On August 1, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 1910 (HB1910) into law, which amends the Local Library Act, 75 ILCS 5, et seq., to equip public libraries with the necessary resources and training to respond effectively to opioid overdoses. The Local Library Act only covers public libraries established under the Local Library Act and not library districts.

New legislation requires that all publicly accessible libraries in Illinois:

• Maintain a supply of opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, in a location that is readily accessible to staff.
• Ensure the presence of trained personnel during all hours of operation who are capable of identifying and responding to opioid overdose incidents.
• Authorize trained staff to administer opioid antagonists in good faith to individuals experiencing an overdose on library premises, in proximity to the library, or at library-sponsored events.

This new law underscores the evolving role of libraries as not only centers of education and community engagement but also as critical points of public health intervention. Public Libraries will play a critical role in safeguarding vulnerable populations.

For more information about this article, please contact Tressler attorney Jey Claudio at jclaudio@tresslerllp.com.

About the Author

Jeyser (Jey) focuses his practice on representing cities, villages, park districts, school districts, library districts, and other public entities on a variety of legal matters, including day-to-day operations, contract review and negotiation, real estate and land use matters. Click here to read Jey’s full attorney bio.