State Rep. Briel introduces first bill, bridging gaps in rural healthcare

Newly inaugurated state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, introduced her first bill, which she said aims to investigate the challenges facing rural health care.

“Rural hospitals are closing at alarming rates, leaving handfuls of its patients and their families scrambling to find out-of-town options,” Briel said in a news release. “These closures leave people traveling for hours for the most basic care, or worse, without care at all. My bill aims to investigate why these closures are happening in the first place and allow us to identify solutions to expand and maintain care in rural communities.”

Rural hospitals in Illinois have faced multiple challenges, including financial pressures and staff shortages, Briel said. Briel introduced House Bill 1301, which creates The Rural Hospital Task Force within the Illinois Department of Public Health to: investigate the current state of rural hospitals in Illinois, provide actionable recommendations to prevent further closures and explore ways to expand and improve healthcare services for rural residents.

The task force will deliver its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 2027 to ensure accountability and progress measures are in place, Briel said.

Briel’s bill comes at a time when St. Margaret’s hospital chain closed hospitals in Spring Valley and Peru. OSF has since reopened the Peru hospital, but has proposed changes in Ottawa that have been challenged by local city and county governments.

“As a first-time legislator but a full-time resident of my community, I know that our rural families are ready for lawmakers to fight harder for them,” Briel said. “I’m humbled to be in a position where I can amplify these voices. This bill will be impactful for entire communities, ensuring no one is left behind when seeking the most basic healthcare. This is a solid first step toward ensuring rural families have the healthcare that’s accessible to anyone else in the state.”

Briel recently was elected to succeed state Rep. Lance Yednock in the 76th District. Her district includes La Salle, Bureau and DeKalb counties.