On August 1, 2025, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1910 (“Public Act 104-0056”) into law. Effective January 1, 2026, libraries open to the public must maintain an accessible supply of opioid antagonists and take reasonable steps to have authorized personnel present during operating hours trained in administering an opioid antagonist. This new law amends the Local Library Act, not the Library District Act, which leaves some question as to its applicability to libraries organized under the latter statute. The law defines a library as “a public library established under or otherwise subject to the requirements of this Act” and further provides that “all libraries open to the general public in this State shall…” comply. While this language could be read to encompass library districts, there remains some question as to whether that interpretation is supported, given the legislature chose to amend only the Local Library Act.

Opioid Antagonists

Under the new law, opioid antagonists are drugs, approved the Food and Drug Administration or recommended by the World Health Organization, that reverse the effects of opioids in the body. However, the Illinois Department of Human Services (“IDHS”) has the final call on which antagonists may be used.

While the IDHS has yet to release formal guidance specifically to libraries, the department’s Drug Overdose Prevention Program (“DOPP”) appears to favor naloxone, more commonly known as “Narcan.” DOPP also provides free naloxone and training for libraries who register. Libraries may also obtain opioid antagonists from any lawful source such as the IDHS, local health departments, or pharmacies.

Authorized Personnel and Training

Authorized personnel are those trained in how to recognize and respond to an overdose and administer an opioid antagonist. Library employees can be trained by an organization recognized for providing such training or through in-house trainings created using resources from the IDHS or Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) website. While the law does not recognize specific organizations that can provide training, the IDPH has been empowered to create a list of qualified organizations

 Libraries must take reasonable steps to ensure that at least one trained individual is present in the library during operating hours.

Tort Immunity

The law allows authorized personnel to administer opioid antagonists when they believe, in good faith, that someone is having an overdose on or in the vicinity of library grounds or at library sponsored events. Authorized personnel are also empowered to carry an opioid antagonist on their person. If an antagonist is administered, a library and its authorized personnel are immune from liability except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.

Recommendations

1. Enroll in DOPP – The General Assembly did not intend for this law to impose additional costs on libraries. Through DOPP, a library can gain access to free naloxone and receive training on when/how to administer opioid antagonists.
2. Ensure that Opioid Antagonists Are Accessible to Employees – Libraries should ensure that opioid antagonists are stored in a location that employees are able to access. Employees should also be trained on where these antagonists are stored.
3. Train All Library Employees – Since the law requires libraries to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that trained personnel are present during operating hours, libraries should train all employees on how to recognize overdoses and administer opioid antagonists. These trainings are not intensive and multiple trained employees will mitigate potential staffing issues.

Authored by: 

Zachery Frye (unpictured)