Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Illinois
Democratic
· Senator
Kimberly Lightford
Represents District 4 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
100%
on 304 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 100%
Cast a vote
78%
Yea or Nay on 1,197 of 1,532 roll calls · Senate median 95%
Their bills that became law
33 of 79
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 29.5
Roll calls on record
1,532
104th General Assembly
Votes and bills updated Oct 9, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 104th General Assembly.
How Kimberly Lightford votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where Kimberly Lightford sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Kimberly Lightford is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
0 of 304 party-line votes.
They voted with most Democrats on every party-line vote this session.
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB1950 · SANITARY FOOD PREPARATION
Senate Concurrence · 2025-10-30 · Passed 30–27
SB1793 · CREMATION-SCATTERING AREA
Senate End of Life Issues Committee · 2025-04-03 · Passed 3–0
SB0640 · LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH
In plain English Changes the short title in the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Allocation Act of 1995.
Senate Executive Committee · 2026-05-26 · Passed 8–4
SB0643 · LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH
Senate Executive Committee · 2026-05-26 · Passed 8–4
SB0635 · LOCAL GOVERNMENT-TECH
In plain English Changes the short title in the County Economic Development Project Area Property Tax Allocation Act.
Senate Executive Committee · 2026-05-26 · Passed 8–4
Republicans they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Seth LewisRepublican · District 24 · 195 shared contested votes
51%
Darby HillsRepublican · District 26 · 194 shared contested votes
48%
Don DeWitteRepublican · District 33 · 201 shared contested votes
42%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (335 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Illinois Delegation
YeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Kimberly Lightford was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced79
Out of committee43
Passed one chamber38
Passed both chambers33
Became law33
Never left committee36
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 29.5 bills that became law this session.
VEH CD-DRIVER'S LICENSE
In plain English Allows driver's license applicants to voluntarily submit documentation of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder to be noted on their license.
Official synopsis: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows an applicant for a driver's license to submit, with the application for a driver's license, documentation confirming an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder so such information may be included on the person's driver's license. Provides that any such…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0840 · 2026-08-21
HUMAN RIGHTS-MENOPAUSE CARE
Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In the Illinois Insurance Code: deletes changes affecting menopause-related conditions; provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan must provide coverage for medically necessary hormonal…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0793 · 2026-08-07
MUNI CD-DETENTION FACILITIES
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Specifies that the term "detention center facility" includes certain facilities of federal immigration authorities and units of government (rather than only facilities of federal immigration authorities). Effective immediately.
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0786 · 2026-08-07
DHS-BOARDS&COMM CLEANUP
In plain English Removes the Board of Reimbursement Appeals and replaces it with Department rules and judicial review for service charge appeals, among other changes.
Official synopsis: Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. In provisions concerning appeals of the Department of Human Services' determination of services charges, removes all references to the Board of Reimbursement Appeals and instead provides that appeal hearings shall be conducted in accordance with specified Department…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0715 · 2026-07-31
ASSIST LIVING-MANDATED REPORT
Amends the Abused and Neglected Long Term Care Facility Residents Reporting Act. Includes any facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act in the definition of "long term care facility". Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Removes a supportive living facility from the…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0674 · 2026-07-31
DHS-OIG INVESTIGATIONS
In plain English Changes the definition of obstructing Department of Human Services investigations to include intentional failure to timely report allegations and interference with abuse investigations, among other changes.
Official synopsis: Amends the Department of Human Services Act. In the definition of "material obstruction of an investigation", defines the term to mean the intentional failure to timely report an allegation to the hotline or the interference (rather than purposeful interference) with an investigation of physical abuse,…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0669 · 2026-07-31
VETERAN SCRATCH-OFF GAME
In plain English Expands who must report elder abuse to include bank employees and investment professionals, and changes rules for accessing related records.
Official synopsis: Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Provides that any employee of a financial institution who willfully fails to report as required by the Act shall be referred to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for possible disciplinary action. Expands the list of mandated reporters…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0662 · 2026-07-30
SCH CD-TEACHER EVALUATION PLAN
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Provides that if the parties cannot reach agreement over the decision on whether to incorporate a student growth component into the teacher evaluation plan and there is no collective bargaining agreement that includes or…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0646 · 2026-07-24
ANCRA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
In plain English Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to inform parents within 24 hours when requesting medical opinions about suspected child abuse, and mandates healthcare facilities provide parents with information about their rights.
