Terminally ill people will have the option to end their own lives with a doctor’s prescription in Illinois next year, under legislation signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday.

Illinois joins 11 other states that have passed so-called right-to-die legislation , which is opposed by many religious leaders and disability rights activists.

Civil liberties advocates hailed Illinois’ law that goes into effect in September 2026 and “will be thoughtfully implemented so that physicians can consult patients on making deeply personal decisions with authority, autonomy and empathy,” according to Pritzker.

“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for fre

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