Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2010 | IL | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| May 7, 2010 | IL | SB 1118 | Business Loan Interest Rates | Bill Passed - House (73 - 36) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Bill Passed - House (87 - 28) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (65 - 51) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 27, 2010 | IL | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
| March 26, 2010 | IL | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| March 22, 2010 | IL | HB 4886 | Authorizing 4-Day School Week | Bill Passed - House (81 - 21) |
| March 18, 2010 | IL | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| March 3, 2010 | IL | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| March 3, 2010 | IL | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - House (73 - 38) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | IL | HB 4654 | Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 27) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | IL | HB 1188 | Increasing Cemetery Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | IL | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| July 15, 2009 | IL | SB 1292 | Issuing of Bonds for Revenue | Bill Passed - House (88 - 24) |
| July 15, 2009 | IL | SB 1216 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 22) |
| May 31, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| May 31, 2009 | IL | SB 2252 | Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses | Bill Failed - House (42 - 74) |
| May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| May 27, 2009 | IL | SB 1682 | Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 30) |
| May 22, 2009 | IL | HB 255 | Video Gambling in Various Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30) |
| April 1, 2009 | IL | HB | Text Messaging while Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| April 1, 2009 | IL | HB 72 | Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones | Bill Passed - House (90 - 24) |
| April 1, 2009 | IL | HB 71 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| March 18, 2009 | IL | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| Jan. 14, 2009 | IL | HR 5 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1) |
| Jan. 9, 2009 | IL | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |
| Aug. 13, 2008 | IL | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| Aug. 13, 2008 | IL | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| May 22, 2008 | IL | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| May 15, 2008 | IL | SB 2052 | Taxes for Levee Repair | Bill Passed - House (64 - 44) |
| May 15, 2008 | IL | HB 4758 | Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority | Bill Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5278 | Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
| April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| April 8, 2008 | IL | HJRCA 28 | Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33) |
| April 1, 2008 | IL | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| March 4, 2008 | IL | HB 4180 | Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection | Bill Passed - House (72 - 31) |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47) |
| Jan. 10, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| Jan. 9, 2008 | IL | HB 1685 | National Popular Vote Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| Nov. 28, 2007 | IL | SB 307 | Regional Transportation Authority Funding | Bill Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| Oct. 11, 2007 | IL | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| Oct. 10, 2007 | IL | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Oct. 2, 2007 | IL | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (105 - 4) |
| Oct. 2, 2007 | IL | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (104 - 4) |
| Aug. 10, 2007 | IL | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 8) |
| July 26, 2007 | IL | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Bill Passed - House (80 - 33) |
| July 6, 2007 | IL | HB 2055 | State Lottery Privatization | Bill Failed - House (6 - 78) |
| June 7, 2007 | IL | HR 25 | State Constitutional Convention Awareness | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47) |
| May 31, 2007 | IL | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| May 2, 2007 | IL | HB 1727 | Internet Screening in Public Libraries | Bill Passed - House (63 - 51) |
| May 2, 2007 | IL | HB 858 | Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 50) |
| May 1, 2007 | IL | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| April 27, 2007 | IL | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - House (63 - 52) |
| April 26, 2007 | IL | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | HB 414 | Community College Student Housing | Bill Passed - House (82 - 32) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | HB 1769 | Smoking Ban in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (18 - 91) |
| March 28, 2007 | IL | HB 1100 | Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
| March 1, 2007 | IL | HB 138 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Feb. 28, 2007 | IL | HB 408 | Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| Jan. 7, 2007 | IL | SB 1714 | Competitive Electric Utilities | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| May 3, 2006 | IL | SB 1520 | 2006-2007 Budget | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| May 2, 2006 | IL | SB 2872 | Local Government Facility Lease Act | Bill Passed - House (65 - 46) |
| May 1, 2006 | IL | SB 1445 | Election Code Revisions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 40) |
