Illinois House of Representatives. Photo by Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(IOCI RADIO) – Illinois lawmakers are voting for increase abortion protections.

The bill increases access to reproductive health care and shields patients and providers from laws in other states where abortion and gender-affirming care is illegal.

Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago said “this is about keeping Illinois a safe haven.”

The measure also allows physicians assistants and nurse practitioners to perform abortions that don’t require general anesthesia.

Now it’s up to the governor to sign it into law.