Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois State House District 82 candidate Nicole La Ha expressed her disappointment with the passage of the FY25 State Budget but highlighted positive legislative outcomes from the Spring Legislative Session. "While the FY25 State Budget passing the way it did was extremely disappointing, good legislation did pass this Spring Legislative Session and I’m excited to share some of that with you," she said.

"While the FY25 State Budget passing the way it did was extremely disappointing, good legislation did pass this Spring Legislative Session and I'm excited to share some of that with you," said Nicole La Ha Zwiercan, according to Facebook. "I was an enthusiastic House co-sponsor for Senate Bill 3538, benefitting First Responders by providing them with mental health counseling without any cost sharing requitement. value supporting our men and women who serve our communities and see their wellbeing as a priority. Thank you to all of our first responders for everything you do!"

La Ha, who will face Democrat Suzanne Akhras in the general election, emphasized her role in supporting Senate Bill 3538. "I was an enthusiastic House co-sponsor for Senate Bill 3538, benefitting First Responders by providing them with mental health counseling without any cost-sharing requirement," she stated.

Screenshot of Rep. Nicole La Ha's May 30 Facebook post | Rep. Nicole La Ha's Facebook page

According to the Illinois General Assembly website, Senate Bill 3538 mandates that if a municipality or county is a self-insurer for employee health insurance coverage, it must include mental health counseling for first responders without imposing deductibles or other cost-sharing requirements. This applies to police officers, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. The bill specifies that this requirement does not apply if it would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a Health Savings Account under the Internal Revenue Code.

In the House, two amendments were made to the bill. The first amendment reinserted provisions of the engrossed bill with changes to include mental health counseling in health insurance coverage for all employees starting June 1, 2025. It expanded eligibility to emergency medical services personnel dispatched to 9-1-1 calls, public safety telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers, and mental health professionals employed by local governments responding to emergency crisis calls.

The second amendment specified that fire protection districts acting as self-insurers must provide mental health counseling for first responders starting June 1, 2025. This requirement also does not apply if it would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a Health Savings Account under specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Nicole La Ha joined the Illinois State House of Representatives on December 21, 2023. She was Mrs. America in 2022 and was elected to the Village of Homer Glen Board of Trustees in 2020, according to her official biography.