| April 26, 2006 | IL | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - House (70 - 32) |
| April 19, 2006 | IL | SB 3086 | Eminent Domain Blight | Bill Passed - House (85 - 6) |
| March 29, 2006 | IL | HB 1917 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Gambling | Bill Failed - House (58 - 52) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/07 | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 5/07 | SB 1118 | Business Loan Interest Rates | Bill Passed - House (73 - 36) |
| 5/06 | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Bill Passed - House (87 - 28) |
| 5/06 | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (65 - 51) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/27 | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
| 3/26 | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| 3/22 | HB 4886 | Authorizing 4-Day School Week | Bill Passed - House (81 - 21) |
| 3/18 | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| 3/03 | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| 3/03 | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - House (73 - 38) |
| 2/24 | HB 4654 | Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 27) |
| 1/13 | HB 1188 | Increasing Cemetery Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30) |
| 1/12 | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| 7/15 | SB 1292 | Issuing of Bonds for Revenue | Bill Passed - House (88 - 24) |
| 7/15 | SB 1216 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (90 - 22) |
| 5/31 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| 5/31 | SB 2252 | Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses | Bill Failed - House (42 - 74) |
| 5/30 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| 5/27 | SB 1682 | Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 30) |
| 5/22 | HB 255 | Video Gambling in Various Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30) |
| 4/01 | HB | Text Messaging while Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| 4/01 | HB 72 | Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones | Bill Passed - House (90 - 24) |
| 4/01 | HB 71 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| 3/18 | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| 1/14 | HR 5 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1) |
| 1/09 | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |
| 8/13 | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| 8/13 | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| 5/22 | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| 5/15 | SB 2052 | Taxes for Levee Repair | Bill Passed - House (64 - 44) |
| 5/15 | HB 4758 | Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority | Bill Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| 5/07 | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
| 5/07 | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| 4/30 | HB 5278 | Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
| 4/30 | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| 4/08 | HJRCA 28 | Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33) |
| 4/01 | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| 3/04 | HB 4180 | Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection | Bill Passed - House (72 - 31) |
| 1/17 | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47) |
| 1/10 | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| 1/09 | HB 1685 | National Popular Vote Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| 11/28 | SB 307 | Regional Transportation Authority Funding | Bill Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| 10/11 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| 10/10 | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| 10/03 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 10/02 | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (105 - 4) |
| 10/02 | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Veto Override Passed - House (104 - 4) |
| 8/10 | HB 3866 | 2007-2008 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 8) |
| 7/26 | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Bill Passed - House (80 - 33) |
| 7/06 | HB 2055 | State Lottery Privatization | Bill Failed - House (6 - 78) |
| 6/07 | HR 25 | State Constitutional Convention Awareness | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47) |
| 5/31 | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| 5/02 | HB 1727 | Internet Screening in Public Libraries | Bill Passed - House (63 - 51) |
| 5/02 | HB 858 | Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 50) |
| 5/01 | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| 4/27 | HB 1798 | Wrongful Death Damages | Bill Passed - House (63 - 52) |
| 4/26 | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
| 3/29 | HB 414 | Community College Student Housing | Bill Passed - House (82 - 32) |
| 3/29 | HB 1769 | Smoking Ban in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (18 - 91) |
| 3/28 | HB 1100 | Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
| 3/01 | HB 138 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 2/28 | HB 408 | Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| 1/07 | SB 1714 | Competitive Electric Utilities | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| 5/03 | SB 1520 | 2006-2007 Budget | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| 5/02 | SB 2872 | Local Government Facility Lease Act | Bill Passed - House (65 - 46) |
| 5/01 | SB 1445 | Election Code Revisions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 40) |
| 4/26 | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - House (70 - 32) |
| 4/19 | SB 3086 | Eminent Domain Blight | Bill Passed - House (85 - 6) |
| 3/29 | HB 1917 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Gambling | Bill Failed - House (58 - 52) |