Bill Text: IL SR0004 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Adopts the Senate Rules for the 104th General Assembly.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2025-01-09 - Resolution Adopted; 040-014-000 [SR0004 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SR0004-Introduced.html

---

SR0004 LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the following (which
are the same as the Rules of the Senate of the One Hundred
Third General Assembly except as indicated by striking and
underscoring) are adopted as the Rules of the Senate of the One
Hundred Fourth General Assembly:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in these Senate Rules, the following terms have
the meanings ascribed to them in this Article I, unless the
context clearly requires a different meaning:
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-1)
1-1. Chair. "Chair" means that Senator designated by the
President to serve as chair of a committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-2)
1-2. Committee. "Committee" means a committee of the

SR0004 - 2 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Senate and includes a standing committee, a special committee,
and a special subcommittee of a committee. "Committee" does
not mean a conference committee, and the procedural and notice
requirements applicable to committees do not apply to
conference committees.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-3)
1-3. Constitution. "Constitution" means the Constitution
of the State of Illinois.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-3.5)
1-3.5. Deputy Minority Leader. "Deputy Minority Leader"
means a Senator designated by the Senate Minority Leader to
assist the Minority Leader with the operation of the minority
caucus of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-4)
1-4. General Assembly. "General Assembly" means the
current General Assembly of the State of Illinois.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-5)
1-5. House. "House" means the House of Representatives of

SR0004 - 3 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the General Assembly.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-6)
1-6. Joint Action Motion. "Joint action motion" means any
of the following motions before the Senate: to concur in a
House amendment, to non-concur in a House amendment, to recede
from a Senate amendment, to refuse to recede from a Senate
amendment, and to request that a conference committee be
appointed.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-7)
1-7. Legislative Digest. "Legislative Digest" means the
Legislative Synopsis and Digest that is prepared by the
Legislative Reference Bureau of the General Assembly.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-8)
1-8. Legislative Measure. "Legislative measure" means any
matter brought before the Senate for consideration, whether
originated in the Senate or House, and includes bills,
amendments, resolutions, conference committee reports,
motions, and messages from the executive branch.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 4 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 1-9)
1-9. Majority. "Majority" means a simple majority of those
members present and voting on a question. Unless otherwise
specified with respect to a particular Senate Rule, for
purposes of determining the number of members present and
voting on a question, a "present" vote shall not be counted.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-10)
1-10. Majority Caucus. "Majority caucus" means that group
of Senators from the numerically strongest political party in
the Senate. "Majority caucus" also includes any Senator who is
not from the numerically strongest or numerically second
strongest political party in the Senate but who casts his or
her final vote for President of the Senate for the person who
is elected President of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-10.5)
1-10.5. Majority Leader. "Majority Leader" means a Senator
designated by the President of the Senate to serve as the
Majority Leader and assist the President with the operation of
the Senate and the majority caucus of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-11)

SR0004 - 5 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
1-11. Majority of those Appointed. "Majority of those
appointed" means an absolute majority of the total number of
Senators appointed to a committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-12)
1-12. Majority of those Elected. "Majority of those
elected" means an absolute majority of the total number of
Senators entitled to be elected to the Senate, irrespective of
the number of elected or appointed Senators actually serving
in office. So long as 59 Senators are entitled to be elected to
the Senate, "majority of those elected" shall mean 30
affirmative votes.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-13)
1-13. Member. "Member" means a Senator. Where the context
so requires, "member" may also mean a Representative of the
Illinois House of Representatives.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-14)
1-14. Members Appointed. "Members appointed" means the
total number of Senators appointed to a committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 6 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 1-15)
1-15. Members Elected. "Members elected" means the total
number of Senators entitled to be elected to the Senate,
irrespective of the number of elected or appointed Senators
actually serving in office. So long as 59 Senators are
entitled to be elected in the Senate, "members elected" shall
mean 59 Senators.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-16)
1-16. Minority Caucus. "Minority caucus" means that group
of Senators from other than the majority caucus.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-17)
1-17. Minority Leader. "Minority Leader" means the
Minority Leader of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-18)
1-18. Minority Spokesperson. "Minority Spokesperson" means
that Senator designated by the Minority Leader to serve as the
Minority Spokesperson of a committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-19)

SR0004 - 7 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
1-19. Perfunctory Session. "Perfunctory session" means the
convening of the Senate, pursuant to the scheduling of the
President, for purposes consistent with Rule 4-1(c) or (d).
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-20)
1-20. President. "President" means the President of the
Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-21)
1-21. Presiding Officer. "Presiding Officer" means that
Senator serving as the presiding officer of the Senate,
whether that Senator is the President or another Senator
designated by the President, in his or her capacity as
presiding officer.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-22)
1-22. Principal Sponsor. "Principal sponsor" means the
first listed Senate sponsor of any legislative measure; with
respect to a committee-sponsored bill or resolution, it means
the Chair of the committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-23)

SR0004 - 8 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
1-23. Secretary. "Secretary" means the elected Secretary
of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-24)
1-24. Senate. "Senate" means the Senate of the General
Assembly.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-25)
1-25. Senator. "Senator" means any of the duly elected or
duly appointed Illinois State Senators, and means the same as
"member".
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-26)
1-26. Term. "Term" means the two-year term of a General
Assembly.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-27)
1-27. Vice-Chair. "Vice-Chair" means that Senator
designated by the President to serve as Vice-Chair of a
committee.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 9 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 1-28)
1-28. Celebration of Life Resolution. "Celebration of Life
Resolution" means a resolution filed by a Senator celebrating
the memory of an individual who has died.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 1-29 new)
1-29. Congratulatory Resolution. "Congratulatory
Resolution" means a resolution filed by a Senator to
congratulate an individual or entity with a connection to
Illinois on an achievement or occasion of note.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-1)
2-1. Adoption of Rules. At the commencement of a term, the
Senate shall adopt new Rules of organization and procedure by
resolution setting forth those Rules in their entirety. The
resolution must be adopted by a majority of those elected.
These Rules of the Senate are subject to revision or amendment
only in accordance with Rule 7-17.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 10 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 2-2)
2-2. Election of the President.
(a) Prior to the election of the President, the Governor
shall convene the Senate, designate a Temporary Secretary of
the Senate, and preside during the nomination and election of
the President. As the first item of business each day prior to
the election of the President, the Governor shall order the
Temporary Secretary to call the roll of the members to
establish the presence of a quorum as required by the
Constitution. If a majority of those elected are not present,
the Senate shall stand adjourned until the hour of 12:00 noon
on the next calendar day, excepting weekends and official
State Holidays. If a quorum of members is present, the
Governor shall then call for nominations of members for the
Office of President. All such nominations shall require a
second. When the nominations are completed, the Governor shall
direct the Temporary Secretary to call the roll of the members
to elect the President.
(b) The election of the President shall require the
affirmative vote of a majority of those elected. Debate shall
not be in order following nominations and preceding or during
the vote, and Senators may not explain their vote on the
election of the President.

SR0004 - 11 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c) No bills may be considered and no committees may be
appointed or meet prior to the election of the President.
(d) When a vacancy in the Office of President occurs, the
foregoing procedure shall be employed to elect a new
President; however, when the Governor is of a political party
other than that of the majority caucus, the Assistant Majority
Leader having the greatest seniority of service in the Senate
shall preside during the nomination and election of the
successor President. No legislative measures, other than such
nominations and election, may be considered by the Senate
during a vacancy in the Office of President.
(e) No Senator shall be elected to the office of President
of the Senate for more than five General Assemblies; provided
that service as President before the commencement of the 100th
General Assembly nor service as President under subsection (d)
of this Section shall not be considered in the calculation of
the Senator's service.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-3)
2-3. Election of the Minority Leader. The Senate shall
elect a Minority Leader in a manner consistent with the
Constitution and laws of Illinois. No Senator shall be elected
to the office of Senate Minority Leader for more than five

SR0004 - 12 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
General Assemblies; provided that service as Minority Leader
before the commencement of the 100th General Assembly nor
service as Minority Leader while filling a vacancy in the
Office shall not be considered in the calculation of the
Senator's service.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-4)
2-4. Majority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, and
Assistant Leaders.
(a) The President shall appoint from within the Majority
Caucus a Majority Leader. The Minority Leader shall appoint
from within the Minority Caucus a Deputy Minority Leader. The
President and the Minority Leader shall appoint from within
their respective caucuses the number of Assistant Majority
Leaders and Assistant Minority Leaders as are allowed by law,
in addition to a Majority Caucus Chair and a Minority Caucus
Chair.
(b) These appointments shall take effect upon their being
filed with the Secretary and those appointed shall serve at
the pleasure of the respective appointing leader. Successor
assistant leaders and caucus chairs shall be appointed in the
same manner as their predecessors. Assistant leaders shall
have those powers delegated to them by the President or
Minority Leader, as the case may be.

SR0004 - 13 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-5)
2-5. Powers and Duties of the President.
(a) The President shall have those powers conferred upon
him or her by the Constitution, the laws of Illinois, and any
motions or resolutions adopted by the Senate or jointly by the
Senate and House.
(b) Except as provided by law with respect to the Senate
Operations Commission, the President is the chief
administrative officer of the Senate and shall have those
powers necessary to carry out that function. The President may
delegate his or her administrative duties as he or she deems
appropriate.
(c) The powers and duties of the President shall include,
but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To preside at all sessions of the Senate, although
the President may call on any member to preside
temporarily.
(2) To open the session at the time at which the Senate
is to meet by taking the podium and calling the members to
order. The President may call on any member, or the

SR0004 - 14 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Secretary in case of perfunctory session, to open the
session.
(3) To announce the business before the Senate in the
order in which it is to be acted upon.
(4) To recognize those members entitled to the floor.
(5) To state and put to vote all questions that are
regularly moved or that necessarily arise in the course of
the proceedings, and to announce the result of the vote.
(6) To preserve order and decorum.
(7) To decide all points of order, subject to appeal,
and to speak thereon in preference to other members.
(8) To inform the Senate when necessary, or when any
question is raised, on any point of order or practice
pertinent to the pending business.
(9) To sign or authenticate all acts, proceedings, or
orders of the Senate. All writs, warrants, and subpoenas
issued by order of the Senate or one of its committees
shall be signed by the President and attested by the
Secretary.

SR0004 - 15 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(10) To sign all bills passed by both chambers of the
General Assembly in order to certify that the procedural
requirements for passage have been met.
(11) To have general supervision, including the duty
to protect the security and safety, of the Senate chamber,
galleries, and adjoining and connecting hallways and
passages, including the power to clear them when
necessary.
(12) To have general supervision of the Secretary and
his or her assistants, the Sergeant-at-Arms and his or her
assistants, the majority caucus staff, and all employees
of the Senate except the minority caucus staff.
(13) To determine the number of majority caucus
members and minority caucus members to be appointed to all
committees, except the Committee on Assignments created by
Rule 3-5.
(14) To appoint or replace all majority caucus members
of committees and to designate all Chairs, Co-Chairs, and
Vice-Chairs of committees, except as the Senate otherwise
orders in accordance with these Senate Rules.

SR0004 - 16 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(15) To enforce all constitutional provisions,
statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to the Senate.
(16) To guide and direct the proceedings of the Senate
subject to the control and will of the members as provided
in these Senate Rules.
(17) To direct the Secretary during regular session,
veto session, special session, or perfunctory session to
read into the Senate record legislative measures and other
papers.
(18) To direct the Secretary to correct
non-substantive errors in the Journal.
(19) To assign meeting places and meeting times to
committees.
(20) To decide, subject to the control and will of the
members in accordance with these Senate Rules, all
questions relating to the priority of business.
(21) To appoint a parliamentarian to serve at the
pleasure of the President.
(22) To promulgate forms for nominees subject to the

SR0004 - 17 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
advice and consent of the Senate, for temporary
appointment messages, and for messages designating acting
appointees.
(23) To promulgate forms for members of the Senate to
disclose conflicts under the Illinois Governmental Ethics
Act.
(d) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-6)
2-6. Powers and Duties of the Minority Leader.
(a) The Minority Leader shall have those powers conferred
upon him or her by the Constitution, the laws of Illinois, and
any motions or resolutions adopted by the Senate or jointly by
the Senate and House.
(b) The Minority Leader shall appoint to all committees
the members from the minority caucus, and may replace those
members, and shall designate a Minority Spokesperson for each
committee, except as the Senate otherwise orders in accordance
with these Senate Rules.
(c) The Minority Leader shall have general supervision of

SR0004 - 18 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the minority caucus staff.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-7)
2-7. Secretary of the Senate.
(a) The Senate shall elect a Secretary, who may adopt
appropriate policies or procedures for the conduct of his or
her office. Except where the authority is by law given to the
Senate Operations Commission, the President shall be the final
arbiter of any dispute arising in connection with the
operation of the Office of the Secretary.
(b) The duties of the Secretary shall include the
following:
(1) To have custody of all bills, papers, and records
of the Senate, which shall not be taken out of the
Secretary's custody except in the regular course of
business in the Senate.
(2) To endorse on every original bill and each copy
its number, names of sponsors, the date of introduction,
and the several orders taken on it. When printed, the
names of the sponsors shall appear on the front page of the
bill in the same order they appeared when introduced.

