Blue-state law targets crisis pregnancy centers in politically motivated attempt to 'silence pro-life speech,' critics say

Last week, Illinois signed a new bill into law that targets crisis pregnancy centers, empowering the state attorney general to investigate "misinformation" and "deceptive tactics" complaints. Critics say the Democrat-backed legislation is a politically motivated attempt to "silence pro-life speech."

Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act into law on Thursday. The new bill seeks to crack down on pregnancy centers that do not support or provide abortions.

The law, enacted under the guise of consumer protection, would allow the state attorney general to investigate and prosecute crisis pregnancy centers accused of engaging in "manipulation or misinformation" tactics. The pregnancy centers could face fines of up to $50,000.

"Women need access to comprehensive, fact-based health care when making critical decisions about their own health — not manipulation or misinformation from politically motivated, non-medical actors," Pritzker said. "By empowering the attorney general's office to battle deceptive practices, we're ensuring Illinoisans can make their own decisions about their bodies using accurate and safe information."

According to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the law expands the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practice Act to apply to crisis pregnancy centers, which he claimed are known for spreading misinformation to deter women from seeking abortions.

During a press conference at a Planned Parenthood clinic, Raoul stated, "This bill is intended to protect the individuals to access the full range of reproductive health care and make fully informed decisions including the right to use or refuse reproductive health care."

Planned Parenthood has repeatedly slammed crisis pregnancy centers for allegedly providing women with "biased and often inaccurate and misleading information."

Critics are calling the new law a "blatant attempt to chill and silence pro-life speech under the guise of 'consumer protection.'"

Opponents also noted that the law fails to clearly define deception and misinformation. Republican Representative Adam Niemerg accused the law's proponents of painting with "a very broad brush," which some critics speculated would be used to unfairly target pro-life centers.

Nonprofit law firm the Thomas More Society filed a lawsuit against Illinois, claiming the law is a politically motivated attempt to silence the pro-life movement.

Peter Breen with the Thomas More Society stated, "Pregnancy help ministries provide real options and assistance to women and families in need, but instead of the praise they deserve, pro-abortion politicians are targeting these ministries with $50,000 fines and injunctions solely because of their pro-life viewpoint."

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