Dear Advocates, 

In a surprise move in the early hours of Friday morning, the Illinois State Senate quietly took up and passed a bill to legalize assisted suicide, by a one vote margin. SB 1950 came up on the floor after 2 am during a veto session, with Senators voting 30-27 (with two not voting). The House passed SB 1950 in the spring, so the bill now goes to Governor Pritzker.  

You may recall that the House vote came after proponents gutted an unrelated food safety bill, which had previously passed the Senate, and replaced the language with the assisted suicide legislation. 

Diligent dedicated work was put in for years to defeat the bill by a very strong and large coalition of Illinois organizations and individuals. Focus now turns to convince the Governor that he must veto this dangerous bill which will put vulnerable Illinoisians at risk.  Our work doesn't end here, and all our voices will be needed to prevent further movement. When these bills do pass, they are by the slimmest of margins; if you haven't been involved before, now is the time. 

Onward, 

Barbara 

Barbara Lyons
Special Projects Coordinator 
Patients Rights Action Fund