SR0004 - 19 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(3) To cause each bill to be placed on the desks of the
members as soon as it is printed, or alternatively to
provide for a method that any Senator may use to secure a
copy of any bill he or she desires.
(4) To keep the Journal of the proceedings of the
Senate and, under the direction of the President, correct
errors in the Journal.
(5) To keep the transcripts of the debates of the
Senate and make them available to the public under
reasonable conditions.
(6) To keep the necessary records for the Senate and
its committees and to prepare the Senate Calendar for each
legislative day.
(7) To examine all Senate Bills and Constitutional
Amendment Resolutions following Second Reading and prior
to final passage, for the purpose of correcting any
non-substantive errors therein, and to report the same
back to the President promptly; to supervise the enrolling
and engrossing of bills and resolutions, subject to the
direction of the President; and to certify passage or
adoption of legislative measures, and to note thereon the
date of final Senate action. Any corrections suggested to

SR0004 - 20 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the President by the Secretary, and thereafter approved by
the Senate, shall be entered upon the Journal.
(8) To transmit bills, other documents, and other
messages to the House and secure a receipt therefor, and
to receive from the House bills, documents, and receipts
therefor.
(9) To file with the Secretary of State those debate
transcripts and Senate documents as are required by law.
(10) To attend every session of the Senate; record the
roll and roll calls as directed by the Presiding Officer;
and read into the Senate record legislative measures and
other papers as directed by the Presiding Officer. Bills
shall be read by title only. Upon initial reading, motions
may be read by title and sponsor only.
(11) To supervise all Assistant Secretaries and other
employees of his or her office, as well as all committee
clerks in their capacity as committee clerks.
(12) To establish the format for all documents, forms,
and committee records prepared by committee clerks.
(13) To perform those duties as assigned by the

SR0004 - 21 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
President.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-8)
2-8. Assistant Secretary of the Senate. The Senate shall,
in a manner consistent with the laws of Illinois, elect an
Assistant Secretary, who shall perform those duties assigned
to him or her by the Secretary.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-9)
2-9. Sergeant-at-Arms. The Senate shall elect a
Sergeant-at-Arms who shall perform those duties assigned to
him or her by law, or as are ordered by the President or
Presiding Officer. Such duties shall include the following:
(1) To attend the Senate during its sessions and
execute the commands of the Senate, together with all
process issued by authority of the Senate, that are
directed to him or her by the President or Presiding
Officer.
(2) To maintain order among spectators admitted into
the Senate chambers, galleries, and adjoining or
connecting hallways and passages.

SR0004 - 22 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(3) To take proper measures to prevent interruption of
the Senate.
(4) To supervise any Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms.
(5) To perform those duties as assigned by the
President.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 2-10)
2-10. Schedule.
(a) The President shall periodically establish a schedule
of days on which the Senate shall convene in regular and veto
session, with that schedule subject to revisions at the
discretion of the President. The President may also at his or
her discretion schedule perfunctory sessions of the Senate.
The President may establish deadlines for the following
legislative actions:
(1) Final day to request bills from the Legislative
Reference Bureau.
(2) Final day for introduction of bills.
(3) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to
report Senate bills, except Senate appropriations bills.

SR0004 - 23 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(4) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to
report Senate appropriation bills.
(5) Final day for Third Reading and passage of Senate
bills, except Senate appropriation bills.
(6) Final day for Third Reading and passage of Senate
appropriation bills.
(7) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to
report House appropriation bills.
(8) Final day for standing committees of the Senate to
report House bills, except appropriation bills.
(9) Final day for Third Reading and passage of House
appropriation bills.
(10) Final day for Third Reading and passage of House
non-appropriation bills.
(b) The President may establish additional deadlines for
final action on conference committee reports and any
categories of joint action motions.

SR0004 - 24 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c) The foregoing deadlines shall become effective upon
being filed by the President with the Secretary. The Secretary
shall Journalize the deadlines.
(d) At any time, the President may schedule alternative
deadlines for any legislative action pursuant to written
notice filed with the Secretary.
(e) The President may schedule deadlines for any other
legislative measure as he or she deems appropriate pursuant to
written notice filed with the Secretary.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-1)
3-1. Committees.
(a) The committees of the Senate are: (i) the standing
committees listed in Rule 3-4; (ii) special committees created
by resolution or notice under Rule 3-3; and (iii) special
subcommittees created by standing committees or by special
committees under Rule 3-3. Subcommittees may not create
subcommittees.

SR0004 - 25 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(b) All committees shall have a Chair and Minority
Spokesperson, who shall not be of the same caucus, except as
provided in Rule 3-2. Committees of the whole shall consist of
all Senators. The number of majority caucus members and
minority caucus members of all standing committees, and all
other committees unless otherwise ordered by the Senate in
accordance with these Senate Rules, shall be determined by the
President. The numbers of majority caucus and minority caucus
members shall become final upon the President filing with the
Secretary an appropriate notice, which shall be Journalized.
(c) The Chair of a committee shall have the authority to
call the committee to order, designate which legislative
measures that are assigned to the committee shall be taken up,
order the roll call vote to be taken on each legislative
measure called for a vote, preserve order and decorum during
committee meetings, assign legislative measures to special
subcommittees of the parent committee, jointly sign and issue
subpoenas with the President, and implement and supervise the
business of the committee. The Vice-Chair of a committee may
preside over its meetings in the absence or at the direction of
the Chair.
(d) A vacancy on a committee, or in the Chair or Minority
Spokesperson position on a committee, occurs when a member

SR0004 - 26 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
resigns from that position or ceases to be a Senator.
Resignations shall be made in writing to the Secretary, who
shall promptly notify the President and Minority Leader.
Absent concurrence by a majority of those elected, or as
otherwise provided in Rule 3-5, no member who resigns from a
committee shall be reappointed to that committee for the
remainder of the term. Replacement members shall be of the
same caucus as that of the member who resigns, and shall be
appointed by the President or Minority Leader, depending upon
the caucus of the resigning member. In the case of vacancies on
special subcommittees that were created by committees, any
vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the motion adopted to
create the subcommittee but if the motion does not specify how
a vacancy is filled then the parent committee shall fill the
vacancy by motion.
(e) The Chair of a committee shall have the authority to
call meetings of that committee, subject to the approval of
the President in accordance with Rule 2-5(c)(19). Except as
otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, committee meetings
shall be convened in accordance with Rule 3-11. The Chair of a
committee shall have the authority to adjourn any meetings of
that committee and, in the absence of the Chair or at the
direction of the Chair, a Vice-Chair or Co-Chair of that
committee who is appointed by the President from the majority
caucus shall also have the authority to adjourn any meetings

SR0004 - 27 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
of that committee.
(f) The President, in consultation with the Minority
Leader, may establish a process by which Senators and members
of the public may participate remotely, including voting, in
hearings for standing committees, special committees,
subcommittees or special subcommittees, and service
committees.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-2)
3-2. Membership and Officers of Standing Committees.
(a) At the commencement of the term, the members of each
standing committee shall be appointed by the President and the
Minority Leader, except as provided in subsection (c) of this
Rule or in Rule 3-5. The majority caucus members of a standing
committee shall serve at the pleasure of the President, and
the minority caucus members of a standing committee shall
serve at the pleasure of the Minority Leader. The President
shall appoint the Chair and the remaining committee members of
the majority caucus (one of whom the President shall designate
as Vice-Chair), and the Minority Leader shall appoint the
Minority Spokesperson and the remaining committee members of
the minority caucus, except as provided in paragraph (b) of
this Rule. The appointments shall become immediately effective
upon the delivery of appropriate correspondence from each of

SR0004 - 28 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the respective leaders to the Secretary, regardless of whether
the Senate is in session. The Chair and Minority Spokesperson
shall serve at the pleasure of the President or Minority
Leader, as the case may be. The Secretary shall Journalize all
appointments. A standing committee is empowered to conduct
business when a majority of the total number of committee
members has been appointed.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate
Rules, the President may appoint any two members to serve as
Co-Chairs of a standing committee. Co-Chairs shall not be of
the same caucus and shall serve at the pleasure of the
President. A standing committee with Co-Chairs shall not have
a Minority Spokesperson. For purposes of Section 1 of the
General Assembly Compensation Act (25 ILCS 115/1), one
Co-Chair shall be considered "chairman" and the other shall be
considered "minority spokesperson". Co-Chair appointments
shall become immediately effective upon the delivery of
appropriate correspondence from the President to the
Secretary, regardless of whether the Senate is in session. The
Secretary shall Journalize all appointments.
(c) To maintain the efficient operation of the Senate, any
committee member may be temporarily replaced due to illness or
an unforeseen absence from the Capitol at the time of the
committee hearing. The temporary appointment is effective upon

SR0004 - 29 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
delivery of appropriate correspondence from the President or
Minority Leader, depending upon the caucus of the member
affected, and shall remain effective for the duration of the
illness or temporary absence from the Capitol. If the member
returns to the Capitol while the committee is meeting, then
the temporary appointment shall remain effective until the
committee recesses or adjourns.
(d) To maintain the efficient operation of the Senate, the
President may temporarily appoint a member to serve in the
President's place on any committee to which the President has
been appointed, and the Minority Leader may temporarily
appoint a member to serve in the Minority Leader's place on any
committee to which the Minority Leader has been appointed. The
temporary appointment under this subsection (d) is effective
upon delivery of appropriate correspondence from the President
or Minority Leader, as is applicable, and shall remain
effective for the duration specified in the correspondence.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-3)
3-3. Special Committee and Subcommittees.
(a) The Senate may create special committees by resolution
adopted by a majority of those elected. The President also may
create special committees by filing a notice of the creation
of the special committee with the Secretary. The appointed

SR0004 - 30 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
members of a special committee shall be designated by the
President and the Minority Leader in the same manner outlined
in Rule 3-2 with respect to standing committees.
(a-5) The President may create special subcommittees for
the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate
Redistricting Committee by filing a notice of the creation of
the special subcommittee with the Secretary. The appointed
members of special subcommittees for the Senate Appropriations
Committee and the Senate Redistricting Committee shall be
designated by the President and the Minority Leader in the
same manner outlined in Rule 3-2 with respect to standing
committees.
(b) A committee may create a special subcommittee by
motion adopted by a majority of those appointed. The members
of a special subcommittee shall come from the membership of
the creating committee, and shall be appointed in the manner
determined by the creating committee.
(c) The resolution, motion, or notice creating a special
committee or special subcommittee shall specify the subject
matter of the special committee or subcommittee and the number
of members to be appointed thereto, and may specify a
reporting date during the term (in which event the special
committee or subcommittee is abolished as of that date).

SR0004 - 31 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Unless an earlier date is specified by resolution, motion, or
notice, special committees and subcommittees shall expire at
the end of the term.
(d) When the Senate is not in session, Special Temporary
Committees may be created and appointed by the President. The
actions of the President and of a Special Temporary Committee
shall stand as the action of the Senate unless the action is
amended or modified on a roll call vote by a majority of those
elected during the next day the Senate convenes.
(e) In accordance with Section 1 of the General Assembly
Compensation Act (25 ILCS 115/1), no Chair or Minority
Spokesperson of a committee created under this Rule shall
receive additional compensation for such service.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-4)
3-4. Standing Committees. The Standing Committees of the
Senate are as follows:
AGRICULTURE
APPROPRIATIONS
APPROPRIATIONS-EDUCATION

SR0004 - 32 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
APPROPRIATIONS-HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROPRIATIONS-PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
CHILD WELFARE
COMMERCE
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CRIMINAL LAW
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
EDUCATION
ENERGY AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
EXECUTIVE
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

SR0004 - 33 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
HIGHER EDUCATION
HUMAN RIGHTS
INSURANCE
JUDICIARY
LABOR
LICENSED ACTIVITIES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PENSIONS
PUBLIC HEALTH
REVENUE
STATE GOVERNMENT

SR0004 - 34 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
TRANSPORTATION
VETERANS AFFAIRS
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-5)
3-5. Service Committees.
(a) In addition to the standing committees, there is a
permanent service committee known as the "Committee on
Assignments". The Committee on Assignments shall have those
powers and duties that are outlined in these Senate Rules, as
well as those that may be periodically ordered in accordance
with these Senate Rules.
(b) The Committee on Assignments shall consist of six
members, four of whom shall be appointed by the President and
two of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. Both the
President and the Minority Leader shall be eligible to be
appointed to the Committee on Assignments. The Committee on
Assignments shall be empowered to conduct business when a
majority of the total number of its members has been
appointed.
(c) The majority caucus members of the Committee on
Assignments shall serve at the pleasure of the President, and

SR0004 - 35 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the minority caucus members shall serve at the pleasure of the
Minority Leader. Appointments thereto shall be by notice filed
with the Secretary, and shall be effective for the balance of
the term or until a replacement appointment is made, whichever
first occurs. Appointments shall take effect upon filing with
the Secretary regardless of whether the Senate is in session.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate Rules, any
Senator who is replaced on the Committee on Assignments may be
reappointed to the Committee on Assignments without
concurrence of the Senate.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate
Rules, the Committee on Assignments may meet upon reasonable
public notice. All legislative measures pending before the
Committee on Assignments shall be eligible for consideration
at any meeting thereof, and all such legislative measures
shall be deemed posted for hearing by the Committee on
Assignments for all of its meetings.
(e) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-6)
3-6. Referrals of Resolutions, Messages, and
Reorganization Orders.

