Illinois has agreed to not enforce a law targeting crisis pregnancy centers in the state after the measure was blocked by a federal judge.
The law (SB 1909), which was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) earlier this year, would have allowed the state’s attorney general to investigate alleged consumer fraud against crisis pregnancy centers who speak out about health risks and abortion. On Monday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul agreed to not enforce the law, which was struck down by a federal judge earlier this year. The proposed agreement will need to be signed off by U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston, who previously blocked the law from going into effect.
After the law was signed, the state was sued by a coalition of pro-life organizations, including the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), the Women’s Help Services, the Pro-Life Action League, Rockford Family Initiative, and several crisis pregnancy centers. The groups were represented by attorneys with the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm that fights in defense of religious liberty and free speech.
“We are elated that a permanent injunction has been issued against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and SB 1909, which ensures this unconstitutional law will never go into effect. This is a huge win not only for NIFLA and our wonderful attorneys at the Thomas More Society but especially for pregnancy centers in the state, who serve the thousands of women in Illinois who are facing unplanned pregnancies — all at no cost. SB 1909 was an absolute weaponization of government that unfairly and unconstitutionally targeted pregnancy centers simply because they refused to refer for or perform abortions,” said Thomas Glessner, the founder and president of NIFLA.
“Let this be a stern example of what awaits those who attempt to pass and enforce similar laws — look to Illinois and save taxpayer dollars for actually helping their communities instead of going after organizations that help women and their families,” he added.
Raoul said that the proposed order would not stop his work “protecting women’s rights to access the full range of reproductive health services.”
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“Patients in Illinois can be assured that as states continue to enact draconian restrictions on access to reproductive health care, I will not waver in my efforts to ensure that Illinois remains an oasis of reproductive freedom in the middle of our nation,” he said.
Johnston previous blocked the law, saying that it was “painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment.”
“There’s no doubt who the Attorney General wants to win or lose in the market place of ideas, but the government doesn’t get to decide that,” Johnston, a Trump-appointee, added. “The people do.”