SPRINGFIELD — Further ensuring patients have a chance to designate an emergency contact when seeking care, a new law spearheaded by State Senator Mattie Hunter will require hospitals to offer an opportunity to provide contact information.

“No one should have to worry about informing providers or staff about who to contact in case of emergency when seeking the care they need,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “It is important for hospitals to have a protocol in place to collect the information they need about an emergency contact without burdening the patient to remember to provide it.”

The new law requires hospitals to present a patient with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact and authorize the hospital to share protected health information with this contact.

It also requires hospitals to disclose the death of a patient to the emergency contact as soon as possible.

“This law will support both patients and hospitals in collecting important information without having to jump through administrative hoops when needing to contact someone about their condition,” said Hunter.

House Bill 1332 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.