SR0004 - 36 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(a) All resolutions, after being initially read by the
Secretary, shall be automatically referred to the Committee on
Assignments unless the Presiding Officer determines that the
resolution is a celebration of life resolution and orders that
the resolution be placed on the Resolutions Consent Calendar.
The principal sponsor of a congratulatory resolution shall pay
a reasonable fee, determined by the Secretary with approval of
the President, to offset the actual cost of producing the
congratulatory resolution. No resolution may be placed on the
Resolutions Consent Calendar if any member objects.
(b) All messages from the Governor or any other executive
branch Constitutional Officer or other appointing authority
regarding appointments that require confirmation by the Senate
shall, after having been initially read by the Secretary,
automatically be referred to the Executive Appointments
Committee.
(c) All executive reorganization orders of the Governor
issued pursuant to Article V, Section 11 of the Constitution,
after being read into the record by the Secretary, shall
automatically be referred to the Committee on Assignments for
its referral to a committee, the latter of which may issue a
recommendation to the Senate with respect to the executive
order. The Senate may disapprove of any executive order only
by resolution adopted by a majority of those elected; no such

SR0004 - 37 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
resolution is in order until a committee has reported to the
Senate on the executive reorganization, or until the executive
order has been discharged pursuant to Rule 7-9.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 3-7)
3-7. Committee on Assignments.
(a) The Committee on Assignments may consider any
legislative measure referred to it pursuant to Rules 3-6, 3-8
and 3-9, by motion or resolution, or by order of the Presiding
Officer upon initial reading. The Committee on Assignments
may, with the concurrence of a majority of those appointed,
sponsor motions or resolutions; notwithstanding any other
provision of these Senate Rules, any motion or resolution
sponsored by the Committee on Assignments may be immediately
considered by the Senate without reference to a committee.
(b) During even-numbered years, the Committee on
Assignments shall refer to a committee of the Senate only
appropriation bills implementing the budget and other
legislative measures deemed by the Committee on Assignments to
be of an emergency nature or to be of substantial importance to
the operation of government. This subsection (b) applies
equally to Senate Bills and House Bills introduced into or
received by the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 38 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 3-8)
3-8. Referrals to Committees.
(a) All Senate Bills and House Bills shall, after having
been initially read by the Secretary, be automatically
referred to the Committee on Assignments, which may thereafter
refer any bill before it to a committee. The Committee on
Assignments may refer any resolution before it to a committee.
No bill or resolution may be referred to a committee except
pursuant to this Rule or Rule 7-17. A standing or special
committee may refer a matter pending in that committee to a
subcommittee of that committee. When the Committee on
Assignments is of the opinion that a legislative measure
should be considered by more than one committee, at the time of
referring it, the Committee may direct that when the committee
to which it is referred completes its consideration thereof
and makes a recommendation with respect thereto, the
committee's report shall also recommend that it be referred to
the additional committee or committees as directed by the
Committee on Assignments. When a legislative measure is so
reported, it shall automatically be referred as directed.
(b) All floor amendments, joint action motions for final
action, and conference committee reports shall, upon filing
with the Secretary, be automatically referred to the Committee
on Assignments. No such amendment, joint action motion, or

SR0004 - 39 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
conference committee report may be considered by the Senate
unless approved for consideration by the Committee on
Assignments. The Committee on Assignments may approve for
consideration to the Senate any floor amendment, joint action
motion for final action, or conference committee report that:
(i) consists of language that has previously been favorably
reported to the Senate by a committee; (ii) consists of
technical or clarifying language; or (iii) consists of
language deemed by the Committee on Assignments to be of an
emergency nature, of substantial importance to the operation
of government, or in the best interests of Illinois. The
Committee on Assignments may refer any floor amendment, joint
action motion for final action, or conference committee report
to a committee for its review and consideration (in those
instances, and notwithstanding any other provision of these
Senate Rules, the committee may hold a hearing on and consider
those legislative measures pursuant to one-hour advance
notice). Any floor amendment, joint action motion for final
action, or conference committee report that is not approved
for consideration or referred by the Committee on Assignments,
and is attempted to be acted upon by a committee shall be out
of order, except as provided for under Rule 8-4.
(b-1) A floor amendment filed by the chief sponsor of a
bill shall be automatically referred to the standing committee
from which the bill was reported (or to another standing

SR0004 - 40 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
committee as the Committee on Assignments may determine) upon
adjournment of the Senate on the third regular session day
following the day on which the floor amendment was filed,
unless (i) the Committee on Assignments referred the floor
amendment to a standing committee or acted on the floor
amendment in the first instance and referred it to the Senate
for consideration; (ii) the bill is no longer pending before
the Senate; (iii) the floor amendment deals with the subject
of appropriations or State revenue; or (iv) the Committee on
Assignments has determined by a majority vote that the floor
amendment substantively alters the nature and scope of the
underlying bill. If the Committee on Assignments makes a
determination under item (iv) of this subsection, then the
Committee on Assignments may, in its discretion, (A) refer the
floor amendment to any standing committee or (B) not refer the
floor amendment to any other committee.
(c) All committee amendments shall, upon filing with the
Secretary, be automatically referred to the Committee on
Assignments. No committee amendment may be considered by a
committee unless the committee amendment is referred to the
committee by the Committee on Assignments and the committee
amendment has first been made available electronically or
otherwise for not less than one hour. Any committee amendment
referred by the Committee on Assignments shall be referred to
the committee before which the underlying bill or resolution

SR0004 - 41 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
is pending. Any committee amendment that is not referred by
the Committee on Assignments to a committee, and is attempted
to be acted upon by a committee shall be out of order.
(c-1) A committee amendment filed by the chief sponsor of
a bill shall be automatically referred to the standing
committee to which the bill was assigned upon adjournment of
the Senate on the third regular session day following the day
on which the committee amendment was filed, unless (i) the
Committee on Assignments referred the committee amendment to
the standing committee to which the bill was assigned; (ii)
the bill is no longer pending before the committee; (iii) the
committee amendment deals with the subject of appropriations
or State revenue; or (iv) the Committee on Assignments has
determined by a majority vote that the committee amendment
substantively alters the nature and scope of the underlying
bill. If the Committee on Assignments makes a determination
under item (iv) of this subsection, then the Committee on
Assignments may, in its discretion, (A) refer both the bill
and the committee amendment to any standing committee or (B)
not refer the committee amendment to any other committee.
(d) The Committee on Assignments may at any time re-refer
a legislative measure from a committee to a Committee of the
Whole or to any other committee. However, the Committee on
Assignments may not re-refer a bill from a committee to a

SR0004 - 42 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Committee of the Whole or any other committee unless the Chair
of the committee to which the bill was originally referred
consents in writing to the re-referral.
(d-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate
Rules, any bill pending before the Committee on Assignments
shall be immediately referred to the indicated standing
committee if the chief sponsor of the bill files a discharge
motion for that bill that is signed by no less than
three-fifths of the members of both the majority and minority
caucus, and each of the members signing the discharge motion
is a sponsor of the bill. This subsection does not apply to
bills dealing with the subject of appropriations or State
revenue.
(d-10) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Senate
Rules, if the Parliamentarian determines that an amendment is
technical in nature, then the amendment shall be deemed
approved for consideration by the Senate without referral to
the Committee on Assignments.
(e) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 3-9)

SR0004 - 43 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
3-9. Re-Referrals to the Committee on Assignments.
(a) All legislative measures, with the exception of
resolutions to amend the State Constitution, that have failed
to meet the applicable deadline established in accordance with
Rule 2-10 for reporting to the Senate by a standing committee
shall automatically be re-referred to the Committee on
Assignments unless: (i) the deadline has been suspended
pursuant to Rule 7-17, with re-referral to the Committee on
Assignments to occur if the bill has not been reported to the
Senate in accordance with the revised deadline; or (ii) the
Committee on Assignments has issued a written exception to the
Secretary with respect to a particular bill prior to the
reporting deadline, with re-referral to occur, if at all, in
accordance with the written exception. Should the President in
accordance with Rule 2-10 establish deadlines for action on
joint action motions or conference committee reports, the
foregoing re-referral provisions and exceptions shall apply
with respect to those legislative measures that fail to meet
those deadlines.
(b) All legislative measures, with the exception of
resolutions to amend the State Constitution and Appointment
Messages, pending before the Senate or any of its committees
shall automatically be re-referred to the Committee on
Assignments on the 31st consecutive day that the Senate has
not convened for session unless: (i) this Rule has been

SR0004 - 44 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
suspended in accordance with Rule 7-17; or (ii) the Committee
on Assignments has issued a written exception to the Secretary
prior to that 31st day.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-10)
3-10. Reporting by Committees. Committees shall report to
the Senate, and subcommittees shall report to their parent
committees. If a legislative measure is assigned to more than
one committee pursuant to Rule 3-8(a), the committee shall
report the measure to the next committee directed by the
Committee on Assignments until all directed committees have
reported the measure or to the Senate if no other committee has
been directed by the Committee on Assignments.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-11)
3-11. Committee Procedure.
(a) A committee may consider any legislative measure
referred to it and may make with respect to that legislative
measure one of the following reports to the Senate or to the
parent committee, as appropriate:
(1) that the bill "do pass";
(2) that the bill "do not pass";

SR0004 - 45 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(3) that the bill "do pass as amended";
(4) that the bill "do not pass as amended";
(5) that the resolution "be adopted";
(6) that the resolution "be not adopted";
(7) that the resolution "be adopted as amended";
(8) that the resolution "be not adopted as amended";
(9) that the floor amendment, joint action motion, or
conference committee report "recommend do adopt";
(10) that the floor amendment, joint action motion, or
conference committee report "recommend do not adopt";
(11) "without recommendation";
(12) that the legislative measure "be re-referred to
the Committee on Assignments";
(13) that the Appointment Message be reported "do
recommend consent"; or

SR0004 - 46 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(14) that the Appointment Message be reported "do not
recommend consent".
No second shall be required to any motion presented in
committee. Any of the foregoing reports may only be made upon
the concurrence of a majority of those appointed. All
legislative measures reported "do pass", "do pass as amended",
"be adopted", "be adopted as amended", or "be approved for
consideration" shall be deemed favorably reported to the
Senate. All Appointment Messages reported "do recommend
consent", "do not recommend consent", or "without
recommendation" shall be deemed reported to the Senate. Except
as otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, any legislative
measure referred to a committee and not reported pursuant to
this Rule shall remain in that committee. Pursuant to Rules
3-11(g) and 7-10, a committee may report a legislative measure
as tabled.
(b) No bill that provides for an appropriation or
expenditure of money from the State Treasury may be considered
for passage by the Senate unless it has first been reported to
the Senate by an Appropriations Committee, unless:
(1) the bill was discharged from an Appropriations
Committee in accordance with Rule 7-9;

SR0004 - 47 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(2) the bill was exempted from this requirement by a
majority of those appointed to the Committee on
Assignments; or
(3) this Rule was suspended in accordance with Rule
7-17.
(c) The Chair of each committee shall keep, or cause to be
kept, a record in which there shall be entered:
(1) The time and place of each meeting of the
committee.
(2) The attendance of committee members at each
meeting.
(3) The votes cast by the committee members on all
legislative measures acted upon by the committee.
(4) All witness slips that may have been presented to
the committee.
(5) Such additional information as may be requested by
the Secretary.

SR0004 - 48 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(d) The committee Chair shall file with the Secretary,
along with every bill or resolution reported upon, a sheet
containing such information as is required by the Secretary.
The Secretary may adopt forms, policies, and procedures with
respect to the preparation, filing, and maintenance of these
reports.
(e) Except as provided in Rule 3-5 or 3-8 or unless this
Rule is suspended pursuant to Rule 7-17, no committee may
consider or conduct a hearing with respect to a legislative
measure absent notice first being given as follows:
(1) The Chair of the committee shall, no later than
six days before any proposed hearing, post a notice on the
Senate bulletin board, or electronically make the notice
available, identifying each legislative measure that may
be considered during that hearing. The notice shall
contain the day, hour, and place of the hearing.
(2) Meetings of the Committee on Assignments may be
called pursuant to Rule 3-5; meetings of committees to
consider floor amendments, joint action motions, and
conference committee reports may be called pursuant to
Rule 3-8.
(3) The Chair shall, in advance of a committee

SR0004 - 49 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
hearing, notify all principal sponsors of legislative
measures posted for hearing of the date, time, and place
of hearing. When practicable, the Secretary shall include
a notice of all scheduled hearings, together with all
posted bills and resolutions, in the Daily Calendar of the
Senate.
Irrespective of whether a legislative measure has been posted
for hearing, it shall be in order for a committee during any of
its meetings to refer that legislative measure pending before
it to a subcommittee of that committee.
(f) Other than the Committee on Assignments and properly
convened committees as permitted by Rule 4-1(c), no committee
may meet during any session of the Senate, and no commission
created by Illinois law that has legislative membership may
meet during any session of the Senate. A perfunctory session
is not deemed to be a session for the purposes of this
provision.
(g) Regardless of whether notice has been previously
given, it is always in order for a committee to order any
legislative measure pending before it to lie on the table when
the principal sponsor so requests. When reported to the
Senate, such committee action shall stand as the action of the
Senate.

