BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) – Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1910, requiring all public libraries to have opioid overdose reversal drugs like naloxone available.

Chestnut Health Systems, an organization in McLean County, is providing free Narcan distribution and training to help libraries comply with the new law when it goes into effect in January 2026.

They are offering both in-person and virtual training.

Libraries will need to have the medicine on site, as well as staff members who are trained to give it.

Chestnut employees working with this program say that many libraries have already signed up.

“Libraries really are, I think, a reflection of the communities in which they are located and really have such a clear vision and strong sense of the pulse of a community,” said Daniel Hutchison, a director of community health with the organization.

Chestnut encourages libraries to email narcan@chestnut.org, which will connect them to the resources and training. If you are not in their service area, they will connect you to a group that can help.

Hutchison also said that other organizations are welcome and encouraged to email, as free Narcan and training are available to them as well.

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