Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage.

Highlights:

• Amends state law to refer to a valid marriage as between 2 individuals, whereas existing law defines marriage as between a man and a woman (Sec. 905).

• Specifies that all legal benefits, protections and responsibilities of marriage from the state and federal level apply to individuals of any marriage and their children, regardless of whether the marriage consists of a same-sex or a different-sex couple (Sec. 10). 

• Prohibits any church, mosque, synagogue, temple, ministry, religious organization or Indian Nation from being required to solemnize or provide religious facilities for a marriage (Secs. 15 & 905).

• Authorizes individuals in a civil union to have their civil union solemnized and registered as a marriage without an application fee during a 1 year period, beginning on the effective date of this bill (Sec. 915).

• Specifies that if any part of this bill is judged invalid, the remainder of the bill will not be affected (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage.

Highlights:

• Amends state law to refer to a valid marriage as between 2 individuals, whereas existing law defines marriage as between a man and a woman (Sec. 905).

• Specifies that all legal benefits, protections and responsibilities of marriage from the state and federal level apply to individuals of any marriage and their children, regardless of whether the marriage consists of a same-sex or a different-sex couple (Sec. 10). 

• Prohibits any church, mosque, synagogue, temple, ministry, religious organization or Indian Nation from being required to solemnize or provide religious facilities for a marriage (Secs. 15 & 905).

• Authorizes individuals in a civil union to have their civil union solemnized and registered as a marriage without an application fee during a 1 year period, beginning on the effective date of this bill (Sec. 915).

• Specifies that if any part of this bill is judged invalid, the remainder of the bill will not be affected (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage, effective 30 days after becoming law.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state of Illinois to recognize a marriage between 2 individuals, whereas existing law allows the state to recognize marriage as between a man and a woman (Sec. 201).

• Specifies that the benefits, protections and responsibilities of marriage apply to individuals of any marriage and their children, regardless of whether the marriage consists of a same-sex or a different-sex couple (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes individuals in a civil union to have their civil union designated and recorded as a marriage for free during a 1 year period, beginning on the effective date of this bill (Sec. 65).

• Authorizes any religious denomination, Indian Nation, Tribe, Native Group, or a representative thereof to choose which marriages to solemnize or provide religious facilities for, without penalty of civil or criminal action (Secs. 15 & 209).

Full Bill Text