SR0004 - 50 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(h) When a committee fails to report a legislative measure
pending before it to the Senate, or when a committee fails to
hold a public hearing on a legislative measure pending before
it, the exclusive means of bringing that legislative measure
directly before the Senate for its consideration is pursuant
to Rule 7-9.
(i) No legislative measure may be called for a vote in
committee in the absence of the principal sponsor, except
that, with the approval of the principal sponsor and the
consent of the committee, a legislative measure may be called
for a vote in committee by a chief cosponsor of the legislative
measure or by a member of the committee who is a member of the
same caucus as the principal sponsor.
(j) A committee may conduct a legislative investigation
with regard to legislative measures pending before the
committee.
(k) A motion is renewable in the same committee in which it
is posted.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 3-12)
3-12. Committee Reports.

SR0004 - 51 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(a) All bills favorably reported to the Senate from a
committee or directed committees, or with respect to which a
committee has been discharged, shall stand on the order of
Second Reading unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, and may
be amended only on Second Reading. Bills reported to the
Senate from committee "do not pass", "do not pass as amended",
or "without recommendation" shall lie on the table.
(b) All floor amendments, joint action motions, and
conference committee reports favorably reported to the Senate
from a committee shall be before the Senate and eligible for
consideration by the Senate when it is on an appropriate order
of business (floor amendments may be considered by the Senate
only when the bill to be amended is on Second Reading). All
floor amendments, joint action motions, and conference
committee reports that are reported to the Senate from
committee "recommend do not adopt" or "without recommendation"
shall lie on the table.
(c) Except in the case of congratulatory resolutions, all
resolutions favorably reported to the Senate from a committee,
or with respect to which a committee has been discharged,
shall stand on the order of Resolutions. All congratulatory
resolutions favorably reported to the Senate from a committee,
or with respect to which a committee has been discharged,
shall stand on the order of the Congratulatory Resolutions

SR0004 - 52 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Consent Calendar. All resolutions that are reported to the
Senate from committee "be not adopted", "be not adopted as
amended", or "without recommendation" shall lie on the table.
Floor amendments to resolutions shall be subject to the same
procedure applicable to floor amendments to bills.
(d) All Appointment Messages reported to the Senate from a
committee or directed committees, or with respect to which a
committee has been discharged, shall stand on the order of
Executive Appointments.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 3-13)
3-13. Witnesses, Oaths, Affirmations, and Subpoenas.
(a) Standing committees may administer oaths (or
affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or
entity to (i) appear and give testimony as a witness before the
standing committee, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other
materials relating to a legislative measure pending before the
standing committee or a subject matter within the jurisdiction
of the standing committee, or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).
(b) Special committees may administer oaths (or
affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or
entity to (i) appear and give testimony before the special
committee, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other materials

SR0004 - 53 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
relating to the subject matter for which the special committee
was created or relating to a legislative measure pending
before the special committee, or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).
(c) A committee of the whole may administer oaths (or
affirmations) and may compel, by subpoena, any person or
entity to (i) appear and give testimony before the committee
of the whole, (ii) produce papers, documents, and other
materials relating to the subject matter for which the
committee of the whole was created or relating to a
legislative measure pending before the committee of the whole,
or (iii) do both (i) and (ii).
(d) Oaths may be administered under this Rule by the
Presiding Officer or by the Chair of a committee or any person
sitting in his or her stead.
(e) Subpoenas issued under this Rule must be issued and
signed by the Chair of the committee and must comply with Rule
2-5(c)(9).
(f) A subpoena may specify terms and times of production
other than at a meeting or hearing of the committee issuing the
subpoena.
(g) A subpoenaed witness has all the rights and privileges

SR0004 - 54 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
afforded him or her under the rules, laws, and constitution of
the State of Illinois.
(h) A witness who gives testimony under subpoena has a
right to counsel of his or her own choosing.
(i) A witness who gives testimony under subpoena may be
compensated for travel expenses to the same extent as
legislators and legislative employees under the Rules of the
Legislative Travel Control Board.
(j) The President and the Chair of the committee issuing a
subpoena each have standing to enforce the subpoena in any
court of competent jurisdiction within the State of Illinois,
and seek enforcement remedies recognized under the rules,
laws, and constitution of the State of Illinois.
(k) In the case of special committees with Co-Chairs from
different political parties, the term "Chair" for purposes of
this Rule means the Co-Chair from the majority caucus.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE IV
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 55 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Senate Rule 4-1)
4-1. Sessions of the Senate.
(a) The Senate shall be deemed in session whenever it
convenes in perfunctory session, regular session, veto
session, or special session. Members shall be entitled to per
diem expense reimbursements only on those regular, veto, and
special session days that they are in attendance at the
Senate. Attendance by members is not required or recorded
during perfunctory sessions.
(b) Regular and veto session days shall be scheduled with
notice by the President in accordance with Rule 2-10. Special
session days shall be scheduled in accordance with the
Constitution and laws of Illinois.
(c) The President, at his or her discretion, may schedule
perfunctory sessions during which the Secretary may read into
the Senate record any legislative measure. Properly convened
committees may meet and may consider and act upon legislative
measures during a perfunctory session, and the Secretary may
receive and read committee reports into the Senate record
during a perfunctory session. Excepting any automatic referral
provisions of these Senate Rules, no action may be taken by the
Senate with respect to a legislative measure during a
perfunctory session.

SR0004 - 56 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(d) The President may also schedule perfunctory sessions
for the purpose of affording those members designated by the
President and Minority Leader an opportunity to negotiate with
respect to any unfinished business of the Senate without
necessitating the presence of all members and the related
costs to Illinois taxpayers.
(e) In times of pestilence or public danger, the Senate
may adopt a motion to allow a member to remotely participate
and vote in the regular and special sessions of the Senate,
provided that at all times a quorum of members is physically
present at the location of session. The President, in
consultation with the Minority Leader, may establish a process
by which Senators may participate and vote.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-2)
4-2. Hour of Meeting. Unless otherwise ordered by the
Presiding Officer or by a majority of those elected, the
Senate shall regularly convene at noon.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-3)
4-3. Entitled to Floor.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in these Senate Rules,

SR0004 - 57 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
only the following persons shall be admitted to the Senate
while it is in session: members and officers of the General
Assembly; elected officers of the executive branch; justices
of the Supreme Court; the designated aide to the Governor; the
parliamentarian; majority staff members and minority staff
members, except as limited by the Presiding Officer; former
Presidents of the Senate, except as limited by the President
or prohibited under subsection (d); former members who served
in the Senate at any time during the past four years, except as
limited by the President or prohibited under subsection (d);
and employees of the Legislative Reference Bureau and the
Legislative Information System, except as limited by the
President. Representatives of the press, while the Senate is
in session, may have access to the galleries and places
allotted to them by the President. No person is entitled to the
floor unless appropriately attired.
(b) On days during which the Senate is in session, the
Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the floor of all persons not
entitled to access the floor a quarter hour before the
convening time, and he or she shall enforce all other
provisions of this Rule.
(c) The Senate may authorize, by motion adopted by
majority vote, the admission to the floor of any other person,
except as prohibited under subsection (d).

SR0004 - 58 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(d) No person who is directly or indirectly interested in
defeating or promoting any pending legislative measure, if
required to be registered as a lobbyist, is allowed access to
the floor of the Senate at any time during the session.
(e) When he or she deems it necessary for the preservation
of order, the Presiding Officer may by order remove any person
from the floor of the Senate. A Senator may be removed from the
floor only pursuant to Rule 11-1.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-4)
4-4. Daily Order. Unless otherwise determined by the
Presiding Officer, the daily order of business of the Senate
shall be as follows:
(1) Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge of
Allegiance.
(2) Reading and Approval of the Journal.
(3) Introduction and Reading of Senate Bills a first
time.
(4) Reports from committees, with reports from the

SR0004 - 59 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Committee on Assignments ordinarily made at any time.
(5) Presentation of Resolutions, Petitions, and
Messages.
(6) Messages from the House, not including reading
House Bills a first time.
(7) Reading of Senate Bills a second time.
(8) Reading of Senate Bills a third time.
(9) Reading of House Bills a third time.
(10) Reading of House Bills a second time.
(11) Reading of House Bills a first time.
(12) Senate Bills on the Order of Concurrence.
(13) House Bills on the Order of Non-Concurrence.
(14) Conference Committee Reports.
(15) Motions in Writing.

SR0004 - 60 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(16) Constitutional Amendment Resolutions.
(17) Motions with respect to Vetoes.
(18) Consideration of Resolutions.
(19) Motions to Discharge Committee.
(20) Motions to Take from the Table.
(21) Motions to Suspend the Rules.
(22) Consideration of Bills on the Order of Postponed
Consideration.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-5)
4-5. Quorum.
(a) A majority of those elected shall constitute a quorum
of the Senate, and a majority of those appointed shall
constitute a quorum of a committee, but a smaller number may
adjourn from day to day or recess for less than one day. The
attendance of absent members may be compelled by order of the
President.
(b) The question of the presence of a quorum in any

SR0004 - 61 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
committee may not be raised on consideration of a legislative
measure by the Senate unless the same question was previously
raised before the committee with respect to that legislative
measure.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-6)
4-6. Approval of the Journal. The President or his or her
designee shall periodically examine and report to the Senate
any corrections he or she deems should be made in the Journal
before it is approved. If these corrections are approved by
the Senate, they shall be made by the Secretary.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-7)
4-7. Executive Sessions. The sessions of the Senate shall
be open to the public. Sessions and committee meetings of the
Senate may be closed to the public if, pursuant to Article IV,
Section 5(c) of the Constitution, two-thirds of the members
elected determine that the public interest so requires.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-8)
4-8. Length of Adjournment. Pursuant to Article IV,
Section 15(a) of the Constitution, the Senate shall not
adjourn, without the consent of the House, for more than three

SR0004 - 62 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
days, nor to another place than that in which the two chambers
of the General Assembly are sitting. The Senate shall be in
session on any day in which it shall convene in perfunctory
session, regular session, veto session, or special session.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 4-9)
4-9. Transcript of the Senate. In accordance with Article
IV, Section 7(b) of the Constitution, nothing contained in the
official transcript of the Senate shall be changed or expunged
except by written request of a Senator to the Secretary and
Presiding Officer, which request may be approved only on a
roll call vote of three-fifths of the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE V
BILLS AND AMENDMENTS
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 5-1)
5-1. Bills.
(a) A bill may be introduced in the Senate by sponsorship
of one or more members of the Senate, whose names shall be on
the printed copies of the bills, in the Senate Journal, and in
the Legislative Digest. The principal sponsor shall be the

SR0004 - 63 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
first name to appear on the bill and may be joined by no more
than four chief cosponsors with the approval of the principal
sponsor; other cosponsors shall be separated from the
principal sponsor and any chief cosponsors by a comma. By
motion, the sponsorship of a bill may be changed to that of
another Senator (or Senators, as the case may be), or to that
of the standing committee to which the bill was referred or
from which the bill was reported. Such a motion may be made at
any time the bill is pending before the Senate or any of its
committees. If the principal sponsor of a measure still
pending before the General Assembly ceases to be a member of
the Senate, sponsorship of such pending measures shall be
automatically transferred to the leader of that former
member's caucus or the caucus with which the former member
caucused, either the President or Minority Leader. If the
principal sponsor is not a member of either the President or
Minority Leader's party, then the sponsorship shall be
transferred to the President.
(b) The principal sponsor of a bill shall control the bill
and may allow a chief cosponsor (i) to present the bill on
Third Reading with written approval or (ii) to move the bill
from Second Reading to Third Reading. A committee-sponsored
bill shall be controlled by the Chair of the committee, who for
purposes of these Senate Rules shall be deemed the principal
sponsor. Committee-sponsored bills may not have individual

SR0004 - 64 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
cosponsors.
(c) (1) The House sponsor of a bill originating in the
House may request substitute Senate sponsorship of that bill
by filing a notice with the Secretary; that notice shall
automatically be referred to the Committee on Assignments and
deemed adopted if approved by the Committee on Assignments.
(2) The notice shall include the bill number, the name of
the Senate chief sponsor to be substituted, the signature of
the House sponsor, the signature of the substitute Senate
chief sponsor, and a statement that the original Senate
sponsor was provided with notice of intent to request a
substitute Senate sponsor.
(3) The Committee on Assignments shall act on any notice
within three session days (excluding perfunctory session
days). If the Committee on Assignments fails to act on that
notice within three session days, then the notice shall be
deemed approved and the Senate sponsorship of the House Bill
will be substituted pursuant to the notice. The President of
the Senate may suspend in writing the operation of the three
session day automatic approval process set forth under this
subsection (c) if the President determines that the Rules
Committee of the House of Representatives has failed to act on
any Senator's request to substitute House sponsorship of a

