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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6, 2017 | IL | HB 109 | Establishes Stopgap Budget | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
| May 19, 2016 | IL | SB 250 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 41) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Bill Passed - House (65 - 48) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| May 27, 2014 | IL | SB 16 | Amends Formula for School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 3836 | Amends Lincoln Presidential Library Operations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 29) |
| May 22, 2014 | IL | SJRCA 75 | Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| May 15, 2014 | IL | HB 4075 | Establishes Standards for Ridesharing Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 8) |
| April 10, 2014 | IL | HB 4075 | Establishes Standards for Ridesharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (80 - 26) |
| April 7, 2014 | IL | HR 895 | Encourages Investigative Hearings about the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| Nov. 6, 2013 | IL | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| Nov. 6, 2013 | IL | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| Nov. 6, 2013 | IL | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 55) |
| May 23, 2013 | IL | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 23, 2013 | IL | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 15, 2013 | IL | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| April 17, 2013 | IL | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - House (95 - 22) |
| April 11, 2013 | IL | HJRCA 18 | Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| April 11, 2013 | IL | HJRCA 18 | Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| March 21, 2013 | IL | HB 1165 | Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| May 31, 2012 | IL | SB 3442 | Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| May 31, 2012 | IL | HB 1447 | Pension Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24) |
| May 30, 2012 | IL | SB 3442 | Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| May 10, 2012 | IL | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| May 9, 2012 | IL | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| March 21, 2012 | IL | HB 3944 | Authorizing the Recording of Police | Bill Failed - House (45 - 59) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| May 27, 2011 | IL | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| May 27, 2011 | IL | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| Jan. 10, 2011 | IL | SB 3644 | Labor Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| Jan. 4, 2011 | IL | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Jan. 4, 2011 | IL | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| May 27, 2010 | IL | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8) |
| May 27, 2010 | IL | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23) |
| May 27, 2010 | IL | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23) |
| May 25, 2010 | IL | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| May 25, 2010 | IL | SB 3514 | Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (71 - 44) |
| May 25, 2010 | IL | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
| May 25, 2010 | IL | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
| May 7, 2010 | IL | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| May 7, 2010 | IL | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
| 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) |
| May 5, 2010 | IL | SB 3695 | Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| May 4, 2010 | IL | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| March 26, 2010 | IL | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| 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 3, 2010 | IL | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/06 | HB 109 | Establishes Stopgap Budget | Bill Passed - House (64 - 45) |
| 5/19 | SB 250 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16) |
| 4/21 | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| 4/21 | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| 4/21 | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| 4/21 | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| 5/30 | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 41) |
| 5/30 | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
| 5/30 | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Bill Passed - House (65 - 48) |
| 5/30 | HB 105 | Authorizes Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| 5/27 | SB 16 | Amends Formula for School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| 5/27 | HB 3836 | Amends Lincoln Presidential Library Operations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 29) |
| 5/22 | SJRCA 75 | Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 5/15 | HB 4075 | Establishes Standards for Ridesharing Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 8) |
| 4/10 | HB 4075 | Establishes Standards for Ridesharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (80 - 26) |
| 4/07 | HR 895 | Encourages Investigative Hearings about the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) | Resolution Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| 2/05 | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 2/04 | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 53) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 11/06 | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 11/06 | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 11/06 | SB 1523 | Amends Pension Code | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 5/27 | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 55) |
| 5/23 | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 5/23 | HB 3227 | Amends State Health Benefits Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 5/15 | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| 4/17 | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - House (95 - 22) |
| 4/11 | HJRCA 18 | Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| 4/11 | HJRCA 18 | Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| 3/21 | HB 1165 | Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| 2/28 | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| 5/31 | SB 3442 | Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| 5/31 | HB 1447 | Pension Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 5/30 | SB 3442 | Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| 5/10 | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| 5/09 | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| 3/21 | HB 3944 | Authorizing the Recording of Police | Bill Failed - House (45 - 59) |
| 5/31 | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| 5/31 | SB 1178 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 25) |
| 5/27 | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| 5/27 | SB 1177 | General Assembly Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 22) |
| 1/10 | SB 3644 | Labor Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 49) |
| 1/04 | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 1/04 | SB 3976 | Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 5/27 | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8) |
| 5/27 | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23) |
| 5/27 | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23) |
| 5/25 | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| 5/25 | SB 3514 | Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (71 - 44) |
| 5/25 | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
| 5/25 | SB 3660 | Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
| 5/07 | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| 5/07 | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 5/06 | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 5/05 | SB 3695 | Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| 5/04 | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| 4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| 3/26 | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| 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) |
| 3/03 | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| 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) |