---
type: "Bill"
title: "GENERAL PRIMARY FEBRUARY"
description: "Amends the Election Code and the School Code. Changes the general primary election from the third Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February in even-numbered years. Effective immediately."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "95th"
identifier: "HB 426"
citation: "Illinois HB 426 (95th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 99
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2007-01-26"
last_action: "2007-06-20"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/21246dc7-3f5f-4fb1-b8fa-57790a838336"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=426&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=27429&SessionID=51&GA=95"
source_hash: "6c0072d4b900a302998cedd9917f40cd7d56e7e4f7382b1da4b44d9912cb5346"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 426 (95th) — GENERAL PRIMARY FEBRUARY

Amends the Election Code and the School Code. Changes the general primary election from the third Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February in even-numbered years. Effective immediately.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB0426&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27429&DocNum=426&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB0426eng&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27429&DocNum=426&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB0426enr&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27429&DocNum=426&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **110–4** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **48–10** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Michael J. Madigan — primary (person)
- Mike Jacobs — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2007-01-26** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michael J. Madigan `filing`
- **2007-01-26** Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Constance A. Howard
- **2007-01-26** Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Boland
- **2007-01-26** Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
- **2007-01-26** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2007-01-26** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2007-01-31** Assigned to Elections & Campaign Reform Committee `referral-committee`
- **2007-02-07** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul D. Froehlich
- **2007-02-21** Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul D. Froehlich
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul D. Froehlich
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Edward J. Acevedo
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Luis Arroyo
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel V. Beiser
- **2007-02-21** Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Boland
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Boland
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John E. Bradley
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Richard T. Bradley
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. James D. Brosnahan
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel J. Burke
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Annazette Collins
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marlow H. Colvin
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Fred Crespo
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John D'Amico
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Monique D. Davis
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. William Davis
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert F. Flider
- **2007-02-21** Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. LaShawn K. Ford
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Careen M Gordon
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Deborah L. Graham
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kurt M. Granberg
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Julie Hamos
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gary Hannig
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Greg Harris
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Holbrook
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elga L. Jefferies
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles E. Jefferson
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Joyce
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Karen May
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jack McGuire
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Susana A Mendoza
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. David E. Miller
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert S. Molaro
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elaine Nekritz
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Milton Patterson
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandon W. Phelps
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Reitz
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert Rita
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. George Scully, Jr.
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael K. Smith
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Cynthia Soto
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Arthur L. Turner
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick J Verschoore
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Eddie Washington
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough
- **2007-02-21** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Wyvetter H. Younge
- **2007-02-28** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Aaron Schock
- **2007-03-06** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Elections & Campaign Reform Committee `amendment-introduction`
- **2007-03-06** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Elections & Campaign Reform Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2007-03-06** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elections & Campaign Reform Committee; 008-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2007-03-07** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2007-03-07** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2007-03-07** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2007-03-08** Fiscal Note Filed
- **2007-03-28** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios
- **2007-03-28** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-004-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2007-03-28** Motion Filed to Reconsider Vote Rep. William B. Black
- **2007-03-28** Motion to Reconsider Vote - Withdrawn Rep. William B. Black
- **2007-03-29** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2007-03-29** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading March 30, 2007 `reading-1`
- **2007-03-29** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, Jr.
- **2007-03-29** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Terry Link
- **2007-03-29** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2007-03-29** Referred to Rules `referral-committee`
- **2007-04-18** Assigned to Executive `referral-committee`
- **2007-04-19** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins
- **2007-05-02** Do Pass Executive; 012-001-000 `committee-passage`
- **2007-05-02** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 3, 2007
- **2007-05-03** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2007-05-03** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 8, 2007
- **2007-05-15** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Noland
- **2007-05-15** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Jacobs
- **2007-05-15** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kwame Raoul
- **2007-05-15** Third Reading - Passed; 048-010-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2007-05-15** Passed Both Houses
- **2007-06-13** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2007-06-20** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2007-06-20** Effective Date June 20, 2007
- **2007-06-20** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0006 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/21246dc7-3f5f-4fb1-b8fa-57790a838336`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).