SR0004 - 65 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Senate Bill.
(d) All bills introduced in the Senate shall be read by
title a first time, ordered printed, and automatically
referred to the Committee on Assignments in accordance with
Rule 3-8. When a House Bill is received, it shall be taken up,
ordered printed, and placed on the order of House Bills on
First Reading; after having been read a first time, it shall
automatically be referred to the Committee on Assignments in
accordance with Rule 3-8.
(e) A bill shall be introduced by filing six copies with
the Secretary. Any bill that amends a statute shall indicate
the particular changes in the following manner:
(1) All new matter shall be underscored.
(2) All matter that is to be omitted or superseded
shall be shown crossed with a line.
(f) No bill shall be passed by the Senate except on a roll
call vote of a majority of those elected. A bill that has lost
and has not been reconsidered may not thereafter be revived.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 5-2)

SR0004 - 66 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
5-2. Reading and Printing of Bills. Every bill shall be
read by title on three different days prior to passage by the
Senate, and the bill and all adopted amendments thereto shall
be printed before the vote is taken on its final passage.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 5-3)
5-3. Printing and Distribution. The Secretary shall, as
soon as any bill is printed, deliver to the Sergeant-at-Arms
sufficient copies to furnish each Senator with a copy, and the
Sergeant-at-Arms shall at once cause the bills to be
distributed upon the desks of the Senators. Alternatively, and
pursuant to Rule 2-7(b)(3), the Secretary may establish a
method any Senator may use to secure a copy of any bill he or
she desires.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 5-4)
5-4. Amendments.
(a) An amendment to a bill may be adopted either by a
standing committee when the bill is before that committee, or
by the Senate when a bill is on the order of Second Reading.
The former shall be known as a "committee amendment" and the
latter as a "floor amendment". All amendments must be in
writing. All amendments still pending in a committee upon the
passage or defeat of a bill on Third Reading shall

SR0004 - 67 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
automatically be tabled.
(b) Committee amendments, except for committee amendments
that amend appropriation bills, may only be offered by the
principal sponsor or a member of the committee while the
affected bill is before the committee, and shall be adopted by
a majority of those appointed. Committee amendments that amend
appropriation bills may be offered by any Senator. Floor
amendments may only be offered by a Senator while the bill is
on the order of Second Reading, and shall be adopted by a
majority vote of the Senate. An amendment may be the subject of
a motion to "do adopt" or "do not adopt", and may only be
adopted pursuant to a successful motion to "do adopt".
(c) Committee amendments and floor amendments shall be
filed with the Secretary, and shall be in order only when one
copy has been filed. The Secretary shall provide copies of
committee amendments to the Chair and Minority Spokesperson of
the appropriate committee as soon as practicable, such copies
may be made available electronically.
(d) The Secretary shall have printed all adopted committee
amendments that come before the Senate pursuant to Rule 3-12.
The Secretary shall also have printed all adopted floor
amendments. No floor amendment may be adopted by the Senate
unless it has been first reproduced and placed on the members'

SR0004 - 68 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
desks or made available electronically.
(e) No floor or committee amendment shall be in order
unless approved or referred by the Committee on Assignments in
accordance with Rule 3-8 or brought before the Senate pursuant
to Rule 7-9.
(f) Amendments that propose to alter any existing law
shall set forth completely the statutory Sections amended, and
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 5-1(e).
(g) If a committee reports a bill "do pass as amended", the
committee amendments shall be deemed adopted by the committee
action and shall be reproduced and placed on the members'
desks or made available electronically before the bill may be
read a second time.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 5-5)
5-5. Fiscal and Other Notes. The Senate shall comply with
all effective Illinois laws requiring notes on any bill,
including without limitation the Fiscal Note Act, the Pension
Impact Note Act, the Judicial Note Act, the State Debt Impact
Note Act, the Correctional Budget and Impact Note Act, the
Home Rule Note Act, the Balanced Budget Note Act, the Housing
Affordability Impact Note Act, the Racial Impact Note Act, and

SR0004 - 69 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the State Mandates Act, all as amended. All such notes shall be
filed with the Secretary with a time stamp endorsing the date
and time received, and shall then be attached to the original
of the bill and be available for inspection by the members. As
soon as practicable, the Secretary shall provide a copy of the
note to the Legislative Reference Bureau, which shall provide
an informative summary of the note in subsequent issues of the
Legislative Digest.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 5-6)
5-6. Quick-Take. No bill authorizing the State or a unit
of local government to acquire property by eminent domain
using "quick-take" powers under the Eminent Domain Act may be
voted upon in committee or on Third Reading unless the State or
the unit of local government, as applicable, has complied with
all of the following procedures:
(a) The State or the unit of local government must notify
each owner of an interest in the property, by certified mail,
of the intention of the State or the unit of local government
to request approval of legislation by the General Assembly
authorizing the State or the unit of local government to
acquire the property by eminent domain using "quick-take"
powers under Section 20-5-5 of the Eminent Domain Act.

SR0004 - 70 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(b) The State or the unit of local government must cause
notice of its intention to request authorization to acquire
the property by eminent domain using "quick-take" powers to be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
territory sought to be acquired by the State or the unit of
local government.
(c) Following the notices required under subsections (a)
and (b), the State or the unit of local government must hold at
least one public hearing, at the place where the unit of local
government normally holds its business meetings (or, in the
case of property sought to be acquired by the State: (i) at a
location in the county in which the property sought to be
acquired by the State is located, or (ii) if the property is
located in Cook County, at a location in the township in which
the property is located, or (iii) if the property is located in
2 adjacent counties other than Cook County or in 2 adjacent
townships in Cook County, at a location in the county or in the
township in Cook County in which the majority of the property
is located, or (iv) if the property is located in Cook County
and an adjacent county, at a location in the other county or in
the township in Cook County in which the majority of the
property is located), on the question of the acquisition of
the property by the State or the unit of local government by
eminent domain using "quick-take" powers.

SR0004 - 71 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(d) In the case of property sought to be acquired by a unit
of local government, following the public hearing or hearings
held under subsection (3), the unit of local government must
adopt, by recorded vote, a resolution to request approval of
legislation by the General Assembly authorizing the unit of
local government to acquire the property by eminent domain
using "quick-take" powers under the Eminent Domain Act. The
resolution must include a statement of the time period within
which the unit of local government requests authority to
exercise "quick-take" powers, which may not exceed one year.
(e) Following the public hearing or hearings held under
subsection (c), the head of the appropriate State office,
department, or agency or the chief elected official of the
unit of local government, as applicable, must submit to the
President of the Senate, or his or her designee, and the
Minority Leader, or his or her designee, a sworn, notarized
affidavit that contains, or has attached as an incorporated
exhibit, all of the following:
(1) The legal description of the property.
(2) The street address of the property.
(3) The name of each State Senator and State
Representative who represents the territory that is the

SR0004 - 72 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
subject of the proposed taking.
(4) The date or dates on which the State or the unit of
local government contacted each such State Senator and
State Representative concerning the intention of the State
or the unit of local government to request approval of
legislation by the General Assembly authorizing the State
or the unit of local government to acquire the property by
eminent domain using "quick-take" powers.
(5) The current name, address, and telephone number of
each owner of an interest in the property.
(6) A summary of all negotiations between the State or
the unit of local government and the owner or owners of the
property concerning the sale of the property to the State
or the unit of local government.
(7) A statement of the date and location of each
public hearing held under subsection (c).
(8) A statement of the public purpose for which the
State or the unit of local government seeks to acquire the
property.
(9) The certification of the head of the appropriate

SR0004 - 73 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
State office, department, or agency or the chief elected
official of the unit of local government, as applicable,
that (i) the property is located within the territory
under the jurisdiction of the State or the unit of local
government and (ii) the State or the unit of local
government seeks to acquire the property for a public
purpose.
(10) A map of the area in which the property to be
acquired is located, showing the location of the property.
(11) Photographs of the property.
(12) An appraisal of the property by a real estate
appraiser who is certified or licensed under the Real
Estate Appraiser Licensing Act of 2002.
(13) In the case of property sought to be acquired by a
unit of local government, a copy of the resolution adopted
by the unit of local government under subsection (d).
(14) Documentation of the public purpose for which the
State or the unit of local government seeks to acquire the
property.
(15) A copy of each notice sent to an owner of an

SR0004 - 74 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
interest in the property under subsection (a).
A request for quick-take authority shall not be considered
by the Senate fewer than 30 days after the date of the notice
to each property owner as required by subsection (a).
Every affidavit submitted by the State or a unit of local
government pursuant to this Rule, together with all documents
and other items submitted with the affidavit, must be made
available to any person upon request for inspection and
copying.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE VI
RESOLUTIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 6-1)
6-1. Resolutions.
(a) A resolution shall be introduced in the Senate by
sponsorship of one or more members of the Senate, and the names
of all sponsors shall be printed in the Senate Journal and in
the Legislative Digest. Each resolution, except for a
celebration of life resolution or congratulatory resolution,
shall be introduced by filing six copies; each celebration of

SR0004 - 75 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
life resolution and congratulatory resolution shall be
introduced by filing three copies.
(b) Any resolution calling for the expenditure of State
funds may be adopted only by a roll call vote of a majority of
those elected.
(c) The Secretary shall periodically print a Resolutions
Consent Calendar, the Secretary may provide the Resolutions
Consent Calendar electronically, which the Secretary shall
periodically distribute prior to its consideration by the
Senate (generally the last daily session of the week). No
debate is in order regarding any resolution appearing on the
Resolutions Consent Calendar. All resolutions appearing on the
Resolutions Consent Calendar may be adopted in one motion;
however, any Senator may vote "no" or "present" on any
resolution appearing on the Resolutions Consent Calendar by
providing written notice of that intention to the Secretary
prior to the vote on the Resolutions Consent Calendar. Prior
to the adoption of any resolution on the Resolutions Consent
Calendar, if any three members file with the Secretary a
written objection to the presence of a resolution thereon,
that resolution shall be removed from the Resolutions Consent
Calendar and is automatically referred to the Committee on
Assignments.

SR0004 - 76 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(d) The Secretary shall periodically print a
Congratulatory Resolutions Consent Calendar, the Secretary may
provide the Congratulatory Resolutions Consent Calendar
electronically, which the Secretary shall periodically
distribute prior to its consideration by the Senate. No debate
is in order regarding any congratulatory resolution appearing
on the Congratulatory Resolutions Consent Calendar. All
congratulatory resolutions appearing on the Congratulatory
Resolutions Consent Calendar may be adopted in one motion;
however, any Senator may vote "no" or "present" on any
resolution appearing on the Congratulatory Resolutions Consent
Calendar by providing written notice of that intention to the
Secretary prior to the vote on the Congratulatory Resolutions
Consent Calendar. Prior to the adoption of any congratulatory
resolution on the Congratulatory Resolutions Consent Calendar,
if any three members file with the Secretary a written
objection to the presence of a congratulatory resolution
thereon, that congratulatory resolution shall be removed from
the Congratulatory Resolutions Consent Calendar and is
automatically referred to the Committee on Assignments.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 6-2)
6-2. State Constitutional Amendments. All resolutions
introduced in the Senate proposing amendments to the
Constitution shall be printed in the same manner in which

SR0004 - 77 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
bills are printed. Every such resolution that originated in
the House and is presented to the Senate shall be ordered
printed in like manner unless the resolution has been
similarly printed by the House in the same form in which it was
presented to the Senate. No such resolution may be adopted
unless read in full in its final form on three different days.
Amendments to these resolutions may be in order on the initial
First and Second Readings only.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 6-3)
6-3. Federal Constitutional Amendments and Constitutional
Conventions. The affirmative vote of three-fifths of those
elected shall be required to adopt any resolution:
(1) requesting Congress to call a federal
constitutional convention;
(2) ratifying a proposed amendment to the Constitution
of the United States; or
(3) to call a State convention to ratify a proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 6-4)

SR0004 - 78 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
6-4. Certificates of Recognition. Any member may sponsor a
certificate of recognition with the name and signature of the
member, and attested by the Secretary with the State Seal
attached to recognize any person, organization, or event
worthy of public commendation. The form of the Certificate of
Recognition shall be determined by the Secretary with the
approval of the President and Minority Leader.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE VII
PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-1)
7-1. Voting within Bar. Except as provided under Rule
4-1(e), no Senator shall be permitted to vote on any question
before the Senate unless on the floor before the vote is
announced. Except as provided by Rule 3-1(f), no member of a
committee may vote except in person at the time of the call of
the committee vote. Any vote of the Senate shall be by roll
call whenever two Senators so request or whenever the
Presiding Officer so orders.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-2)

