SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed legislation allowing assisted suicide to become law.
Opponents state the legislation, SB 1950, faced significant objections from coroners, medical experts, religious communities, and disability-rights advocates. Throughout debate, concerns were raised about the bill’s lack of guardrails, the exclusion of key stakeholders, and the potential risks it creates for vulnerable families.
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement on the new law:
“This is an emotional and deeply personal issue for many families, including mine. When my mother passed at home, I know she would have chosen this path to ease our pain, not her own. That’s exactly why strong safeguards matter.
“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.
“I opposed this legislation because compassion must be paired with caution. Illinois should have taken a more responsible, inclusive approach before moving forward.”