Electronic Summer 2026 | Issue 67

State Legislative Update

By: Mark Peysakhovich, IPS Legislative Consultant

The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its spring legislative session just after 4:30AM on June 1, 2026. Since the beginning of session in mid-January, IPS’ leadership and members of the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) looked at over 100 legislative proposals and weighed in with their comments via an online spreadsheet. Ultimately, IPS tracked and took action on dozens of bills.

As session wrapped up, we saw some success and some disappointments. And, as is usually the case, most issues remain works in progress, with discussions among stakeholders to be continued. Below I review a few key bills that will give you a sense of what we’ve been working on this session.

SB3750/HB5329: IPS and our coalition partners, Including the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, successfully advocated against this legislation because it would make the civil commitment process in Illinois much more difficult for psychiatrists and other providers and would put many more patients who are a danger to themselves or others out on the street. Based on the premise that mental health providers are the enemy, this legislation featured outdated notions, including a ban on ECT, even when clinically necessary. Ultimately, IPS’ concerns were addressed in an amendment, but due to continued opposition from other stakeholders, the bill did not pass the General Assembly. IPS looks forward to continued dialogue on how to appropriately address these important issues.

SB2772: IPS negotiated with the bill’s sponsor to limit the powers and duties of a new Psilocybin Advisory Board she proposed. While we support the ongoing research on the potential benefits of psilocybin and related compounds and understanding best practices, we wanted to make sure the Board’s work is focused on fact finding and learning rather than on advocacy for and promotion of psychedelic therapies. IPS successfully opposed much broader legislation legalizing medicinal use of psilocybin, resulting in this compromise, which passed the Illinois legislature.    

SB1743: Since the passage of the original psychologist prescribing law in 2014, IPS has successfully led efforts to block further RxP expansion. And while IPS was able to stop a broad bill drastically expanding prescribing psychologists’ scope of practice, pared down legislation did pass, allowing prescribing psychologists to treat patients over 65. The original bill also included authorization to prescribe to children, to allow for Medicaid coverage, and to prescribe opioids. Now that the bill has passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, it will go to the Governor for a decision on whether to sign it into law. We are pleased that the bill’s House sponsor has agreed to work with us on a trailer bill that will add more training requirements and other safeguards for patients. IPS also joined the Illinois State Medical Society and other coalition partners in stopping legislation to expand scope for nurse practitioners. As IPS President Dr. Steve Weinstein notes in his presidential message published in this newsletter, “In the past few months, we have also seen state legislators’ support for scope expansion shift from a steady drip to a torrent.” Patient safety will continue to guide IPS’ approach to scope issues.

SB3114: IPS supported the passage of the Transparency in Downcoding Act, championed by the Illinois State Medical Society. The bill, which prohibits health insurance companies from automatically coding a health service at a level lower than what patients received, passed with overwhelming legislative majorities and now goes to the Governor.

HB5193: This bill provides that individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol may, under certain circumstances, be diverted to a mental health facility instead of being taken directly to an emergency room. IPS was initially concerned about this legislation for patient safety reasons. Consultation with the bill’s proponents clarified that such a diversion program can only be implemented if the appropriate resources, procedures, and systems are in place. A regional diversion plan would have to be authorized by physicians in charge of the local EMS region as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health, which oversees EMS statewide. IPS ultimately took a neutral position and the legislation was approved by the Illinois General Assembly and goes to the Governor.

SB3201/HB4999: The IPS was very concerned about this legislation, because it facilitated the disclosure of the identity of a mandated reporter to the subject in cases requiring specified medical and mental health professionals to notify the Department of Human Services whenever they determine a person who is under their professional care poses a clear and present danger to himself or herself. Fortunately, this legislation did not pass because it posed significant concerns for the safety of affected medical professionals. We plan to discuss our concerns with the legislative sponsors and proponents and to push for fair solutions that appropriately balance individual rights with the safety of others.

Please reach out to IPS Executive Director Kristen Malloy with your questions and comments.