Official synopsis: Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that in any investigation in which the Department of Children and Family Services will request a professional's medical or forensic opinion about whether a child's presenting injury or medical condition may be the result of abuse…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0586 · 2026-07-24
SCH CD-SUSPENSION/EXPULSION
In plain English Restricts suspensions in early childhood through second grade, requiring superintendent approval for suspensions of three or more days and limiting suspension length to time needed for behavior plans.
Official synopsis: Amends the School Code. Provides that early childhood programs receiving State funds shall restrict suspensions. Provides that the decision to suspend a student in preschool for 3 or more days may only be made by the superintendent of the school district, director of an early…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0546 · 2026-07-10
VIDEO STREAMING AD VOLUME
Creates the Illinois Hemp Act. Prohibits the sale, distribution, manufacture, or production of hemp products without authorization or required licensing. Provides for penalties and recalls, as well as enforcement under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Creates the Illinois Hemp Regulatory Fund. Dissolves…
Became lawSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments · 2026-07-02
ELECTRONIC MONITORING
In plain English Expands who must report elder abuse to include investment advisers, securities dealers, and certain bank employees, and changes rules for accessing and sharing related records.
Official synopsis: Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Expands the list of mandated reporters under the Act to include investment advisers and investment adviser representatives as defined in the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, dealers and salespersons as defined in the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, and…
Passed one chamberPursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments · 2026-07-02
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH
In plain English Requires retail liquor license applicants to provide email addresses for notices, allows electronic service of hearing notices instead of certified mail, and removes limits on fines for violations.
Official synopsis: Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Removes language providing that specified fines may not exceed $500 for each violation and that each day that the activity, which gave rise to the original fine, continues is a separate violation. Removes language providing that a rectifier…
Passed one chamberChief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita · 2026-07-02
SCH-CD-LICENSE-EARLY CHILDHOOD
In plain English Removes a requirement that high school students complete two years of foreign language courses to earn a diploma.
Official synopsis: Amends the School Code. Removes provisions requiring that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses. Makes…
Passed one chamberSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(b) / Motion Referred to Rules Committee · 2026-07-01
ADJOURN HOUSE & SENATE
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the Senate adjourns on Monday, June 01, 2026, it stands adjourned until the call of the President; and when the House…
Became lawAdopted Both Houses · 2026-06-01
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
SB0118 · 2026-05-31
DHS-GAMBLING DISORDERS (Senate Concurrence)
SB3258 · 2026-05-31
INS-RENTAL VEHICLE COVERAGE (Senate Concurrence)
HB4304 · 2026-05-31
HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS (Senate Third Reading)
HB5024 · 2026-05-31
MUNI CD-DETENTION FACILITIES (Senate Third Reading)
SB3398 · 2026-05-31
CIV PRO-TENANTS IN COMMON (Senate Executive Committee)
SB3398 · 2026-05-31
CIV PRO-TENANTS IN COMMON (Senate Concurrence)
SB3273 · 2026-05-31
UTILITIES-INTERCONNECTIONS (Senate Concurrence)
SB3037 · 2026-05-31
DARK SKY ACT (Senate Concurrence)
HB4571 · 2026-05-31
COUNTIES CD-AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Senate Third Reading)
