SPRINGFIELD — In response to the disproportionate risks of suicide that first responders face, State Senator Mike Porfirio is reinstating a task force to study methods to improve their mental health.

“We must confront the harsh, dangerous experiences that first responders deal with and the mental toll it takes on them,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This task force is a commitment to supporting those who shield Illinois from danger.”

House Bill 2551 will reinstate the First Responders Suicide Task Force to study methods to reduce the risk of suicide among first responders. Additionally, it will add new members to the task force appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. The force will be made up of representatives from police and fire departments, mental health specialists and several members of the General Assembly.

Before dissolving in 2021, the First Responder Suicide Task Force found that the most common barrier to mental health support for first responders is stigma surrounding those who speak up about their own mental health troubles. The task force recommended that organizations build peer support groups and train their members on psychological fitness and depressive disorders, emphasizing that early detection of symptoms of PTSD or depression can help to save lives.

House Bill 2551 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.