Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Illinois
Democratic
· Senator
Meg Loughran Cappel
Represents District 49 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
95%
on 187 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 100%
Cast a vote
79%
Yea or Nay on 1,050 of 1,322 roll calls · Senate median 95%
Their bills that became law
30 of 69
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 29.5
Roll calls on record
1,322
104th General Assembly
Votes and bills updated Oct 4, 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 Meg Loughran Cappel 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 Meg Loughran Cappel 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. Meg Loughran Cappel is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
9 of 187 party-line votes.
SB3019 · FINANCE-AGRICULTURAL BORROWER
Senate Concurrence · 2026-05-31 · Passed 36–19 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB3019 · FINANCE-AGRICULTURAL BORROWER
Senate Concurrence · 2026-05-31 · Passed 36–19 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB1950 · SANITARY FOOD PREPARATION
Senate Concurrence · 2025-10-30 · Passed 30–27 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB1836 · EAVESDROP-STATEWIDE GRAND JURY
Senate Third Reading · 2025-10-29 · Passed 39–17 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB2755 · REVENUE-VARIOUS
Third Reading in Senate · 2025-05-31 · Passed 31–25 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB0248 · CRIM PRO-POST-CONVICT PETITION
In plain English Allows people convicted of felonies committed before age 21 to file successive post-conviction petitions about sentence proportionality without showing cause.
Third Reading in Senate · 2025-04-30 · Passed 34–17 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB1531 · DISPOSABLE FOOD CONTAINER ACT
In plain English Starting January 1, 2030, selling or distributing foam food containers in Illinois is banned, with exceptions for local government activities authorized before January 1, 2024.
Third Reading in Senate · 2025-04-30 · Passed 32–22 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB0019 · PRB-ADMIN CHANGES
Third Reading in Senate · 2025-04-10 · Passed 32–22 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB0042 · VEH CD-CANNABIS IN VEHICLE
Third Reading in Senate · 2025-04-10 · Passed 33–20 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB2990 · ANIMAL WELFARE-DOG DEALER
In plain English Requires dog breeders to provide proper enclosures and exercise areas for dogs, and excludes retail dog sellers from dealer regulations.
Senate Agriculture Committee · 2026-03-12 · Passed 7–6
SB3138 · CHILDREN'S MENTAL HLTH ACT
In plain English Modifies the Children's Mental Health Partnership's duties, membership requirements, and adjunct council composition, among other changes.
Senate Behavioral and Mental Health Committee · 2026-03-11 · Passed 5–3
SB1950 · SANITARY FOOD PREPARATION
Senate Concurrence · 2025-10-30 · Passed 30–27
SB2039 · IBHE-DATA DASHBOARD REPORT
Senate Education Committee · 2025-05-30 · Passed 8–5
SB1951 · IDNR-GRAY FOX SEASON
Senate Agriculture Committee · 2025-03-20 · Passed 8–5
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 · 180 shared contested votes
52%
Darby HillsRepublican · District 26 · 181 shared contested votes
51%
John CurranRepublican · District 41 · 179 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 (272 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Illinois Delegation
YeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Meg Loughran Cappel 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.
Introduced69
Out of committee38
Passed one chamber36
Passed both chambers30
Became law30
Never left committee31
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 29.5 bills that became law this session.
LOC GOV-CREDIT CARD AGREEMENTS
In plain English Prohibits local government credit card agreements from blocking or discriminating against the State Treasurer's E-Pay program or other payment systems the local government chooses.
Official synopsis: Amends the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act. Provides that no agreement or contract with a local governmental entity may prohibit or discriminate against the use of the State Treasurer's E-Pay program under the State Treasurer Act or any other payment processing system that…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0848 · 2026-08-21
SCH CD-TEACHER SALARY-CONT ED
In plain English Allows school districts to provide salary increases to teachers for completing graduate-level continuing education coursework starting July 1, 2026.
Official synopsis: Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with continuing education coursework completed on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer may provide salary advancement to licensed classroom teachers for the completion of continuing education coursework if…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0795 · 2026-08-07
MENOPAUSE THERAPY & EDUCATION
In plain English Requires Illinois medical schools, nursing programs, and physician assistant programs to include perimenopause and menopause education in their curricula.
Official synopsis: Amends the Medical School Curriculum Act. Requires each and every medical school established, maintained, and operated by the State of Illinois to include in the curriculum the study of perimenopause and menopause recognition and management, as specified. Removes provisions amending the Illinois Insurance Code and…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0825 · 2026-08-07
CHILD CARE DIRECTORS
Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that a licensed day care center may employ (rather than hire) an individual who is in the process of completing the educational requirements set forth in the Illinois Administrative Code as an interim…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0773 · 2026-08-07
COLOR VISION TESTING
In plain English Requires schools to screen students for color vision deficiency and provide teaching resources for affected learners.
