Illinois’ Senate Bill 1909, which could shut down life-saving pregnancy centers, was signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week. Attorneys with the Thomas More Society immediately filed a federal lawsuit, NIFLA et al. v. Raoul, seeking a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction from the bill.
SB 1909’s title, “Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act,” shows how state abortion proponents aim to put pregnancy centers under suspicion. But the evidence tells a different story. Pregnancy centers have a record of providing critical medical help to thousands of women experiencing unexpected pregnancies. Detractors have failed to demonstrate why these centers require special fraud laws beyond what already exists.
“What this act does is allow the attorney general’s office to investigate situations, to investigate such claims that are under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act,” said Terra Costa Howard, Illinois representative and chief House sponsor of SB 1909 at an April 25 Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee (HCAAC) hearing. When signing the bill, the governor similarly claimed the bill “[empowers] the attorney general’s office to battle deceptive practices.”
However, according to the attorney general’s office, they already have the ability to investigate such situations without SB 1909. This was admitted during a March 29 Senate Executive Committee hearing.
“[T]his bill clarifies our ability to already do this under the Consumer Fraud Act,” said Ashley Hokenson, Illinois deputy attorney general. “Under the Consumer Fraud Act, we can already bring claims for unfair and deceptive practices.”
What Fraud Is
