100 Club of Illinois Applauds HB 4842 Signing to Strengthen First Responder Mental Health

The 100 Club of Illinois applauds Governor JB Pritzker’s signing of HB 4842, the First Responder Stress Service Act, a critical step forward in strengthening mental health protections for Illinois’ first responder community.

Championed by the 100 Club of Illinois and carried in the House by State Representative Mike Kelly, HB 4842 received additional legislative support from State Senator John Curran, Senate Minority Leader, who served as the bill’s Senate sponsor.

HB 4842 amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act to expand confidentiality protections for peer support and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services. The law ensures that communications and records from CISM sessions remain confidential, regardless of whether the peer support provider is from the first responder’s own agency.

The 100 Club of Illinois played a key role in advancing HB 4842 by working with legislative partners and a lobbyist to rewrite and refine the language of the bill to better address the needs and concerns of Illinois’ first responder community. Through this collaborative effort, the organization helped strengthen protections designed to encourage more first responders to seek support without fear that confidential conversations could be disclosed.

“First responders experience some of the most challenging and traumatic moments while protecting our communities. We know many hesitate to seek mental health support because of confidentiality concerns and possible impact on their careers,” said Caitlyn Brennan, CEO of 100 Club of Illinois. “By strengthening these protections, HB 4842 helps remove a significant barrier and reinforces that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

For years, the 100 Club of Illinois has been committed to improving first responder wellness through its Frontline Resource Network, Critical Incident Stress Management team, wellness training, and peer support initiatives. The organization has worked to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure police officers, firefighters, and other public safety professionals have access to trusted resources before, during, and after critical incidents.

The signing of HB 4842 marks another milestone in the 100 Club’s mission to support those who protect Illinois communities, particularly as the organization celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Since its founding, the 100 Club of Illinois has:

●Provided benefits to 332 families of fallen public safety professionals

●Issued more than $17 million in total benefits

●Conducted trainings reaching more than 10,000 first responders

“Supporting first responders means addressing the full scope of what they experience, including the emotional and mental health challenges that come with the job,” adds Brennan. “This legislation strengthens the support system available to those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.”

The 100 Club of Illinois remains dedicated to providing resources, training, and support that strengthen resilience, promote wellness, and ensure first responders and their families are never alone.For more information, please visit www.100ClubIL.org.

About 100 Club of Illinois

The 100 Club of Illinois is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing for the families of fallen first responders and supporting the needs of active-duty first responders statewide. Through financial assistance, mental health programs, educational scholarships, and community support, the Club is committed to serving those who protect Illinois every day.