Celebrating 15 Years Since Passage of Smoke Free Illinois Act

Illinois organizations representing patients, health professionals and healthcare systems are celebrating a resolution, HJR75, passed on April 9, 2022, in the Illinois General Assembly marking the 15th anniversary of the landmark vote to pass the Smoke Free Illinois Act. The groups issued the following joint statement:

“Since the enactment of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, we have seen significant declines in the smoking rate, lung cancer mortality rate and exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor public places. The passage of this resolution celebrating the Smoke Free Illinois Act’s 15th anniversary is a proud milestone in Illinois and will help ensure Illinoisans continue to breathe clean, fresh air.

“A critical component of the resolution that passed is urging the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to issue a data brief by 2023 examining the Act’s impact since the agency issued its last report. We look forward to IDPH providing this critical information to further educate the people of Illinois on the urgency to protect clean indoor air.

“We thank the Illinois House and Senate for voting to adopt joint resolutions commemorating this important anniversary. We are also grateful for Representative Camille Lilly (D-IL) and Senator Julie Morrison (D-IL) for their leadership in introducing the joint resolutions.”

“Passage of the Smoke Free Illinois Act was a pivotal moment that put us on a path to improving the health of people in Illinois,” said Lilly. “I remain committed to protecting smoke free air in our state so we can continue to recognize the extensive benefits of this law.”

“15 years ago, we began to change the culture of smoking as we once knew it,” said Morrison. “Thousands of lives have been saved since – and that’s just the start. Through legislative action, I hope to continuously decrease the usage of these products and move toward a tobacco-free Illinois.” 

Supporting Illinois healthcare and patient advocacy organizations include:
Advocate Aurora Health; AIDS Foundation Chicago; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; American Lung Association; Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation; AMITA Health; AMITA Health Medical Group; Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids; Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative; Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition; Hope Light Foundation; Howard Brown Health; Illinois Academy of Family Physicians; Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network; Illinois Primary Healthcare Association; Illinois Public Health Association; Illinois State Medical Society; Loyola Medicine; March of Dimes; Mobile Care Foundation; Northeastern Illinois University; Northwestern Medicine; Respiratory Health Association; RUSH University System for Health; Southeastern Illinois Tobacco-Free Alliance; Southeastern Illinois Community Health Coalition; Southern Illinois Tobacco Prevention Partnership; the University of Chicago Medicine; and the University of Illinois Cancer Center.