SR0004 - 79 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
7-2. Announcing a Roll Call Vote. When a roll call vote is
requested, the Presiding Officer shall put the question and
then announce to the Senate: "The voting is open.". While the
roll call is being taken, the Presiding Officer shall state:
"Have all voted who wish?". The voting is closed when the
Presiding Officer announces: "Take the Record.". The Presiding
Officer shall then announce the results of the roll call. No
Senator is permitted to vote or to change his or her vote after
the Presiding Officer announces: "Take the Record.".
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-3)
7-3. Decorum and Debate.
(a) When any Senator is about to speak or deliver any
matter to the Senate, he or she shall rise and address the
Presiding Officer as "Mister President" or "Madam President",
as the case may be. Upon being recognized by the Chair, the
latter will address the Senator by name and thereupon, and not
until then, the engineer in charge of operating the
microphones in the Senate will give the use of the microphone
to the Senator who has been so recognized. The Senator in
speaking shall confine himself or herself to the subject
matter under discussion and avoid personalities, threats,
inciting violence, or other assaults.
(b) The Presiding Officer may at his or her discretion,

SR0004 - 80 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
and with consideration for the efficient operation of the
Senate, determine whether any member shall be afforded the
floor for the purpose of introduction of guests in the
gallery. Questions affecting the rights, reputation, and
conduct of members of the Senate in their representative
capacity are questions of personal privilege. A matter of
personal explanation does not constitute a question of
personal privilege.
(c) If any Senator in speaking (or otherwise) transgresses
these Senate Rules, the Presiding Officer shall, or any
Senator may, call him or her to order, in which case the
Senator so called to order shall sit down, unless permitted to
explain; and the Senate, if appealed to, shall decide on the
case without debate. If the decision is in favor of the Senator
called to order, he or she is at liberty to proceed. If
otherwise, and the case requires it, he or she is liable to the
censure of the Senate.
(d) If any Senator is called to order for words spoken in
debate, the person calling him or her to order shall repeat the
words excepted to, and they shall be taken down by the
Secretary. No Senator shall be held to answer or be subject to
the censure of the Senate for words spoken in debate if any
Senator has spoken in debate or other business has intervened
after the words spoken and before exceptions to them shall

SR0004 - 81 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
have been taken.
(e) If two or more Senators rise at once, the Presiding
Officer shall name the Senator who is to speak first.
(f) No person shall give any signs of approbation or
disapprobation while the Senate is in session.
(g) No Senator shall speak more than five minutes on the
same question without the consent of the Senate, nor more than
twice on that question. No Senator shall speak more than once
until every Senator choosing to speak has spoken. However, the
Presiding Officer, in his or her discretion, may set time
limits for the presentation of a legislative measure by the
principal sponsor or a member designated by the principal
sponsor and debate by Senators seeking to debate the
legislative measure. No Senator may explain his or her vote.
(h) While the Presiding Officer is putting a question, no
Senator shall leave or walk across the Senate Chamber. When a
Senator is addressing the Senate, no Senator or other person
entitled to the floor shall entertain private discourse or
pass between the speaker and the Presiding Officer.
(i) In case of any disturbances or disorderly conduct in
the lobby, gallery, or hallways adjoining the chamber, the

SR0004 - 82 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
President shall have the power to order the same to be cleared.
(j) All material placed on the desks of Senators shall
contain the name of the Senator requesting its distribution.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-4)
7-4. Motions, Generally. The following are general rules
for all motions:
(1) Every motion, except to adjourn, recess, or
postpone consideration, shall be reduced to writing if the
Presiding Officer desires it. Unless otherwise provided in
these Senate Rules, no second shall be required to any
motion presented to the Senate. The Presiding Officer may
refer any motion to the Committee on Assignments.
(2) Before the Senate debates a motion, the Presiding
Officer shall state an oral motion and the Secretary shall
read aloud a written motion.
(3) After a motion is stated by the Presiding Officer
or read by the Secretary, it shall be deemed in the
possession of the Senate, but may be withdrawn at any time
before decision by consent of a majority of the Senate.

SR0004 - 83 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(4) If a motion is divisible, any member may call for a
division of the question.
(5) Any question taken under consideration may be
withdrawn, postponed, or tabled by unanimous consent or,
if unanimous consent is denied, by a motion adopted by a
majority vote.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-5)
7-5. Precedence of Motions.
(a) When a question is under debate, no motion may be
entertained except:
(1) to adjourn to a time certain;
(2) to adjourn;
(3) to question the presence of a quorum;
(4) to recess;
(5) to lay on the table;
(6) for the previous question;

SR0004 - 84 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(7) to postpone consideration;
(8) to commit or recommit; and
(9) to amend, except as otherwise provided in these
Senate Rules.
The foregoing motions shall have precedence in the order in
which they are listed.
(b) During a roll call, no motion (except a motion to
postpone consideration) shall be in order until after the
announcement of the result of the vote.
(c) A motion to commit or recommit, until it is decided,
precludes all amendments and debate on the main question. A
motion to postpone consideration, until it is decided,
precludes all amendments on the main question.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 7-6)
7-6. Verification.
(a) Prior to the Presiding Officer putting a question to
the Senate, it shall be in order for any Senator to request
verification of the results of any roll call where a specific
number of affirmative votes are required for passage of the

SR0004 - 85 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
question. After the roll call is taken, the Senator requesting
the verification may withdraw his or her request. If the
question fails to receive the required affirmative votes, the
verification will be deemed withdrawn. The verification rules
of this subsection (a) apply only while the Senate is
convening outside of the State Capitol building.
(b) In verifying a roll call vote, the Presiding Officer
shall instruct the Secretary to call the names of those
Senators whose votes are to be verified. The Senator
requesting the verification may thereafter identify those
members he or she wishes to verify. If a member does not
answer, his or her vote shall be stricken; however, the
member's vote shall be restored to the roll if his or her
presence is recognized before the verification is completed.
The Presiding Officer shall determine the presence or absence
of each member whose name is called, and shall then announce
the results of the verification.
(c) While the results of any roll call are being verified,
it is in order for any Senator to announce his or her presence
on the floor and thereby have his or her vote verified.
(d) A request for a verification of the affirmative and
negative results of a roll call may be made only once on each
roll call.

SR0004 - 86 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(e) No Senator shall be permitted to vote or to change his
or her vote on verification.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-7)
7-7. Appealing a Ruling.
(a) If any appeal is taken from a ruling of the Presiding
Officer, the Presiding Officer shall be sustained unless
three-fifths of the members elected vote to overrule the
Presiding Officer. The motion to appeal requires a second, and
it shall not be in order if the Senate has conducted
intervening business since the ruling at issue was made.
(b) If any appeal is taken from a ruling of a committee
Chair, the Chair shall be sustained unless three-fifths of
those appointed vote to overrule the Chair. The motion to
appeal requires a second, and it shall not be in order if the
committee has adjourned or recessed, so long as intervening
business has occurred.
(c) In an appeal of a ruling of the Presiding Officer or
Chair, the question is: "Shall the ruling of the Chair be
sustained?".
(d) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of

SR0004 - 87 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-8)
7-8. Previous Question.
(a) A motion for the previous question may be made at any
time. The motion for the previous question is not debatable
and requires approval of a majority of those elected.
(b) The previous question shall be stated in the following
form: "Shall the main question now be put?". Until the
previous question is decided, all amendments and debate are
precluded. When it is decided that the main question shall not
be put, the main question shall be considered as remaining
under debate.
(c) The effect of the main question being ordered is to put
an end to all debate and bring the Senate to a direct vote on
the immediately pending motion. After a motion for the
previous question has been approved, unless the vote on the
motion suggests the absence of a quorum, it is not in order to
move for adjournment or to make any other motion prior to a
decision on the main question.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-9)

SR0004 - 88 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
7-9. Discharge of Committee.
(a) A committee may be discharged from further
consideration of a legislative measure by a vote of
three-fifths of the members elected. Upon concurrence of a
majority of those appointed, the Committee on Assignments may
advance any legislative measure pending before it to the
Senate without referral to another committee; however, the
Committee on Assignments shall not so report any bill that has
never been before a standing committee of the Senate.
(b) This Rule may be suspended by a vote of three-fifths of
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-10)
7-10. Tabling.
(a) A motion to lay on the table applies only to the
particular proposition and is neither debatable nor amendable.
(b) A motion to table a bill or resolution shall identify
the bill or resolution by number. The principal sponsor of a
bill or resolution may, with leave of the Senate, table his or
her bill or resolution at any time. A motion to table a
committee bill that is before the Senate may be adopted only by
a majority of those elected.

SR0004 - 89 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c) The principal sponsor of a bill or resolution before a
committee may, with leave of the committee, table the bill or
resolution. Upon such tabling, the Chair of the committee
shall return the bill or resolution to the Secretary, noting
thereon that it has been tabled.
(d) A motion to table an amendment adopted by the Senate on
a voice vote or by a committee is in order on Second Reading. A
motion to table a committee amendment has priority over a
floor amendment. Motions to table amendments are debatable and
may be adopted by a majority.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-11)
7-11. Motion to Take from Table.
(a) A motion to take from the table shall require a
majority of those elected if the Committee on Assignments has
previously recommended that action by written notice filed
with the Secretary; otherwise, a motion to take from the table
shall require a three-fifths vote of the members elected.
(b) A bill taken from the table shall be placed on the
Daily Calendar on the order on which it appeared before it was
tabled.
(c) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of

SR0004 - 90 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the members elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-12)
7-12. Motion to Postpone Consideration. A motion to
postpone consideration on a legislative measure may not be
made more than once on the same bill or proposition. Unless
otherwise provided by these Senate Rules, a motion to postpone
consideration shall be made prior to intervening business and
shall be granted as a matter of privilege. However, no motion
to postpone consideration is in order if the involved
legislative measure (1) initially received a vote of fewer
than two-fifths of the members elected or (2) is an
Appointment Message.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-13)
7-13. Motion on Different Subject. No motion or other
legislative measure on a subject different from that under
consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-14)
7-14. Division of Question. If the question in debate
contains several points, any Senator may have the same
divided. On a motion to strike out and insert, it is not in

SR0004 - 91 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
order to move for a division of the question. The rejection of
a motion to strike out and insert one proposition does not
prevent a motion to strike out and insert a different
proposition.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-15)
7-15. Reconsideration.
(a) A member who voted on the prevailing side of a record
vote on a legislative measure that failed and that is still
within the control of the Senate may on the same or following
day move to reconsider the vote. A chief sponsor or a chief
cosponsor who voted on the prevailing side of a record vote for
a legislative measure that passed or was adopted by the Senate
may on the same or following day move to reconsider the vote if
the legislative measure is still within the control of the
Senate. The motion to reconsider may be laid on the table
without affecting the vote to which it referred. When the
motion to reconsider is made during the last three scheduled
days of regular session, or any time thereafter during the
regular session, or at any time during a veto or special
session, any member may move that the vote on reconsideration
be taken immediately. A question that requires the votes of a
majority of those elected or more to carry requires a majority
of those elected to reconsider.

SR0004 - 92 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(b) A motion to reconsider a record vote on the adoption of
an amendment to a bill may be made only on Second Reading. An
amendment adopted by the Senate on a record vote may not be
tabled by motion until its adoption has been reconsidered.
(c) If a motion to reconsider is made pursuant to this Rule
and the motion is later tabled, the question shall not be
further reconsidered. This subsection (c) may be suspended by
a three-fifths vote of the members elected.
(d) When a motion to reconsider is made within the time
prescribed by these Senate Rules, the Secretary shall not
allow the bill or other subject matter of the motion to pass
out of the possession of the Senate until after the motion has
been decided or withdrawn. Such a motion shall be deemed
rejected if laid on the table.
(e) A Senator who voted "present" or failed to vote on a
question shall not have the right to move for reconsideration.
(f) Upon a motion to reconsider the vote on the final
passage of any bill, the affirmative vote of a majority of
those elected shall be required to reconsider the same.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 7-16)

SR0004 - 93 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
7-16. Motion to Adjourn.
(a) A motion to adjourn is in order at any time, except
when a prior motion to adjourn has been defeated and no
intervening business has transpired.
(b) A motion to adjourn is neither debatable nor
amendable.
(c) The Secretary shall enter in the Journal the hour at
which every motion to adjourn is made.
(d) Unless the Presiding Officer otherwise orders, the
standing hour to which the Senate adjourns is 12:00 noon.
(e) A motion to adjourn for more than three days is not in
order unless both chambers of the General Assembly have
adopted a joint resolution permitting that adjournment.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-17)
7-17. Amendment to or Suspension of Rules.
(a) Rules may be proposed or amended only by resolution.
Any such resolution shall show the proposed changes in the
existing Rules by underscoring all new matter and by crossing
out with a line all matter that is to be omitted or superseded.

