'Dillon's Law' to expand access to epinephrine unanimously passed by Illinois Assembly

A bill allowing more people to give life-saving medication to those having severe allergic reactions has passed through the Illinois General Assembly.

Lawmakers in Springfield on Thursday unanimously passed "Dillon's Law," a bill that allows anyone that is trained to give epinephrine to someone having an allergic reaction.

House Bill 2462, sponsored by State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), is named after Dillon Mueller, who died in 2014 at age 18 after he was stung by a bee and didn't know that he was allergic. No "EpiPens" were available in the first aid kits with the Eagle Scout that was with him or first responders.

In a statement, West said sponsoring the bill was personal for him.

"As a parent of a child with a severe peanut allergy, I understand the fear that comes with not knowing whether help will be there in time," West said. "With the passage of this bill, we are ensuring that life-saving epinephrine is more accessible when and where it’s needed most."

Dillon's law allows anyone to be trained on how to properly carry, use, and administer epinephrine to save someone experiencing anaphylaxis. It is modeled after a law first passed in Wisconsin in 2017.

Epinephrine is the only life-saving medication available for anaphylaxis, which is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction from insect stings or certain foods. Epinephrine is only prescribed to people diagnosed with life-threatening allergies, meaning those who do not know they have a severe allergy may not have access to it.

"Today marks a meaningful step forward in protecting children, families, and individuals across Illinois from the devastating consequences of severe allergic reactions," West said.

The bill, after unanimous passage through both the Illinois House and Senate, goes to Gov. Pritzker's desk awaiting his signature to become law.