Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson advocated for patient privacy at a press conference Thursday, outlining legislation that would remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“Privacy in health care is not optional—it’s a fundamental right that safeguards dignity, autonomy and personal safety,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “When we protect medical information, we protect the well-being of every patient.”

SPRINGFIELD – To protect patients and providers in the future, State Senator Adriane Johnson has advanced legislation that would remove hormonal medications such as testosterone and estrogen from the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program.

“A patient’s medical information is deeply personal, and protecting it is essential to preserving trust between individuals and their healthcare providers,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Without that trust, people are less likely to seek the care they need.”

Intended to prevent patients from going from one doctor to another to get multiple prescriptions for powerful and addictive pain medications, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring System collects controlled substance prescription records from pharmacies. The data is provided to authorized individuals for the purpose of clinical care, regulation of professional practice, research and evaluation and law enforcement. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson passed legislation aimed at strengthening medical education around perimenopause and menopause care by allowing this coursework to count toward Illinois’ required implicit bias awareness training.

“Too many women are told that their symptoms are just a part of aging without meaningful support or guidance,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation will help providers deepen their understanding and empower them with the tools to enhance patient-centered care.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson stood alongside advocates from the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence at a press conference Tuesday to outline legislation aimed at uplifting survivors, addressing emerging forms of digital abuse and expanding access to legal protections.

“The internet has opened new avenues for digital harassment, but not all of our laws and protections reflect that,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation is about updating our laws to reflect the digital era and addressing the real, tangible needs of survivors.”

Senate Bill 3020 would update the state’s criminal laws to better reflect the ways abuse can occur in the digital age and to ensure survivors have greater access to court protections. Johnson’s legislation would expand the definition of harassment to include conduct such as electronic tracking, doxing and the nonconsensual creation or dissemination of digitally altered sexual images and other harmful online content.

SPRINGFIELD — To highlight the importance of supporting students beyond academics, State Senator Adriane Johnson championed the effort to declare March 2026 as Illinois Whole Child Month.

“Designating Whole Child Month is about recognizing that student success extends far beyond the classroom,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We must ensure every child has the resources, support and environment they need to grow, thrive and succeed.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson is advancing legislation to ensure students experiencing asthma attacks can access life-saving medication wherever school activities take place.

“Students should be able to participate in sports and school activities without worrying that life-saving medication is too far away when they need it,” Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) said. “This measure helps ensure asthma medication is available where students are most likely to experience symptoms so schools can respond quickly in an emergency.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson is advancing legislation that would strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence by modernizing Illinois law to address online harassment, electronic tracking and barriers survivors face when seeking protective orders.

“Abuse doesn’t always look the same as it did decades ago,” Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) said. “Technology has created new ways for abusers to stalk, harass and intimidate victims. Our laws must evolve to recognize these forms of harm and ensure survivors have the tools they need to stay safe.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Adriane Johnson and Meg Loughran Cappel stood together Thursday to outline legislation aimed at breaking down barriers to menopause treatment and strengthening medical education around perimenopause and menopause care.

“Menopause is a natural stage of life, yet far too many women struggle in silence or face unnecessary barriers to care,” Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) said. “By expanding education opportunities for providers and removing red tape for patients, we are taking meaningful steps toward improving health outcomes and validating women’s lived experiences.”

The measures would expand insurance access to FDA-approved menopause therapies and ensure health care professionals receive education to better recognize and manage symptoms experienced by millions of women.

Johnson’s legislation, Senate Bill 3325, would allow a continuing education course covering perimenopause and menopause to count toward the one-hour implicit bias awareness training already required for health care professional license renewal. The implicit bias training requirement has been in place since Jan. 1, 2023. The bill would not create a new mandate but would rather incentivize providers to expand their knowledge of menopause care while fulfilling existing requirements.

Loughran Cappel’s legislation, Senate Bill 3688, would prohibit private health insurance plans in Illinois from requiring prior authorization or step therapy for menopause therapies that are FDA-approved, guideline-supported and prescribed by a qualified clinician. The bill aims to build on previous bipartisan efforts to expand menopause coverage that took effect Jan. 1, 2026.

“My measure would require medical professionals, including nurses and physician assistants, to learn about menopause and perimenopause during medical school,” said State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “In order to properly take care of our residents, we need our health care providers to be well-educated on the topic of menopause.”

Senate Bills 3325 and 3688 await further action.