Official synopsis: Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health as necessary, to publish on its Internet website resources to support school districts and teachers in teaching literacy to color-vision-deficient learners. Amends the Child Vision and Hearing…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0761 · 2026-08-07
FUNDS AND MANDATES-VARIOUS
Amends the Election Code, the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Children and Family Services Act, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Energy Conservation and Coal Development Act, the Illinois…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0695 · 2026-08-04
LAW ENFORCEMENT-VARIOUS
In plain English Requires Illinois State Police to enforce motor carrier safety, adds human trafficking and sexual assault training, allows DNA collection from children with parental permission, and makes other law enforcement changes.
Official synopsis: Amends the Illinois State Police Law. Provides that the Division of Patrol shall enforce the motor carrier safety provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code and serve as the lead State agency for administering the commercial vehicle safety plan of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0736 · 2026-07-31
ST BD ED-LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
In plain English Creates a language needs and monitoring program for deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind children from birth to age five.
Official synopsis: Creates the Language Equality Acquisition for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind Children Act. Provides that the Act applies to children from birth to 5 years of age and is subject to appropriation. Provides that the Department of Human Services, in consultation with various State…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0658 · 2026-07-30
SCH CD-REMOVE/DISMISS TEACHERS
In plain English Requires school boards to specify misconduct details in teacher warnings, allow teachers to respond before approval, and permit binding arbitration of disputed warnings with costs split equally.
Official synopsis: Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In a provision requiring a school board, before setting a hearing on charges stemming from causes that are considered remediable, to give a teacher reasonable warning, in writing, stating specifically the causes that, if not…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0647 · 2026-07-24
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISABILITY
In plain English Requires public employees injured or made ill in the line of duty to continue receiving full pay including pensionable salary and accrued benefits.
Official synopsis: Amends the Public Employee Disability Act. Provides that, whenever an eligible employee suffers any injury or illness in the line of duty (rather than suffers any injury in the line of duty) which causes that employee to be unable to perform the employee's duties, the…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0611 · 2026-07-24
PARAPROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR
In plain English Requires paraprofessional educator applicants to be at least 18 years old and meet education or employment requirements, with age restrictions for those under 19.
Official synopsis: Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Changes the requirements for issuance of a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations as follows: Requires the applicant to be at least 18 years of age and using the Educator License with Stipulations…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0631 · 2026-07-24
REGULATION-TECH
Amends the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. Adds an occupational therapist to the individuals that the Act does not prohibit from performing or advertising activities that are considered to be the practice of applied behavior analysis under the Act. Provides that any member, partner, shareholder, director,…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0618 · 2026-07-24
AUTISM SPECTRUM-DIAGNOSIS
Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions amending the Illinois Insurance Code, provides that "diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder" includes one or more tests, evaluations, and assessments to diagnose whether an individual has autism spectrum disorder that are prescribed,…
Became lawPublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0561 · 2026-07-10
$ISBE-TRANSPORT/SP ED TUITION
Appropriates $1,211,674,900 to the State Board of Education for disabled student transportation reimbursements, disabled student tuition and private tuition, and regular and vocational common school transportation reimbursements. Effective July 1, 2026.
Not out of committeePursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments · 2026-07-02
AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
In plain English Declares April 2, 2026 as Autism Awareness Day in Illinois.
Official synopsis: Declares April 2, 2026 as Autism Awareness Day in the State of Illinois.
Became lawAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen · 2026-06-30
“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 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 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 State Government Committee)
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 Third Reading)
HB4379 · 2026-05-31
ADULT CHANGING STATIONS (Senate Third Reading)
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 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 Third Reading)
SB2427 · 2026-05-31
SCH CD-WIRELESS COMM DEVICE (Senate Concurrence)
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)
HB0958 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Third Reading)
SB3798 · 2026-05-31
MENTAL HEALTH 9-1-1 CALLS (Senate Concurrence)
SB0807 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Concurrence)
SB3484 · 2026-05-31
VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (Senate Concurrence)
SB2524 · 2026-05-31
VEH CD-DRIVER'S LICENSE (Senate Concurrence)
HB0862 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Third Reading)
SB2645 · 2026-05-31
FIRE STATION REHABILITATION (Senate Concurrence)
HB0952 · 2026-05-31
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH (Senate Third Reading)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1322 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 49 is House 97 plus House 98. The percentage is how often each of them ended up on the same side as Meg Loughran Cappel on bills both voted on (each one’s final Yea or Nay on the bill).
Meg Loughran CappelState Senate 49 · Democratic · this page
Harry BentonState House 97 · Democratic
99%
Natalie ManleyState House 98 · 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
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