Hirschauer backs HB5295 to protect abortion-related medical records in Illinois House vote
Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-49th) cast a Yes vote on HB5295, which aims to mandate the separation and protection of abortion-related medical records, during the 104th General Assembly on May 31, 2026, according to the Illinois House. The legislation passed by a margin of 73-39 in the House.
According to the official bill text, the law is titled "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PRIVACY."
The following analysis summarizes the language and provisions of HB5295 to clarify its terms.
Fundamentally, the bill establishes the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, requiring health information exchanges to implement technical and policy protocols by July 1, 2027, for separating abortion-related health data from other patient information. It specifies limiting access to these records, preventing disclosure or processing by individuals or organizations outside Illinois. The act gives patients the ability to seek legal damages and injunctions, including attorney fees, and allows the attorney general to assess civil penalties up to $50,000 for each violation. Additionally, the measure updates the Medical Patient Rights Act to explicitly protect patient privacy and enables division of abortion-related information in health exchanges. The bill incorporates a severability provision.
HB5295 detailed action: 'Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs.'
Hirschauer earned a BA from Colby College.
A member of the Democratic Party, Hirschauer began serving in the Illinois State House in 2021 for the 49th House District, following former Rep. Karina Villa.
Illinois bills advance through a multi-step legislative process that begins with either chamber, followed by committee reviews, debates on the floor, and votes by both the House and Senate before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly works on a two-year schedule and reviews thousands of bills each session, though only a limited number are ultimately enacted into law.