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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2009 | IL | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | IL | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | IL | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| Aug. 13, 2008 | IL | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| Aug. 13, 2008 | IL | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| May 27, 2008 | IL | HB 5288 | Expand Use of Red Light Cameras | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| May 22, 2008 | IL | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| May 15, 2008 | IL | HB 4758 | Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority | Bill Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| April 17, 2008 | IL | SB 2858 | Public School Trans Fat Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| April 17, 2008 | IL | SB 2063 | South Suburban Airport Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7) |
| April 17, 2008 | IL | SB 2063 | South Suburban Airport Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7) |
| April 17, 2008 | IL | SB 2858 | Public School Trans Fat Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| April 1, 2008 | IL | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| April 1, 2008 | IL | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| 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 - Senate (32 - 19) |
| 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. 10, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
| Nov. 28, 2007 | IL | SB 307 | Regional Transportation Authority Funding | Bill Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| Oct. 12, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| Oct. 12, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| 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 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Oct. 3, 2007 | IL | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Oct. 2, 2007 | IL | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Sept. 18, 2007 | IL | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Aug. 9, 2007 | IL | HB 556 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
| July 26, 2007 | IL | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| July 26, 2007 | IL | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Bill Passed - House (80 - 33) |
| May 31, 2007 | IL | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| May 1, 2007 | IL | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| April 26, 2007 | IL | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
| April 20, 2007 | IL | S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24) | |
| April 20, 2007 | IL | SB 1592 | Electric Rates Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| 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 29, 2007 | IL | HB 1769 | Smoking Ban in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (18 - 91) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | HB 414 | Community College Student Housing | Bill Passed - House (82 - 32) |
| 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) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | IL | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
| May 2, 2006 | IL | SB 2872 | Local Government Facility Lease Act | Bill Passed - House (65 - 46) |
| April 19, 2006 | IL | SB 3086 | Eminent Domain Blight | Bill Passed - House (85 - 6) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/18 | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| 8/19 | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 8/19 | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| 8/13 | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| 8/13 | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| 5/27 | HB 5288 | Expand Use of Red Light Cameras | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 5/22 | HB 2310 | Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| 5/15 | HB 4758 | Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority | Bill Passed - House (83 - 28) |
| 4/17 | SB 2858 | Public School Trans Fat Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| 4/17 | SB 2063 | South Suburban Airport Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7) |
| 4/17 | SB 2063 | South Suburban Airport Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7) |
| 4/17 | SB 2858 | Public School Trans Fat Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| 4/01 | HB 4232 | State Board of Education Selection Process | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| 4/01 | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| 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 - Senate (32 - 19) |
| 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) |
| 1/10 | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
| 11/28 | SB 307 | Regional Transportation Authority Funding | Bill Failed - House (57 - 53) |
| 10/12 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| 10/12 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1) |
| 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 | SB 1463 | Silent Reflection and Student Prayer | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| 10/03 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 10/03 | HB 664 | Homeowner Tax Exemption | Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 10/02 | SB 540 | Truck Speed Limit Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 9/18 | HB 2035 | Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 8/09 | HB 556 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
| 7/26 | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13) |
| 7/26 | SB 1592 | Electricity Relief and Regulation | Bill Passed - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/31 | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| 5/01 | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| 4/26 | HB 317 | Abortion Notification Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 62) |
| 4/20 | S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24) | |
| 4/20 | SB 1592 | Electric Rates Freeze | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| 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) |
| 3/29 | HB 1769 | Smoking Ban in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (18 - 91) |
| 3/29 | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| 3/29 | HB 414 | Community College Student Housing | Bill Passed - House (82 - 32) |
| 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) |
| 2/23 | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
| 5/02 | SB 2872 | Local Government Facility Lease Act | Bill Passed - House (65 - 46) |
| 4/19 | SB 3086 | Eminent Domain Blight | Bill Passed - House (85 - 6) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |