Sen. Seth Lewis participates in 97 floor votes in Illinois Senate on May 21, 2026
By H. J. Chang
Sen. Seth Lewis (R-24th) recorded 97 floor votes as part of the Illinois Senate's 104th General Assembly proceedings on Thursday, May 21, 2026. He supported ninety-four measures and opposed three, according to official records.
One of the bills Lewis opposed was SB3391, legislation designed to increase financial accountability and oversight of Illinois charter schools. The Illinois Senate passed the measure. The Illinois General Assembly summarized its proposed language as: "SCH CD-CHARTER SCHOOL-CLOSURE."
The following summary is based on the bill text and includes some explanation to aid understanding of its provisions.
In summary, the legislation creates the Charter School Closure Financial Accountability Law, taking effect immediately, to enhance financial controls on charter schools in Illinois. It requires operators to finalize renewal agreements within 90 days or face nonrenewal, loss of district funding, and initiation of closure procedures. The bill introduces a "closure security" requirement equal to three months of operating expenses, designated to cover the transition of students, employee pay and benefits, records management, and the return of public assets. It empowers authorizers to withhold per-pupil payments, initiate legal action, file liens, and impose civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation if funds are mishandled. Financial distress is defined, and authorizers are permitted to implement short-term financial intervention through an independent fiscal manager.
On the same day, Lewis cast votes on a wide array of additional legislation, including: SB0343, HB5095, HB5135, HB5284, SB0315, HB5204, HB5166, SB0340, HB5446, HB5551, HB5193, SB0317, HB5001, HB5269, HB5489, HB5494, SB1796, SB3561, HB3250, HB4576, HB4687, HB5000, HB5136, HB5225, HB5281, HB5321, HB5364, SB0316, SB0318, SB0415, SB0416, HB4741, HB4943, HB0067, HB2270, HB2539, HB3169, HB3392, HB3393, HB3408, HB3659, HB3769, HB3860, HB4112, HB4235, HB4239, HB4242, HB4284, HB4292, HB4300, HB4353, HB4365, HB4375, HB4403, HB4426, HB4462, HB4472, HB4509, HB4517, HB4581, HB4612, HB4614, HB4643, HB4659, HB4676, HB4695, HB4698, HB4700, HB4749, HB4757, HB4793, HB4829, HB4843, HB4859, HB4867, HB4868, HB4934, HB4941, HB4982, HB5099, HB5107, HB5167, HB5181, HB5187, HB5310, HB5317, HB5365, HB5379, HB5411, HB5435, HB5439, HB5471, HB5541, HB5542, HB5574, and HB5580.
Lewis earned a BS from the University of Iowa in 1991.
A Republican, Lewis was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2023, succeeding Suzy Glowiak as representative for the 24th Senate District.
The standard path for Illinois legislation involves multiple stages, beginning with introduction in the House or Senate, committee evaluation, discussion and votes on the floor of both chambers, and final consideration by the governor for enactment or veto. The General Assembly operates biennially. Thousands of bills may be introduced during a session, but only a small portion are approved as law.
Additional information on bills and legislative activity is available here.
Floor Votes Recorded By Sen. Seth Lewis
| Bill | Description | Vote | Outcome | Chamber tally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB3391 | Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that upon approval of a charter renewal by an authorizer, the charter operator shall execute the renewal agreement no later than 90 days after the date of the authorizer's final renewal approval. Provides that a charter school that is deemed nonrenewed is ineligible to receive any payments from a school district. Provides that a charter operator that fails to execute a renewal agreement within a specified period may not continue to operate the charter school beyond the expiration of the existing charter term and is subject to closure procedures. Requires every charter operator to maintain closure security. Provides that failure to maintain closure security is a basis for the authorizer to withhold a portion of per-pupil payments until compliance is achieved and for consideration in denying a charter renewal or revoking the charter or ineligibility to operate additional charter campuses. Provides that if the closure security is insufficient to cover the costs of a closure event, the authorizer or the State Board of Education may bring a civil action against the charter operator to recover the unpaid amounts and seek to impose a lien on any property owned by the charter operator to secure recovery. Provides that if an authorizer determines that a charter school is in financial distress, the authorizer may require the charter operator to submit a financial remediation plan within 30 days. Provides that if the authorizer determines that the charter school has failed to implement an approved remediation plan or the financial distress presents an immediate risk to students, employees, or public funds, the authorizer may initiate financial intervention by appointing an independent fiscal manager approved by the authorizer and the State Board. Allows the fiscal manager to exercise authority limited to financial matters. Provides that financial intervention is temporary and may not exceed 180 days, except that the authorizer may extend the intervention once for good cause. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. | No | Passed | 31-21 |
| SB0343 | Amends the Principal and Income Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. | No | Passed | 34-21 |
| HB5095 | Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall permit applicants to choose between "male", "female", or "X" (rather than "male", "female", or "non-binary") on an application for an identification card, driver's license, or permit. Provides that an applicant who wants to change the sex listed on an issued identification card, driver's license, or permit must submit a gender designation form. Sets forth the requirements of the gender designation form. | No | Passed | 38-19 |
| HB5135 | Amends the Adult Education Act and the Public Community College Act. With respect to the annual report on adult education for the preceding school year by the Illinois Community College Board, removes the requirement to include a summary of State reimbursement for adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and training programs in coordination with vocational skills training. Provides that any public community college district maintaining adult educations classes for the instruction of those persons who, among other requirements, are 17 (rather than 16) years of age or older are entitled to claim an apportionment of State reimbursement. Allows classes in adult education to include digital literacy. Removes language providing that the maximum generation rate for reimbursement per credit hour or per unit of instruction shall be equal to the community college system reimbursement rate for adult education divided by one-third. Provides that State adult education funds, other than matching funds, are not subject to the authorizing federal law. Removes language providing that approved programs for adult education may assess students up to $6 per credit hour or unit of instruction per semester per student. Removes language requiring an education plan to be established for each adult learning participating in the instructional programs. Requires each adult learner participating in the instructional programs to complete an assessment of foundational skills to appropriately place the adult learner in an instructional program. Makes other and conforming changes. | Yes | Passed | 48-7 |
| HB5284 | Creates the Illinois Menopause Equity and Care Act. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Requires the Department of Public Health to create educational materials regarding menopause, including symptoms, treatment options, and patient rights for distribution to the public online. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that on or after January 1, 2028, all individual and group health insurance policies issued, renewed, or amended must provide coverage for medically necessary evaluation and treatment of perimenopause and menopause as determined by a licensed health care provider using evidence-based guidelines. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987. Provides if a licensee treats or evaluates patients suffering from menopause-related conditions, 5 hours of the required 50 hours must include continuing education on menopause care, including management of symptoms, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, and bone health. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines "menopause-related condition" includes perimenopause, menopause, and associated medical or symptomatic conditions, including, but not limited to, vasomotor symptoms, sleep disruption, cognitive or mood changes, and osteoporosis-related changes. Provides that it is a civil rights violation to unlawfully discriminate because of a menopause-related condition or fail or refuse to provide reasonable accommodations. | Yes | Passed | 51-4 |
| SB0315 | Amends the Predatory Loan Prevention Act. Makes technical changes in a Section concerning the short title. | Yes | Passed | 52-5 |
| HB5204 | Amends the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the purpose of the Illinois Early Learning Council. Provides that the Secretary of Early Childhood or the Secretary's designee shall serve as co-chairperson of the Council. Provides that the governor shall appoint to the Council parents and caregivers of children 5 years of age or under. Provides that the Department of Early Childhood shall provide staffing and administrative support to the Council. Sets forth provisions concerning conflicts of interest. Amends the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. Provides that specified members of the advisory committee to the Early Childhood Access Consortium shall be appointed by the Department of Early Childhood. | Yes | Passed | 53-5 |
| HB5166 | Creates the Dissolution of Special Districts Act. Establishes a method for the dissolution of special districts. Provides that a special district may dissolve upon the affirmative majority vote of its own governing body and the affirmative majority vote of a receiving unit of local government. Provides that, on or before the date of dissolution, all real and personal property, and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving special district shall be transferred to the receiving unit of local government. Provides that, on the date of dissolution, the dissolving special district is dissolved. Provides that, on and after the date of dissolution, all rights and duties of the dissolving special district may be exercised by the receiving unit of local government. Provides that, before the date of dissolution, the receiving unit of local government shall submit a service continuation plan confirming that the receiving unit of local government has the resources to continue providing the services provided by the dissolving special district. Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 52-3 |
| SB0340 | Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. | Yes | Passed | 54-3 |
| HB5446 | Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall allow for an alternative rural staffing model for vehicle service providers that serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer inhabitants and exclusively use volunteers, paid-on-call, or part-time employees, or a combination thereof (now, the use of part-time employees is not an option). Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 54-0 |
| HB5551 | Amends the School Code. Provides that certain provisions concerning the recomputation and adjustment of a school district claim for general State aid or evidence-based funding shall end with Fiscal Year 2026. Provides that when a child from an orphanage, foster family home, other State agency, children's home, or State residential unit eligible for special education services is placed in a separate public day school, that school shall meet the programmatic requirements and regulations for separate public day schools. Provides that any funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used, among other purposes, for indirect costs necessary for Program operation. Provides that an annual retention bonus of up to $4,000 (rather than $4,000) per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools and such funds must be disbursed equally on an annual basis among all qualified educators (rather than on a first-come, first-served basis). Makes other changes. Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 54-0 |
| HB5193 | Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. In provisions concerning when EMS personnel may contact Online Medical Control or an EMS Medical Director or Emergency Communications Registered Nurse to request bypass or diversion of the closest emergency department and request transport to the closest or appropriate EMS System-approved mental health facility, removes the requirement that the patient must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. | Yes | Passed | 55-0 |
| SB0317 | Amends the Consumer Legal Funding Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. | Yes | Passed | 56-1 |
| HB5001 | Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Requires every insurer to provide in each group or individual policy, contract, or certificate of insurance issued or renewed for persons who are residents of the State, coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for all patients 30 (instead of 35) years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer within the provisions of the policy, contract, or certificate. Requires coverage for a baseline mammogram for patients 30 to 34 (instead of 35 to 39) years of age and an annual mammogram for patients 35 (instead of 40) years of age or older. Effective January 1, 2027. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB5269 | Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Changes references from the federal Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Act to the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. Provides that a majority of members of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, excluding vacancies, (instead of 6 members of the Commission) constitute a quorum. In a provision concerning regional authorities making their findings and recommendations public, provides that it shall include in any such public statement any reply made by the State agency, service provider, or other person investigated, if requested by the provider. Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes changes to the definitions of "guardian" and "mental illness" and adds a definition of "under guardianship". Changes references from the Guardianship and Mental Health Advocacy Commission to the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB5489 | Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that whenever a law enforcement officer has reason to believe a person is a victim under the Act from a family or household member, if the alleged offender is a juvenile, the officer may, based on the totality of the circumstances and using the abbreviated version of the Adolescent Domestic Battery Typology Tool created by the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, choose not to arrest the juvenile and instead may divert the juvenile or may assist the juvenile and the juvenile's family in finding alternative placement. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB5494 | Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Replaces references to Primary Stroke Centers with Stroke Centers. Provides that a hospital that no longer meets nationally recognized, evidence-based standards for Stroke Centers, loses its Stroke Center certification, or has any change to its designation level shall notify the Department of Public Health and the Regional EMS Advisory Committee within 5 business days. Requires the Department to consult with the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee for the adoption or deletion of approved stroke designation levels. Provides that the approved stroke designation levels shall coincide with the stroke designation levels recognized by Department-approved certifying bodies. Requires the Department to establish reporting requirements for designated Stroke Centers to capture information using new or existing electronic reporting tools for statewide data collection and certification purposes. Removes provisions concerning previous Stroke Center designations. Makes other changes. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| SB1796 | Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency shall disclose a recording made with the use of an officer-worn body camera, upon request, to (i) the subject of the encounter captured on the recording, (ii) the legal representative of the subject of the encounter captured on the recording, (iii) the officer who wore the camera that made the recording, (iv) the legal representative of the officer who wore the camera that made the recording, (v) a person who has written permission from the subject of the encounter to receive the recording, or (vi) a person who has written permission from the officer who wore the camera that made the recording to receive the recording. Provides that all recordings made with an officer-worn body camera may (rather than must) be destroyed after 90 days, unless any encounter captured on the recording has been flagged. Makes changes to the definition of "law enforcement officer" in the Act. Amends the Eavesdropping Article to the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that recordings made in accordance with the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act are exempt from the Article. Effective immediately. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| SB3561 | Creates the Buy-Now-Pay-Later Loan Regulation Act. Provides that it is unlawful for a person to act as a buy-now-pay-later lender unless the person registers with the Division of Financial Institutions of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Sets forth requirements for registration; duties and powers of the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; and administrative procedures. Provides that a buy-now-pay-lender shall provide specified disclosures to recipients. Provides that a violation of the Act constitutes an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change. | Yes | Passed | 56-0 |
| HB3250 | Amends the School Code. Provides that if the provider of the micro-credential or digital badge determines and can demonstrate that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification, then the school district or nonpublic school shall designate that the student has earned State Global Scholar Certification on the student's diploma and transcript. | Yes | Passed | 58-1 |
| HB4576 | ... | Yes | Passed | 58-1 |
| HB4687 | ... | Yes | Passed | 58-1 |
| HB5000 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB5136 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB5225 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB5281 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB5321 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB5364 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| SB0316 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| SB0318 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| SB0415 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| SB0416 | ... | Yes | Passed | 57-0 |
| HB4741 | ... | Yes | Passed | 58-0 |
| HB4943 | ... | Yes | Passed | 58-0 |
| HB0067 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB2270 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB2539 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3169 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3392 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3393 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3408 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3659 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3769 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB3860 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4112 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4235 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4239 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4242 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4284 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4292 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4300 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4353 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4365 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4375 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4403 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4426 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4462 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4472 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4509 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4517 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4581 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4612 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4614 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4643 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4659 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4676 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4695 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4698 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4700 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4749 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4757 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4793 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4829 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4843 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4859 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4867 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4868 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4934 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4941 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB4982 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5099 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5107 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5167 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5181 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5187 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5310 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5317 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5365 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5379 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5411 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5435 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5439 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5471 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5541 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5542 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5574 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |
| HB5580 | ... | Yes | Passed | 59-0 |