistically appropriate for all recipients. Allows a local or national organization that provides education or services related to epilepsy conditions to request that the Department include on its website the organization's informational material and contact information. Requires the Department to provide guidance to health care practitioners in determining whether a patient is at elevated risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, and the Physician Assistance Practice Act to require licensees under the Acts to comply with the amendatory provisions in the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Provides that certain licensees under the Acts who violate the amendatory provisions shall be issued a warning by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and shall suffer no further penalty or discipline for a first offense if the violation was not committed willfully or knowingly. Provides that certain licensees under the Acts who commit a subsequent violation of the amendatory provisions shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, of no more than $10,000 to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for each subsequent violation. Makes other changes.

Appropriates $300,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants to the Les Turner ALS Foundation for research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and for care of those persons affected by the disease. Effective July 1, 2026.

Provides legislative findings. Appropriates specified amounts to the Department of Public Health for grants, expenses, and administrative costs of programs relating to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus; the Getting to Zero-Illinois plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030; the prevention, screening, and treatment services to address sexually transmitted infection cases; and the PrEP4Illinois Program to provide client navigation for pre-exposure prophylaxis services and medication access. Contains other provisions. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Expanded Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall require information and counseling concerning lung cancer screening to be made available to individuals accessing the tobacco quitline. Allows the Department to enter into contracts and agreements and award grants to persons operating the tobacco quitline. Requires the Department to develop signage that discloses referral information for lung cancer screening. Requires the Department to develop an educational insert to accompany the sale of tobacco products and nicotine replacement therapies by retailers. Provides that a retailer of tobacco products or nicotine replacement therapies who intentionally violates these provisions is guilty of a petty offense. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.

Provides legislative findings. Appropriates specified amounts to the Department of Public Health for grants, expenses, and administrative costs of programs relating to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus; the Getting to Zero-Illinois plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030; the prevention, screening, and treatment services to address sexually transmitted infection cases; and the PrEP4Illinois Program to provide client navigation for pre-exposure prophylaxis services and medication access. Contains other provisions. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Hospital Emergency Service Act. Provides that every hospital required to be licensed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to the Hospital Licensing Act which provides general medical and surgical hospital services, except for specified long-term acute care hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals, shall have at least one licensed physician who specializes in emergency medicine staffing the emergency department at all times. Effective immediately.

Creates the Combating Health Misinformation Act. Establishes the Health Misinformation Response Unit within the Department of Public Health to monitor and counter health misinformation. Requires the Department to offer public health literacy grants. Requires the Department of Public Health to recruit and train trusted messengers to assist in communicating accurate health information. Requires certain entities that distribute or communicate health-related information in the State to disclose funding sources, as well as to provide citations for alleged facts. Allows the Department of Public Health to request that information from those entities. Provides that specified entities that knowingly violate certain provisions of the Act commit an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Defines terms. Amends the School Code to require health literacy to be taught as part of a comprehensive health education program, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. Makes conforming changes to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.