Pritzker signs behavioral health data law amid privacy concerns
[September 09, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – An Illinois state senator says the state’s track
record with data security raises concerns about a new law that aims to
collect demographic data from behavioral health providers.
House Bill 3487 was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Aug. 15. It passed
the General Assembly along party lines.
“Our state’s rural areas continue to suffer due to a lack of mental
health professionals,” said state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet.
“Accurate and recent data can greatly assist in addressing the
behavioral health care workforce needs we have in this state. When we
know the totality of the situation, we can come up with better
solutions, such as grants or improved training programs to help this
essential field.”
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said her concerns about HB 3487
centered on how the information would be gathered and the potential for
misuse.
“I thought that was problematic, because even though it says the
information ‘may’ be provided, the state agency ‘shall’ ask the
question,” Bryant said. “When you’re nervous about getting your license,
you may not realize you don’t have to answer.”
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will ask
providers for details such as their anticipated retirement date and
primary language, which Bryant said are cause for concern.
“Asking somebody their projected date of retirement, you can pretty much
use a little common sense and figure out how old the person is,” she
said. “I felt like there was a potential for age discrimination once you
have that kind of information.”
For Bryant, the vote ultimately came down to trust in state agencies and
whether backers proved the bill’s necessity.
Bryant said the biggest concern is whether the state can be trusted to
safeguard the information
“We’ve had data breaches before, the attorney general’s office,
unemployment claims, even with license plate readers,” Bryant said. “So
I’m not so sure that when you ask those questions, even though it’s
intended that the information wouldn’t get out, that it wouldn’t.”
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Illinois state Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro
BRS
“I'm starting to get calls again from IDES from people who are
getting letters saying that they've applied for unemployment and
they're not unemployed,” said Bryant. “I just sent a letter to IDES
asking them if they've had a breach again.”
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias alleged that Flock Safety, a
police tech company, illegally shared data with federal border
enforcement.
Beyond privacy, Bryant questioned whether the law will help ease
Illinois’ behavioral health worker shortages, especially in rural
areas.
“We know that they’re not there. You don’t need data to show it. The
only thing that resolves the problems we have in behavioral health
is going to be making sure Medicaid payments are made, because the
state gets really behind,” said Bryant. “Tracking those demographics
implies there’s racial discrimination in areas without enough mental
health providers, but I don’t think it has anything to do with
race.”
Bryant said the real issue is the shortage of providers.
“We’ve made it too difficult for people to get licensed, and on top
of that providers are always wondering if they’ll actually get
paid,” she said.
Bryant added that she was never convinced of the bill’s necessity.
“It’s not my job to tell the people who want it why it’s a terrible
idea, it’s their job to convince me why it’s a good idea,” Bryant
said. “And they failed at that.”
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