SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler’s House Bill 767, legislation designed to put clear, expert vaccine guidance at the center of Illinois’ public health response, has become law.

“Families deserve clear, evidence-based guidance when making health decisions for their children,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This law requires expert input to drive our immunization policies, makes those recommendations public and adds practical protections so pharmacies can continue serving their communities safely and effectively.”

The new law comes at a time when the federal administration has gone dark on vaccine transparency. The goal is to shine a spotlight on this issue so Illinois continues to follow the science, no matter what happens at the federal level. 

It will clarify advisory duties for the Department of Public Health’s medical director and require the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee to advise the director on diseases for which a vaccine is licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This aims to give the state advisory committee more authority to advise the director on vaccine guidelines that protect Illinois public health in the absence of federal action. 

As consumer protections and insurance coverage at the federal level are rolled back, this law will require health insurance plans to cover, without cost-sharing, immunizations that are recommended within the State Guidelines for Communicable Disease Prevention. Under this law, coverage would take effect by mid-December, removing a financial barrier to timely access for families.

“Parents shouldn’t have to hunt for answers — they should be able to find clear, evidence-based recommendations in one place,” said Koehler. “This law delivers transparency, strengthens pharmacy safeguards and ensures coverage follows the medical guidance families rely on.”

House Bill 767 was signed into law Tuesday.