SB0318 · 2026-05-31
BUSINESS-TECH (Senate Executive Committee)
SB0318 · 2026-05-31
BUSINESS-TECH (Senate Concurrence)
SB3967 · 2026-05-31
NURSING HOME SURVEYOR REPORT (Senate Concurrence)
HJR0046 · 2026-05-31
LITTLE PALESTINE WAY (Senate Motion To Adopt)
SB3465 · 2026-05-31
CONSTRUCTION-SANITARY REQS (Senate Concurrence)
SB3208 · 2026-05-31
VEH CD-HUSBANDRY IMPLEMENT DEF (Senate Concurrence)
SB3321 · 2026-05-31
LOC GOV-CREDIT CARD AGREEMENTS (Senate Concurrence)
SB3019 · 2026-05-31
FINANCE-AGRICULTURAL BORROWER (Senate Concurrence)
SB3049 · 2026-05-31
NEWBORN METABOLIC SCREENING (Senate Concurrence)
HB4327 · 2026-05-31
AUDITOR GENERAL-340B AUDIT (Senate Third Reading)
SB3222 · 2026-05-31
VIDEO STREAMING AD VOLUME (Senate Concurrence)
SB3020 · 2026-05-31
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-HARASSMENT (Senate Concurrence)
HB5090 · 2026-05-31
PROCUREMENT-CONSTRUCTION (Senate Third Reading)
SB3044 · 2026-05-31
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDER-EFFECT (Senate Concurrence)
SB3048 · 2026-05-31
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-LETHALITY (Senate Concurrence)
SB2951 · 2026-05-31
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE TIME (Senate Concurrence)
HB4496 · 2026-05-31
PROCUREMENT-STATE LABS (Senate Executive Committee)
HB4496 · 2026-05-31
PROCUREMENT-STATE LABS (Senate Third Reading)
HB4379 · 2026-05-31
ADULT CHANGING STATIONS (Senate Third Reading)
SB3113 · 2026-05-31
CREDIT UNIONS-VARIOUS (Senate Executive Committee)
SB3113 · 2026-05-31
CREDIT UNIONS-VARIOUS (Senate Concurrence)
SB3086 · 2026-05-31
STATE PERMITTED INVESTMENTS (Senate Concurrence)
HB2949 · 2026-05-31
FY27 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION (Senate Third Reading)
HB2783 · 2026-05-31
CMS-MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS (Senate Executive Committee)
HB2783 · 2026-05-31
CMS-MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS (Senate Third Reading)
SB2762 · 2026-05-31
INS-SEIZURE DETECTION DEVICE (Senate Concurrence)
HB4911 · 2026-05-31
VETERAN SCRATCH-OFF GAME (Senate Third Reading)
SB3255 · 2026-05-31
DHS-DSP PILOT PROGRAM (Senate Concurrence)
SB3777 · 2026-05-31
HUMAN RIGHTS-DISPARTE IMPACT (Senate Concurrence)
SB3645 · 2026-05-31
REGULATORY SUNSET-RADIATION (Senate Concurrence)
HB0957 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Executive Committee)
HB0957 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Third Reading)
SB2427 · 2026-05-31
SCH CD-WIRELESS COMM DEVICE (Senate Concurrence)
HB4377 · 2026-05-31
PHA-NO WORK REQUIREMENTS (Senate Executive Committee)
HB4377 · 2026-05-31
PHA-NO WORK REQUIREMENTS (Senate Third Reading)
SB2771 · 2026-05-31
SUICIDE PREVENTION INFORMATION (Senate Concurrence)
SB3365 · 2026-05-31
MEDICARE/MEDICAID DUAL ELIGIBL (Senate Concurrence)
HB5511 · 2026-05-31
DIGITAL AGE ASSURANCE (Senate Third Reading)
HB0111 · 2026-05-31
$FY 2027 BUDGET (Senate Third Reading)
HB4248 · 2026-05-31
ALGORITHMIC PRICE TRANSPARENCY (Senate Third Reading)
HB3663 · 2026-05-31
COURT OF CLAIMS-AWARDS (Senate Third Reading)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1532 total roll-call votes this session).
Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files, simplified for display. For an exact address, use the legislature’s own district finder.
Who represents this ground
Illinois builds each Senate district from exactly two House districts: Senate 4 is House 7 plus House 8. The percentage is how often each of them ended up on the same side as Kimberly Lightford on bills both voted on (each one’s final Yea or Nay on the bill).
Kimberly LightfordState Senate 4 · Democratic · this page
Chris WelchState House 7 · Democratic
100%
La Shawn FordState House 8 · Democratic
99%
In Washington
Both U.S. senators represent the whole state. Which U.S. House member represents you depends on your address, so use the finder rather than a guess from district numbers.
Official Links
Follow Kimberly Lightford
One email a week, only when there’s something: every time they broke with their party, and the closest votes they cast. Free, and you can stop any time.