SR0004 - 94 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(b) Any resolution proposing to amend a Senate Rule or any
Joint Senate-House Rule shall, upon initial reading by the
Secretary, automatically be referred to the Committee on
Assignments. Resolutions for amendment of the Senate Rules or
any Joint Senate-House Rules may be initiated and sponsored by
the Committee on Assignments; these resolutions shall not be
referred to a committee and may be immediately considered and
adopted by the Senate.
(c) A resolution to amend the Senate Rules or any Joint
Senate-House Rules that has been reported "do adopt" or "do
adopt as amended" by a majority of those appointed to the
Committee on Assignments shall require the affirmative vote of
a majority of those elected for adoption by the Senate. Any
other resolution proposing to amend the Senate Rules or any
Joint Senate-House Rules shall require the affirmative vote of
three-fifths of the members elected for adoption by the
Senate.
(d) No Senate Rule or any Joint Senate-House Rule may be
suspended except by unanimous consent of the Senators present
or upon a motion supported by affirmative vote of a majority of
those elected unless a higher number is required in the Rule
sought to be suspended. A committee may not suspend any Rule.
(e) This Rule may be suspended by a three-fifths vote of

SR0004 - 95 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
those elected.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-18)
7-18. Motion to Commit or Recommit. No motion to commit or
recommit a legislative measure to committee, being decided in
the negative, shall again be allowed on the same day, or at the
same stage of the legislative measure.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-19)
7-19. Effective Date.
(a) A bill passed after May 31 of a calendar year shall not
become effective prior to June 1 of the next calendar year
unless an earlier effective date is specified in the bill and
it is approved by a three-fifths vote of the members elected.
(b) If a majority of those elected, but fewer than
three-fifths of the members elected, vote affirmatively for a
bill on Third Reading after May 31, where the bill specifies an
effective date earlier than the following June 1, the bill
shall not be declared passed, and the principal sponsor shall
have the right to have the bill automatically reconsidered and
returned to the order of Second Reading for an amendment to
remove the earlier effective date. The amendment, if offered
and approved by the Committee on Assignments, shall be

SR0004 - 96 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
reproduced and placed on the desks of the members or made
available electronically before the bill is taken up again on
the order of Third Reading.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 7-20)
7-20. Home Rule. No bill denies or limits any power or
function of a home rule unit, pursuant to paragraph (g), (h),
(i), (j), or (k) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
Constitution, unless there is specific language limiting or
denying the power or function and the language specifically
sets forth in what manner and to what extent it is a denial or
limitation of the power or function of a home rule unit. If a
majority of those elected, but fewer than three-fifths of the
members elected, vote affirmatively for a bill on Third
Reading that requires a vote of three-fifths of the members
elected to deny or limit a power of a home rule unit, the bill
shall not be declared passed, and the principal sponsor shall
have the right to have the bill automatically reconsidered and
returned to the order of Second Reading for an amendment to
remove those effects of the bill. The amendment, if offered
and approved by the Committee on Assignments, shall be
reproduced and placed on the desks of the members or made
available electronically before the bill is taken up again on
the order of Third Reading. The Committee on Assignments may
also refer the amendment to a committee.

SR0004 - 97 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE VIII
JOINT ACTION
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 8-1)
8-1. Concurring in or Receding from Amendments.
(a) If a bill or resolution is received back in the Senate
with amendments added by the House, it shall be in order for
the principal sponsor or chief cosponsor of the bill who has
been designated in writing by the principal sponsor to present
a motion "to concur" or "not to concur and ask the House to
recede" with respect to those amendments. Any two members may
demand a separate roll call on any such amendment.
(b) When the House has refused to concur in amendments
added to a bill or resolution by the Senate and has returned
the bill or resolution to the Senate with a message requesting
the Senate to recede from its amendments, it shall be in order
for the principal sponsor or chief cosponsor of the bill who
has been designated in writing by the principal sponsor to
present a motion "to recede" from the Senate amendments or
"not to recede and to request a conference". Any two members
may demand a separate roll call on any such amendments.

SR0004 - 98 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 8-2)
8-2. Conference Committees.
(a) A disagreement between the Senate and House exists
with respect to any bill or resolution in the following
situations:
(1) when the House refuses to recede from the adoption
of any amendment, after the Senate has previously refused
to concur in the amendment; or
(2) when the Senate refuses to recede from the
adoption of any amendment, after the House has previously
refused to concur in the amendment.
In these cases of disagreement between the Senate and House,
the Senate may request a conference. When a request for
conference is made, both chambers of the General Assembly
shall appoint a committee to confer with the other on the
subject of the bill or resolution giving rise to the
disagreement. The combined committees of the two chambers
appointed for this purpose is the conference committee.
(b) The conference committee shall consist of an equal
number of members of each Chamber of the General Assembly. The

SR0004 - 99 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
number of majority caucus members from each chamber shall be
one more than the number of minority caucus members from each
chamber. A conference committee shall consist of five members
from each chamber.
(c) In addition to the House members thereof, each
conference committee shall be comprised of five Senators,
three of whom shall be appointed by the President and two of
whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. No conference
committee report may be filed with the Secretary until a
majority of the Senate conferees has been appointed.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 8-3)
8-3. Conference Committee Reports.
(a) No subject shall be included in any conference
committee report on any bill unless that subject matter
directly relates to the matters of difference between the
Senate and House that have been referred to the conference
committee unless the Committee on Assignments, by a majority
vote of the members appointed, determines that the proposed
subject matter is of an emergency nature, of substantial
importance to the operation of government, or in the best
interests of Illinois.
(b) No conference committee report shall be received by

SR0004 - 100 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the Secretary or acted upon by the Senate unless it has been
signed by at least six conferees. The report shall be signed in
duplicate. One of the reports shall be filed with the Clerk of
the House and one with the Secretary. The report shall contain
the agreements reached by the committee.
(c) If the conference committee determines that it is
unable to reach agreement, the committee shall so report to
each chamber of the General Assembly and request appointment
of a second conference committee. In the event of agreement,
the committee shall so report to each chamber.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 8-4)
8-4. Prerequisites for Senate Consideration.
(a) No joint action motion for final action or conference
committee report may be considered by the Senate unless it has
first been referred or approved by the Committee on
Assignments in accordance with Rule 3-8, or unless the joint
action motion or conference committee report has first been
discharged from the Committee on Assignments pursuant to Rule
7-9.
(b) No conference committee report may be considered by
the Senate unless it has first been made available
electronically or otherwise for not less than one hour.

SR0004 - 101 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c) Prior to any conference committee report on an
appropriation bill being considered by the Senate, that
conference committee report shall first be the subject of a
public hearing by a standing Appropriations Committee (the
conference committee report need not be referred to an
Appropriations Committee, but instead may remain before the
Committee on Assignments or the Senate, as the case may be).
The hearing shall be held pursuant to not less than one hour
advance notice by announcement on the Senate floor, or one day
advance notice by posting on the Senate bulletin board or
other electronic means. The Appropriations Committee shall not
issue any report with respect to any conference committee
report following any such hearing.
(d) Any Senate Bill amended in the House and returned to
the Senate for concurrence in the House amendment shall be
made available electronically or otherwise for not less than
one hour before being further considered. No Senate Bill that
is returned to the Senate with House amendments shall be
called except by the principal sponsor or chief cosponsor of
the bill who has been designated in writing by the principal
sponsor.
(e) The report of a conference committee on a
non-appropriation bill or resolution shall be confined to the

SR0004 - 102 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
subject of the bill or resolution referred to the conference
committee. The report of a conference committee on an
appropriations bill shall be confined to the subject of
appropriations.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 8-5)
8-5. Action on Conference Committee Reports.
(a) Each chamber of the General Assembly shall inform the
other by message of any action taken with respect to a
conference committee report. Copies of all papers necessary to
a complete understanding of any such action shall accompany
the message. The original bill or resolution shall remain in
the chamber of origin.
(b) If either chamber refused to adopt the report of the
conference committee, or the first conference committee is
unable to reach agreement, either chamber may request a second
conference committee. When such a request is made, each
chamber shall again appoint a conference committee. If either
chamber refuses to adopt the report of a second conference
committee, the two chambers have adhered to their
disagreement, and the bill or resolution is lost.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE IX

SR0004 - 103 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
VETOES
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-1)
9-1. Recording of Vetoes. Upon the receipt by the Senate
of any bill returned by the Governor under any of the
provisions of Article IV, Section 9 of the Constitution, the
Secretary shall enter the objections of the Governor on the
Journal, and shall distribute copies of all veto messages to
each member's desk, together with copies of the vetoed bill or
item, as soon as practicable. Such copies may be made
available electronically.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-2)
9-2. Amendatory Vetoes.
(a) The Governor's specific recommendations for change
with respect to a bill returned under subsection (e) of
Section 9 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution shall be
limited to addressing the Governor's objections to portions of
a bill, the general merit of which the Governor recognizes,
and shall not alter the fundamental purpose or legislative
scheme set forth in the bill as passed.
(b) Any motion to accept the Governor's specific

SR0004 - 104 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
recommendations for change shall automatically be referred to
the Committee on Assignments. The Committee on Assignments
shall examine the Governor's specific recommendations for
change and determine by a majority of the members appointed
whether those recommendations comply with the standard set
forth in subsection (a). Any motion to accept specific
recommendations for change that the Committee on Assignments
determines shall be in compliance with subsection (a) of this
Rule are subject to action by the Committee on Assignments in
the same manner as floor amendments, joint action motions, and
conference committee reports under Rule 3-8(b).
(c) This Rule may not be suspended.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-3)
9-3. Motions to Consider Vetoes. For purposes of this
Article, the term "motions" shall mean those motions to accept
or override a veto of the Governor. Motions with respect to
bills returned by the Governor may be made by the principal
sponsor, the committee Chair in the case of a committee bill,
or by any member who voted on the prevailing side on the vote
on final passage of the bill in question. Every motion shall be
filed in writing with the Secretary, prior to any
consideration thereof by the Senate. If more than one motion
is filed with respect to any bill, all such motions shall be

SR0004 - 105 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
heard at the time the bill is called; however, after such a
motion is adopted, no other motion on that veto may be
considered. The motion of the principal sponsor or Chair, in
the case of committee bills, shall be considered first and all
other motions considered in the order filed. If the principal
sponsor does not call a bill within eight calendar days after
the Governor's objections to the bill are entered in the
Journal, thereafter any person filing such a motion may call
the bill.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-4)
9-4. Consideration of Motions.
(a) The vote to override a bill vetoed in its entirety
shall be by roll call vote and shall be entered on the Journal.
The form of motion with respect to such bills shall be: "I move
that ______ Bill _____ do pass, notwithstanding the veto of
the Governor."
(b) The vote to override an item veto shall be by roll call
vote as to each item separately and shall be entered on the
Journal. The form of motion with respect to such item shall be:
"I move that the item on page _____, line _____, of _____ Bill
______ do pass, notwithstanding the item veto of the
Governor."

SR0004 - 106 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c) The vote to restore an item which has been reduced
shall be by roll call vote as to each item separately and shall
be entered on the Journal. The form of motion with respect to
such items shall be: "I move the item on page _____, line
_____, of _____ Bill ______ be restored, notwithstanding the
item reduction of the Governor."
(d) A bill returned together with specific recommendations
of the Governor may be acted upon in either of the following
manners:
(1) By a motion to accept the specific recommendations
of the Governor. The form of motion in this event shall be:
"I move to accept the specific recommendations of the
Governor as to _____ Bill _____ in manner and form as
follows: (inserting herein the language deemed necessary
to effectuate the specific recommendations)"; or
(2) By considering the bill as a vetoed bill and
overriding the recommendation and passing the bill in its
original form. The form of motion in this event shall be:
"I move that _____ Bill _____ do pass, notwithstanding the
specific recommendations of the Governor."
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-5)

SR0004 - 107 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
9-5. Vetoed Bills Considered in Entirety. If a bill is
returned by the Governor containing more than one veto,
reduction, specific recommendation, or combination thereof,
the bill shall be acted upon in its entirety before the bill is
released from the custody of the Senate.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 9-6)
9-6. Disposition of Vetoes. When a bill or item has
received the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the
members elected (as to overrides of outright vetoes, item
vetoes, and specific recommendations for change) or the
affirmative vote of at least a majority of those elected (as to
overrides of reductions or acceptances of specific
recommendations for change), the Presiding Officer shall
declare that the bill or item has been passed or restored over
the veto of the Governor, or that the specific recommendations
for change have been approved, as the case may be. The bill
shall then be so certified by the Secretary who shall note
thereon the day the bill passed. The bill and the objections of
the Governor thereto shall then be immediately delivered to
the House. When specific recommendations have been accepted,
then such accepting language shall be attached to the original
bill and the bill shall be delivered to the House.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)

SR0004 - 108 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
ARTICLE X
NOMINATIONS
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 10-1)
10-1. Nominations.
(a) Every nomination subject to confirmation by the Senate
shall be referred to the Committee on Assignments in
accordance with Rule 3-6; nominations may be considered by the
Executive Appointments Committee or other committees in
accordance with these Senate Rules. Each nominee shall be
required to appear in person before that meeting of a
committee convened for the purpose of considering the
qualifications of the person for the office to which he or she
has been nominated. The appearance of the nominee may be
waived by the Chair of the committee without objection by the
other members of the committee. If a member of the committee
objects to the waiver of the nominee's appearance by the
Chair, the committee by a vote of a majority of those appointed
may waive such appearance.
(b) The Executive Appointments Committee or another
committee in accordance with these Senate Rules shall, six
days prior to any of its meetings, post a notice on the Senate
bulletin board or make the notice electronically available

SR0004 - 109 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
indicating the nominees to be considered at its next meeting
and the time, date, and place of the meeting. The Chair of the
committee shall provide a copy of the notice to the Governor's
Office of Legislative Affairs or other proper appointing
officer or authority, if applicable, which shall be
responsible for notifying each nominee scheduled to be
considered of the date, time, and place of hearing.
(c) Except for Appointment Messages placed on the Denial
of Appointment Calendar under the order of Executive
Appointments, on considering the report of the Executive
Appointments Committee or another committee in accordance with
these Senate Rules on a nomination, the Presiding Officer
shall put the following question: "Does the Senate consent to
the nomination just made?". The Chair of the Executive
Appointments Committee may, by a motion in writing approved by
a majority of the members present and voting compile a list of
individual Appointment Messages to be acted on together by a
single vote. Whenever a list of Appointment Messages has been
so compiled, five or more members may request the question be
put and the vote separately taken upon each of the Appointment
Messages on that list. The Senate may determine, by a majority
vote of those elected, after having voted upon the question of
one or more of the Appointment Messages individually, to act
upon the question of the remaining Appointment Messages on
that list as a unit.

