Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D) on Wednesday signed into law a landmark bill to protect reproductive rights as states across the country pass increasingly restrictive anti-abortion legislation.

The Reproductive Health Act rules that it is a fundamental right for individuals to make autonomous decisions about ones own reproductive health. The law explicitly restricts the ability of the State to deny, interfere with, or discriminate against these fundamental rights. It passed in the state Senate two weeks ago and will take effect immediately.

The law also removes decades-old legislation requirements, including waiting periods, spouse consent, criminal charges for doctors who perform abortions, and other restrictions though the criminal charges were blocked by the courts, even before their repeal.

Pritzker has been a vocal proponent of the act and his signing was expected.

In a time when too many states across the nation are taking a step backward, Illinois is taking a giant step forward for womens health, Pritzker said in a statement .

Recent months have seen a slew of harsh anti-abortion state legislation passing around the country, and growing fears that Roe v. Wade the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling which guarantees a persons constitutional right to a safe and legal abortion may be overturned. Pro-choice lawmakers and advocacy groups have rallied against these efforts , pushing for abortion rights legislation and pursuing court challenges .

While all around us opponents are using misinformation and misogyny to justify attacks on bodily autonomy, Im proud that here in Illinois, weve declared unequivocally that we trust patients and doctors to make these decisions safely and privately, said state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D), House sponsor of the Act.