Illinois lawmakers have approved two new bills designed to better support mothers across the state—one focused on paid workplace accommodations for breastfeeding, and another expanding access to midwifery care in underserved areas.
House Bill 2688, sponsored by Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin), authorizes certified nurse midwives to collaborate with physicians to assist with home births. This bill specifically targets “maternity care deserts”—regions lacking adequate maternal healthcare resources. In these areas, nurse midwives can enter agreements with physicians even if those doctors don’t offer home birth services themselves.
The bill applies only to certified nurse midwives—who must be licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with a graduate degree in midwifery—and excludes certified midwives without the APRN designation. Additionally, the bill permits certified nurse midwives to deliver babies in licensed birth centers without needing a physician’s agreement, as long as the center’s director approves.
The measure passed the Senate with overwhelming support on a 57-1 vote, with only Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) opposing it. It now awaits the governor’s signature.
The move comes amid rising rates of home births nationally. According to the CDC, over 51,000 home births occurred in 2021—a 12% increase from 2020, marking the largest year-over-year increase since at least 1990. Illinois has seen a similar trend, attributed largely to its numerous maternity care deserts. A 2023 report from March of Dimes found that 34% of Illinois counties fall into this category, compared to a national average of 32%.
Many women in rural parts of Illinois must travel long distances for childbirth services. Some must travel between 47 and 59 miles to reach a birthing hospital. Women in maternity care deserts travel over five times farther than those in areas with adequate care access.
Illinois’ checkered legal history with midwifery also plays a role in the current shortage. Although midwifery has long been a recognized profession, the state stopped licensing midwives in the 1960s and outlawed the practice entirely in 1992. It was only in 2021 that midwifery was re-legalized in Illinois.
Senate Bill 212, sponsored by Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), mandates that employers provide paid break time for new mothers to pump breast milk at work for up to one year after childbirth. The bill also prohibits employers from forcing employees to use paid leave for these breaks.
Fine, who has previously spoken about her own struggles with balancing work and breastfeeding, emphasized the importance of workplace support during a February press conference. “I had to hide in a bathroom to pump and eventually had to stop breastfeeding earlier than I wanted,” she recalled.
SB 212 passed the House on a bipartisan 82-27 vote and now awaits the governor’s approval.
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