SR0004 - 110 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(c-5) After a committee has reported to the Senate any
Appointment Message "do not recommend consent" pursuant to
subsection (a) of Rule 3-11, the Chair of the Executive
Appointments Committee shall move that the Appointment Message
(or Appointment Messages) be placed on the Denial of
Appointment Calendar under the order of Executive
Appointments. A motion to place an Appointment Message on the
Denial of Appointment Calendar is neither debatable, subject
to division under Rule 7-14, nor subject to a motion to
reconsider under Rule 7-15. The Presiding Officer shall put
the following question: "Shall the Senate place Appointment
Message (or Messages) (insert number or numbers) on the Denial
of Appointment Calendar which shall constitute the Senate's
rejection of that Message (or those Messages) on its 60th
session day under our Rules?" Upon adoption of the motion by a
majority vote, the Secretary shall place an Appointment
Message on the Denial of Appointment Calendar under the order
of Executive Appointments.
After a committee has reported to the Senate any
Appointment Message "without recommendation" pursuant to
subsection (a) of Rule 3-11, the Chair of the Executive
Appointments Committee may move that the Appointment Message
(or Appointment Messages) be placed on the Denial of
Appointment Calendar under the order of Executive
Appointments. A motion to place an Appointment Message on the

SR0004 - 111 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Denial of Appointment Calendar is neither debatable, subject
to division under Rule 7-14, nor subject to a motion to
reconsider under Rule 7-15. The Presiding Officer shall put
the following question: "Shall the Senate place the
Appointment Message (or Messages) (insert number or numbers)
on the Denial of Appointment Calendar which shall constitute
the Senate's rejection of that Message (or those Messages) on
its 60th session day under our Rules?" Upon adoption of the
motion by majority vote, the Secretary shall place an
Appointment Message on the Denial of Appointment Calendar
under the order of Executive Appointments.
The Secretary shall set forth for each applicable
Appointment Message on the Denial of Appointment Calendar the
number, name of the nominee, and the title of the office,
agency or other body to which nomination is being made. The
Denial of Appointment Calendar shall also state the number of
session days that have elapsed since each Appointment Message
was received by the Senate. The Secretary shall distribute the
Denial of Appointment Calendar to each member of the Senate as
a component of the Senate Calendar for each session day other
than a perfunctory session day. The Secretary shall make the
Denial of Appointment Calendar available to the public.
An Appointment Message shall be removed from the Denial of
Appointment Calendar if a written objection stating the number
of the Appointment Message to be removed is filed with the
Secretary on or before the 59th session day after the day the

SR0004 - 112 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Appointment Message was received by the Senate, and the
objection contains the signature of a majority of the members
elected. Upon the filing of a proper written objection, the
Secretary shall remove the relevant Appointment Message from
the Denial of Appointment Calendar and automatically place the
Appointment Message on the Senate Calendar under the order of
Executive Appointments.
An Appointment Message shall be removed from the Denial of
Appointment Calendar if, upon concurrence of a majority of
those appointed, the Committee on Assignments adopts a motion
to remove that Appointment Message on or before the 59th
session day after the day the Appointment Message was received
by the Senate. Upon this action of the Committee on
Assignments, the Secretary shall remove the relevant
Appointment Message from the Denial of Appointment Calendar
and automatically place the Appointment Message on the Senate
Calendar under the order of Executive Appointments, unless the
Committee on Assignments has referred the Appointment Message
to a committee for further action.
If neither the Committee on Assignments takes action to
remove an Appointment Message from the Denial of Appointment
Calendar, nor a proper written objection to an Appointment
Message on the Denial of Appointment Calendar is filed with
the Secretary as required under this Rule, then that
Appointment Message shall remain on the Denial of Appointment
Calendar. A motion to place an Appointment Message (or

SR0004 - 113 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
Appointment Messages) on the Denial of Appointment Calendar
adopted by the Senate shall constitute the Senate's rejection
of each Appointment Message on the Denial of Appointment
Calendar on the 60th session day after the day the Appointment
Message was received by the Senate. Each Appointment Message
remaining on the Denial of Appointment Calendar on the 60th
session day after the day the Appointment Message was received
by the Senate shall be deemed to have not received the advice
and consent of the Senate and thereby rejected by the Senate
pursuant to Article V, Section 9 of the Illinois Constitution.
On the 60th session day for each Appointment Message on
the Denial of Appointment Calendar, the Presiding Officer
shall make the following inquiry of the Secretary: "Please
identify each Appointment Message on the Denial of Appointment
Calendar that is on its 60th session day." After the Secretary
identifies the relevant Appointment Message or Appointment
Messages, the Presiding Officer shall make the following
declaration: "Each Appointment Message just read is on its
60th session day and remains on the Denial of Appointment
Calendar; therefore each such Message, pursuant to our Rules,
is deemed to have not received the advice and consent of the
Senate and is hereby rejected by the Senate pursuant to
Article V, Section 9 of the Illinois Constitution. The Journal
shall reflect that the Senate has rejected each such
nomination and the Secretary shall inform the relevant
appointing authority of the Senate's action in rejecting that

SR0004 - 114 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
authority's nomination."
(d) Except as otherwise provided for in this Rule, while
any nomination remains with the Senate, it is in order to
reconsider any vote taken thereon, subject to the provisions
of Rule 7-15 not related to the time for making such a motion.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)
(Senate Rule 10-2)
10-2. Appointment Messages.
(a) Every nomination subject to the advice and consent of
the Senate shall be submitted to the Senate by an Appointment
Message from the appointing officer or appointing authority in
accordance with this Rule, using the Appointment Message form
provided in this Rule, containing all of the required
information, and accompanied by a cover letter signed by the
appointing officer or on behalf of the appointing authority.
(b) All Appointment Messages shall be drafted by the
Legislative Reference Bureau, according to the form provided
in this Rule.
(c) Appointment Messages submitted shall be assigned a
sequential number by the Secretary of the Senate, indicating
the order in which they were received and read into the Senate
record by the Secretary of the Senate at the direction of the

SR0004 - 115 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
President of the Senate. An Appointment Message is received by
the Senate when it is read into the Senate record and assigned
a sequential number. A perfunctory session day shall not be
deemed to be a session day for the purpose of Article V,
Section 9, subsection (a) of the Illinois Constitution.
(d) An Appointment Message that does not conform to the
requirements of this Rule shall, at the direction of the
President of the Senate, (i) be ruled non-compliant and of no
legal effect and (ii) be returned by the Secretary of the
Senate to the appointing officer or authority that filed it.
(e) The appointing officer or authority may file in
accordance with this Rule an Appointment Message that
supersedes a previously filed Appointment Message. A
superseding Appointment Message shall identify by sequential
number the Appointment Message that it supersedes. The filing
of a superseding Appointment Message shall automatically table
the Appointment Message that it supersedes, and that
superseded Appointment Message shall have no further legal
effect. The filing of a superseding Appointment Message shall
not have the effect of restarting the 60 session day period
within which the Senate must confirm or reject the appointee
under Article V, Section 9, subsection (a) of the Illinois
Constitution, Senate Rule 10-1, or any applicable law.

SR0004 - 116 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
(f) Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to prohibit an
appointing officer or authority from withdrawing in writing an
Appointment Message that was previously submitted to or
received by the Senate. An Appointment Message that has been
withdrawn shall have no further legal effect. The filing of an
Appointment Message appointing the same person to the same
office and for a term ending on the same date as that of an
Appointment Message that was previously filed and later
withdrawn shall have the effect of restarting the 60 session
day period within which the Senate must confirm or reject the
appointee under Article V, Section 9, subsection (a) of the
Illinois Constitution, Senate Rule 10-1, or any applicable
law.
(g) An Appointment Message (i) shall be a
committee-sponsored legislative measure that is unamendable
and (ii) shall be controlled by the Chair of the Executive
Appointments Committee, who for purposes of these Senate Rules
shall be deemed the principal sponsor. In the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair of the Executive Appointments Committee
shall be deemed the principal sponsor. Messages may not have
individual cosponsors.
(h) Any Appointment Message pending when the Senate
adjourns sine die (i) shall carry over into the next General
Assembly and (ii) shall be considered to have been received by

SR0004 - 117 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
the Senate when originally read into the Senate record as
provided for in subsection (c) of this Rule. An Appointment
Message carrying over into the next General Assembly shall
retain the sequential number assigned when originally read
into the Senate record as provided for in subsection (c) of
this Rule.
(i) Form.
APPOINTMENT MESSAGE
To the Honorable Members of the Senate, One Hundred Third
General Assembly:
(I, (Name and Title of Appointing Officer), am)/(The (Name of
the Appointing Authority) is) nominating and, having sought
the advice of the Senate and by and with the consent of the
Senate, appointing the following named individual to the
office enumerated below. The consent of this Honorable Body is
respectfully requested.
Title of Office: (Insert Title and Position)
Agency or Other Body: (Name of Agency, Board, Commission, or

SR0004 - 118 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
other Body to Which Nomination is Being Made)
Start Date: (Insert Start Date)
End Date: (Insert End Date or Specify "Not Applicable")
Name: (Name of Nominee)
County of Residence: (County in which the Nominee
Resides Residential Address of Nominee)
Annual Compensation: (Insert Dollar Amount or Specify
"Unsalaried")
Per diem: (Insert Dollar Amount or Specify "Not Applicable")
Nominee's Senator: Senator (Name of Senator in whose District
the Nominee Resides)
Most Recent Holder of Office: (Insert Name or Specify "New
Position")
Superseded Appointment Message: (Insert Sequence Number of
Superseded Message or Specify "Not Applicable")
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.; S.R. 26, 103rd G.A)

SR0004 - 119 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
ARTICLE XI
DISCIPLINE AND PROTEST
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 11-1)
11-1. Disorderly Behavior.
(a) In accordance with Article IV, Section 6(d) of the
Constitution, the Senate may punish any of its members for
disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of
the members elected, expel a Senator (but not for a second time
for the same cause). The reason for the expulsion shall be
entered upon the Journal with the names and votes of those
Senators voting on the question.
(b) In accordance with Article IV, Section 6(d) of the
Constitution, the Senate during its session may punish by
imprisonment any person other than a Senator guilty of
disrespect of the Senate by disorderly or contemptuous
behavior in its presence. The imprisonment shall not extend
beyond 24 hours at one time unless the person persists in
disorderly or contemptuous behavior.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 11-2)
11-2. Protest. Any two Senators shall have the right to

SR0004 - 120 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
dissent and protest, in respectful language, against any act
or resolution that they may think injurious to the public or to
any individual, and have the reason of their protest entered
upon the Journal. When by motion a majority of Senators
determine that the language of a protest is not respectful,
the protest shall be referred back to the protesting Senators.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
ARTICLE XII
FORCE AND EFFECT
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 12-1)
12-1. Applicability. The meetings and actions of the
Senate, including all of its committees, shall be governed by
these Senate Rules.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 12-2)
12-2. Senate Practice and Mason's Manual of Legislative
Procedure. The rules of parliamentary practice appearing in
the 2020 2010 edition of Mason's Manual of Legislative
Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases to which they
are applicable, providing that they are not inconsistent with
these Senate Rules or with the previously established Senate

SR0004 - 121 - LRB104 07609 JDS 17653 r
practice.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)
(Senate Rule 12-3)
12-3. Certification by President. With respect to any bill
that has been passed by the Senate and has been certified by
the President in accordance with Article IV, Section 8(d) of
the Constitution, there shall be an irrebuttable presumption
that all of these Senate Rules have been fully complied with in
obtaining such passage.
(Source: S.R. 8, 103rd G.A.)