‘Implicit bias’ training mandate among new health care-related laws in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A number of new health care-related laws have taken effect in Illinois, including one that mandates implicit bias awareness training for some professionals.

State Rep. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, sponsored House Bill 2517. The measure signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Aug. 1, 2025 requires health care professionals who provide maternal health services to complete a one-hour training course on implicit bias as a condition of license renewal.

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, asked Davis to describe implicit bias.

“So implicit bias is where an individual might have some form of, I guess, maybe if I can put that in my own words without giving you a definition, would be some type of bias because of a person’s race, nationality, gender, socioeconomic status, any of those things,” Davis answered.

Davis said health care professionals might not be cognizant of their implicit biases.

“So this would be training for these healthcare professionals in biases they are not aware they have?” Windhorst asked.

“Correct,” Davis answered.

Another law that took effect Jan. 1, Senate Bill 119, mandates testing of pregnant patients for prenatal syphilis. The measure requires “every appropriate” health care professional attending pregnant patients to conduct a test for prenatal syphilis at the time of first examination and again during the third trimester of pregnancy.

An initiative aimed at improving access to potentially life-saving medication also took effect on New Year’s Day.

House Bill 2462 authorizes the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow trained individuals to obtain epinephrine delivery devices and to administer the medication to someone undergoing a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.

Windhorst, the House Republican floor leader, asked state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, about a provision involving liability.

“In the event that someone who is certified to carry epinephrine administers it and yet the person, they either pass away or something bad happens, the person who administered it won’t be held liable,” West explained.

The Rockford Democrat said he worked with Illinois trial lawyers on the provision to ensure limited liability.

West said the HB 2462 is the Illinois version of Dillon’s Law, initially passed in Wisconsin.

House Bill 3645 authorizes the transmission of limited information regarding suspected overdoses reported by first responders covered under the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act.

Supporters say the data will help state and local public health officials track and respond to overdose events. The law took effect Jan. 1.