Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro opposes HB5295 establishing reproductive health records privacy protections

Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (R-48th) cast a No vote on HB5295, legislation to establish the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, during the 104th General Assembly on May 31, 2026, according to the Illinois House. The bill was approved by the House by a 73-39 margin.

The bill’s official summary is: "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PRIVACY."

Our summary below, based on the official bill text, includes interpretation to help clarify its key elements.

This bill would create the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, requiring health information exchanges to develop, by July 1, 2027, technical and policy procedures to separate abortion-related health records from other patient information, limit access to those records, and prevent their release or handling by parties outside Illinois. It would enable patients to seek injunctions and damages, including attorney fees, and authorize the attorney general to pursue civil penalties up to $50,000 for each violation. In addition, the legislation amends the Medical Patient Rights Act, updating language on patient privacy and permitting separation of abortion data in health information exchanges, with a severability clause included.

The official legislative action for HB5295 was noted as 'Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs.'

Sanalitro, a Republican, began serving in the Illinois State House in 2023, representing the 48th House District after succeeding Terra Costa Howard.

Illinois bills generally follow a multi-step legislative process starting with introduction in either chamber, moving through committee evaluation, floor debate, and floor votes in both the House and Senate before reaching the governor for signature or veto. The General Assembly meets on a biennial schedule, and although thousands of bills are introduced during each session, only a portion advance through the full process and become law.