Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Oct. 2, 2007 IL SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
Oct. 3, 2007 IL SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
Oct. 11, 2007 IL SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37)
Oct. 3, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
April 20, 2007 IL S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24)
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)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
May 22, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Jan. 10, 2008 IL HB 656 Transportation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
May 31, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
Jan. 17, 2008 IL HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
Jan. 9, 2008 IL HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
Jan. 17, 2008 IL HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
May 4, 2006 IL SB 1520 2006-2007 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 3, 2006 IL SB 1520 2006-2007 Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 49)
Sept. 18, 2007 IL HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
Aug. 10, 2007 IL HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 5)
July 26, 2007 IL SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation Bill Passed - House (80 - 33)
May 27, 2009 IL SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
May 19, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
May 28, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
May 20, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
May 30, 2009 IL HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
May 20, 2011 IL HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
Aug. 9, 2007 IL HB 556 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
April 17, 2008 IL SB 2063 South Suburban Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
Jan. 9, 2009 IL HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
May 1, 2006 IL SB 1445 Election Code Revisions Bill Passed - House (61 - 40)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
May 15, 2008 IL HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Bill Passed - House (83 - 28)
June 7, 2007 IL HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
May 17, 2007 IL HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
April 27, 2007 IL HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - House (63 - 52)
Feb. 28, 2007 IL HB 408 Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
April 1, 2008 IL SB 1997 Interscholastic Event Image Release Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5)
April 1, 2008 IL HB 4232 State Board of Education Selection Process Bill Passed - House (86 - 21)
May 22, 2008 IL HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
May 29, 2019 IL HB 3534 Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
May 7, 2008 IL HJR 132 Legislative Salaries Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8)
April 30, 2008 IL HB 5191 Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility Bill Passed - House (74 - 36)
May 29, 2008 IL SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
May 15, 2007 IL HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
May 30, 2009 IL SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
April 17, 2008 IL SB 2858 Public School Trans Fat Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)
April 20, 2007 IL SB 1592 Electric Rates Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
May 9, 2007 IL SB 1007 Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
Jan. 7, 2007 IL SB 1714 Competitive Electric Utilities Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
March 4, 2008 IL HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2009 IL HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
May 7, 2008 IL HB 4139 Peace Officer Firearms Bill Passed - House (91 - 18)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
March 29, 2007 IL HB 414 Community College Student Housing Bill Passed - House (82 - 32)
March 1, 2007 IL HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
May 15, 2008 IL SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - House (64 - 44)
March 18, 2009 IL HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
April 16, 2008 IL SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
April 30, 2008 IL HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
May 1, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
Jan. 10, 2008 IL HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
March 28, 2007 IL HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
May 2, 2006 IL SB 2872 Local Government Facility Lease Act Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
March 29, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
May 4, 2006 IL HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
April 12, 2011 IL HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
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 1, 2006 IL SB 1991 Minority and Female Investors in Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 23)
April 19, 2018 IL SB 2546 Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
May 30, 2016 IL SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 43)
July 6, 2017 IL SB 6 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37)
July 9, 2013 IL HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 17)
Dec. 4, 2012 IL SB 681 Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28)
Nov. 27, 2018 IL SB 3136 Authorizes More Discretion by the State Police in Positive Cannabis Testing Terminations Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 24)
Aug. 13, 2017 IL SB 1 Specifies School Funding Reallocation Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
Sept. 9, 2015 IL HB 1 Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11)
July 9, 2013 IL HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 31)
Oct. 26, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 42)
May 30, 2016 IL SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
May 22, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 41)
July 4, 2017 IL SB 6 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
March 2, 2016 IL SB 2043 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/02 SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
10/03 SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 9)
10/11 SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37)
10/03 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
4/20 S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24)
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)
8/19 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
5/22 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
5/05 SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51)
5/31 SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
5/31 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
1/17 HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47)
5/27 SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
1/09 HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
8/10 HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 8)
7/26 SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 13)
5/31 SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
1/17 HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
5/04 SB 1520 2006-2007 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/03 SB 1520 2006-2007 Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 49)
9/18 HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
8/10 HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 5)
7/26 SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation Bill Passed - House (80 - 33)
5/27 SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
5/19 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
5/28 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
5/20 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
5/30 HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
5/20 HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
8/09 HB 556 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
4/17 SB 2063 South Suburban Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
1/09 HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
5/01 SB 1445 Election Code Revisions Bill Passed - House (61 - 40)
5/02 HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
5/15 HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Bill Passed - House (83 - 28)
6/07 HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
5/17 HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
4/27 HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - House (63 - 52)
2/28 HB 408 Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
4/01 SB 1997 Interscholastic Event Image Release Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5)
4/01 HB 4232 State Board of Education Selection Process Bill Passed - House (86 - 21)
5/22 HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
5/29 HB 3534 Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
5/07 HJR 132 Legislative Salaries Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8)
4/30 HB 5191 Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility Bill Passed - House (74 - 36)
5/29 SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
5/15 HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
5/30 SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
4/17 SB 2858 Public School Trans Fat Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)
4/20 SB 1592 Electric Rates Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
5/09 SB 1007 Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
1/07 SB 1714 Competitive Electric Utilities Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
3/04 HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
5/02 HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
2/23 SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
1/14 HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
2/23 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
5/07 HB 4139 Peace Officer Firearms Bill Passed - House (91 - 18)
4/01 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
3/29 HB 414 Community College Student Housing Bill Passed - House (82 - 32)
3/01 HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
5/15 SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - House (64 - 44)
3/18 HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
4/16 SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
4/30 HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
5/01 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
3/28 HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
5/02 SB 2872 Local Government Facility Lease Act Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
3/29 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
5/04 HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
4/12 HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement Bill Passed - House (64 - 48)
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)
3/01 SB 1991 Minority and Female Investors in Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 23)
4/19 SB 2546 Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
5/30 SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 43)
7/06 SB 6 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 37)
7/09 HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 17)
12/04 SB 681 Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28)
11/27 SB 3136 Authorizes More Discretion by the State Police in Positive Cannabis Testing Terminations Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 24)
8/13 SB 1 Specifies School Funding Reallocation Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
9/09 HB 1 Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11)
7/09 HB 183 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 31)
10/26 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 42)
5/30 SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
5/22 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 41)
7/04 SB 6 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
3/02 SB 2043 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 17)

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