Illinois Bill Tracking And State Guide
Everything you need to know to engage with the Senate and House
How does a bill become law in Illinois?
- Step 1: Introduction of Bill
A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.
- Step 2: Committee Work - Hearings
The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.
- Step 3: Committee Work - Markup, Amendments, Report
The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.
- Step 4: Floor Debate
The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.
- Step 5: Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber
If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.
- Step 6: Gubernatorial Action
The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory.
Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.
How can a member of the public get involved in the legislative process in Illinois?
A member of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Illinois through several means:
1. Testifying at Committee Hearings: During committee work on a bill, the public can attend hearings where they may have the opportunity to testify either in support or opposition to a bill. This is a chance to share their views, provide testimony, and influence committee members' decisions.
2. Contacting Legislators: Individuals can reach out to their elected representatives in the Illinois General Assembly (either in the House or the Senate) to express their opinions on specific bills. This can be done through phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings.
3. Participating in Advocacy Groups: Joining interest groups or advocacy organizations related to specific legislative issues can help amplify their voice. These groups often have resources and strategies for engaging effectively in the legislative process.
4. Following Legislation: Members of the public can stay informed by monitoring legislative activity, including bill introductions, committee reports, and floor debates, which are often available online. This knowledge can help them understand how to effectively engage with the process.
5. Engaging in Public Comment: Some legislative processes may include opportunities for public comment, where interested citizens can submit their written opinions or concerns regarding specific proposed legislation.
6. Attending Floor Debates: Individuals can attend sessions where bills are discussed and debated, allowing them to witness the legislative process in action and better understand the issues at stake.
How can FastDemocracy help me with that?
Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Illinois every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.
FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.
FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features
- real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
- automated reporting
- team collaboration
- bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
- bill similarity detection
- ...and much more
How do I track bills in Illinois?
1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.
2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.
3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.
4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.
5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.
6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.
7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.
How do I find my local Illinois Senator and Representative?
You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.
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Most tracked bills in Illinois, 104th Regular Session (2025-2026)
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee
House • Jan 09, 2025Latest Version
All Legislators in Illinois (Senator and Representative)
