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
March 29, 2006 IL HB 1917 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Gambling Bill Failed - House (58 - 52)
March 1, 2006 IL SB 1991 Minority and Female Investors in Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 23)
April 6, 2006 IL SB 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
April 6, 2006 IL SB 3053 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
May 2, 2006 IL SB 2872 Local Government Facility Lease Act Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
April 26, 2006 IL HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - House (70 - 32)
May 4, 2006 IL HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
May 1, 2006 IL SB 1445 Election Code Revisions Bill Passed - House (61 - 40)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
April 19, 2006 IL SB 3086 Eminent Domain – Blight Bill Passed - House (85 - 6)
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)
Jan. 7, 2007 IL SB 1714 Competitive Electric Utilities Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
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)
March 1, 2007 IL HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
March 28, 2007 IL HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
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)
May 1, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
April 20, 2007 IL SB 1592 Electric Rates Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
April 26, 2007 IL HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
Feb. 28, 2007 IL HB 408 Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
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)
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, 2007 IL HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
June 7, 2007 IL HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
May 9, 2007 IL SB 1007 Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
July 6, 2007 IL HB 2055 State Lottery Privatization Bill Failed - House (6 - 78)
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)
Aug. 10, 2007 IL HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 8)
Aug. 10, 2007 IL HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 5)
March 29, 2007 IL HB 414 Community College Student Housing Bill Passed - House (82 - 32)
Aug. 9, 2007 IL HB 556 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24)
Sept. 18, 2007 IL HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
April 20, 2007 IL S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24)
Oct. 10, 2007 IL SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53)
Oct. 2, 2007 IL SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
Oct. 3, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19)
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)
Nov. 28, 2007 IL SB 307 Regional Transportation Authority Funding Bill Failed - House (57 - 53)
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)
Jan. 9, 2008 IL HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
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)
March 4, 2008 IL HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
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)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
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 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)
May 7, 2008 IL HJR 132 Legislative Salaries Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8)
May 7, 2008 IL HB 4139 Peace Officer Firearms Bill Passed - House (91 - 18)
April 16, 2008 IL SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
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 22, 2008 IL HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
May 27, 2008 IL HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
May 1, 2008 IL SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
May 29, 2008 IL SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)
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 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
Jan. 9, 2009 IL HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
Jan. 14, 2009 IL HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
March 18, 2009 IL HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
Jan. 6, 2011 IL SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Failed - House (56 - 60)
May 27, 2009 IL SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
May 31, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
May 28, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
May 27, 2009 IL SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
May 30, 2009 IL SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
May 30, 2009 IL HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 2252 Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses Bill Failed - House (42 - 74)
June 30, 2009 IL SB 415 Bond Approval Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (32 - 21)
May 31, 2009 IL SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
May 22, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
May 20, 2009 IL HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
July 15, 2009 IL SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
May 19, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
Jan. 13, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/29 HB 1917 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Gambling Bill Failed - House (58 - 52)
3/01 SB 1991 Minority and Female Investors in Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 23)
4/06 SB 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
4/06 SB 3053 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
5/02 SB 2872 Local Government Facility Lease Act Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
4/26 HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - House (70 - 32)
5/04 HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
5/01 SB 1445 Election Code Revisions Bill Passed - House (61 - 40)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
4/19 SB 3086 Eminent Domain – Blight Bill Passed - House (85 - 6)
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)
1/07 SB 1714 Competitive Electric Utilities Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
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)
3/01 HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
2/23 SB 9 Illinois Climate Change Act Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 13)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
3/28 HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
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)
5/01 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - House (73 - 42)
4/20 SB 1592 Electric Rates Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
4/26 HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
2/28 HB 408 Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
5/02 HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
5/17 HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
4/27 HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - House (63 - 52)
5/02 HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
5/15 HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
6/07 HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness Resolution Passed - House (48 - 47)
5/09 SB 1007 Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26)
7/06 HB 2055 State Lottery Privatization Bill Failed - House (6 - 78)
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)
8/10 HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 8)
8/10 HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 5)
3/29 HB 414 Community College Student Housing Bill Passed - House (82 - 32)
8/09 HB 556 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24)
9/18 HB 2035 Gaming Expansion to Fund Infrastructure and Social Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
4/20 S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24)
10/10 SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 53)
10/02 SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
10/03 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - House (92 - 19)
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)
11/28 SB 307 Regional Transportation Authority Funding Bill Failed - House (57 - 53)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51)
1/10 HB 656 Transportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
1/09 HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
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)
3/04 HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection Bill Passed - House (72 - 31)
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)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
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)
4/30 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)
5/07 HJR 132 Legislative Salaries Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8)
5/07 HB 4139 Peace Officer Firearms Bill Passed - House (91 - 18)
4/16 SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
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)
5/22 HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
5/27 HB 5288 Expand Use of Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 24)
5/01 SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
5/29 SB 788 Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
8/13 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)
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 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
1/09 HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1)
1/14 HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Resolution Passed - House (117 - 1)
3/18 HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
4/01 HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (89 - 27)
1/06 SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Failed - House (56 - 60)
5/27 SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
5/31 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46)
5/28 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
5/31 SB 612 Raising the Cap on Charter Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
5/27 SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 30)
5/30 SB 744 New Casino Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28)
5/30 HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/31 SB 2252 Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses Bill Failed - House (42 - 74)
6/30 SB 415 Bond Approval Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (32 - 21)
5/31 SB 1918 Low-Income Energy Assistance Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 11)
5/22 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 30)
5/20 HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 12)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10)
7/15 SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (90 - 22)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12)
7/15 SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue Bill Passed - House (88 - 24)
5/19 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/01 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
1/13 HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 30)
1/12 HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
1/13 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)

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