SPRINGFIELD – To support mothers across Illinois, a state where Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women, implicit bias training surrounding maternal health for health care workers will now be required in Illinois starting Jan. 1, thanks to State Senator Willie Preston.

“This law represents a big step in filling the gap when it comes to Black women’s health in Illinois,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “If Illinois is going to lead the way on health care, mothers cannot be left behind. Giving health care workers the tools and knowledge to support mothers will lead to better outcomes across the state.”

House Bill 2517 will expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois to include training in potential maternal health risk factors associated with marginalized communities with increased mortality rate.

Under Preston’s new law, the course will include education on current statistics about pregnancy-related death for all racial and ethnic groups, potential risk factors associated with women that are a part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group that has increased maternal mortality rates, and medical care plans and programs that have been demonstrated to successfully decrease maternal mortality rates and complications before and after pregnancy.

“Maternal health is a human right,” said Preston. “We have a responsibility to uplift and support mothers in Illinois and I will keep fighting until maternal health is equitable for everyone in our great state.”

House Bill 2517 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.