Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 4926 | Authorizes Internet Gaming Licenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 35) |
| Dec. 18, 2018 | MI | HB 5634 | Repeals Ban on Tinted Windshields | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Dec. 13, 2018 | MI | HB 5526 | Establishes A to F Letter Rating System For Schools | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| Dec. 12, 2018 | National | S J Res 64 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating to "Returns by Exempt Organizations and Returns by Certain Non-Exempt Organizations" | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 49) |
| Dec. 11, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 13) |
| Dec. 11, 2018 | National | PN 1803 | Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury | (55 - 44) |
| Dec. 10, 2018 | National | PN 1803 | Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury | Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 43) |
| Dec. 6, 2018 | National | PN 2170 | Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection | (50 - 49) |
| Dec. 4, 2018 | WI | SB 883 | Appropriates Funds from the Department of Transportation for State Road Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Nov. 29, 2018 | National | PN 2170 | Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | S 678 | Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | HB 1822 | Establishes Certification Process for Schools to Become Certified Suicide Prevention Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - None) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | HB 2138 | Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Oct. 15, 2018 | PA | SB 1095 | Authorizes Alternatives to Graduate for Keystone Test | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | MI | HB 4224 | Repeals Ticket Scalping Ban at Sports Events | Bill Passed - House (71 - 36) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | MI | HB 4224 | Repeals Ticket Scalping Ban at Sports Events | Bill Passed - House (71 - 36) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 172 | Authorizes Speed Cameras in Work Zones | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (173 - 22) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 521 | Requires CPR Training in High Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Sept. 17, 2018 | National | HR 6 | Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1) |
| Sept. 17, 2018 | National | S 2554 | Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2) |
| Aug. 28, 2018 | MS | SB 2001 | Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 49) |
| Aug. 28, 2018 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| Aug. 27, 2018 | MS | SB 2001 | Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17) |
| Aug. 23, 2018 | National | S Amdt 3967 | Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48) |
| Aug. 23, 2018 | National | S Amdt 3967 | Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 16, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| Aug. 1, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| July 26, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54) |
| July 25, 2018 | National | HR 6199 | Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (277 - 142) |
| July 25, 2018 | National | HR 6311 | Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 176) |
| July 24, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 24) |
| July 18, 2018 | UT | HB 2001 | Amends Jurisdictional Boundaries of Utah Inland Port Authority | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 5) |
| July 18, 2018 | UT | HB 2001 | Amends Jurisdictional Boundaries of Utah Inland Port Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| July 17, 2018 | National | PN 1391 | Nomination of James Blew to Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development for the Department of Education | (50 - 49) |
| July 12, 2018 | National | HR 3281 | Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 184) |
| July 12, 2018 | National | HR 3281 | Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 184) |
| July 12, 2018 | MA | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| July 11, 2018 | National | HR 200 | Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act | Bill Passed - House (222 - 193) |
| July 10, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | A 4061 | Establishes Surcharge on Prearranged Rides | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | S 822 | Requires Employers and Landlords to Hold Liability Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | S 1612 | Requires Minimum Nurse Aide-to-Resident Ratio | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| June 28, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11) |
| June 28, 2018 | DE | HB 425 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical "Gag Clauses" | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 374 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 374 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | SB 711 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 479 | Amends Previous Prescription Drug Cost Laws | Bill Passed - House (93 - 0) |
| June 26, 2018 | NC | SB 711 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 25) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 542 | Requires Schools Maintain a Supply of Opioid Antidotes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| June 25, 2018 | PA | HB 1037 | Limits Punitive Damages in Certain Medical Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (91 - 103) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 2468 | Requires Court Order for Eminent Domain on Conserved Lands | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (177 - 15) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 1) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 2468 | Requires Court Order for Eminent Domain on Conserved Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| June 22, 2018 | National | HR 6 | Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (396 - 14) |
| June 21, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (213 - 211) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | A 4207 | Establishes Medicaid Emergency Room Triage Reimbursement Fee for Low Acuity Emergency Room Encounters | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 1074 | Requires Public Access to Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4) |
| June 20, 2018 | ME | LD 1584 | Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 20, 2018 | NY | S 2484 | Prohibits Auto Lenders From Remotely Disabling Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (109 - 34) |
| June 20, 2018 | OH | HB 531 | Authorizes State Funds for Sports Event Bidding | Bill Passed - House (84 - 9) |
| June 19, 2018 | MA | H 4617 | Increases Access to Affordable High Quality Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (117 - 32) |
| June 18, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10) |
| June 14, 2018 | National | HR 5735 | THRIVE Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 173) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | SB 542 | Establishes Pesticide Notification Registry | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4265 | Require Cars Passing Bicyclists to Give 3 Feet When Passing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 10) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4265 | Require Cars Passing Bicyclists to Give 3 Feet When Passing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 10) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5141 | Reduces Teacher Certification Requirements for Certain Vocational or Technical Trade Classes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | SB 542 | Establishes Pesticide Notification Registry | Bill Passed - House (66 - 42) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 5901 | Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4926 | Authorizes Internet Gaming Licenses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 40) |
| June 7, 2018 | NJ | A 4111 | Amends Online Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (71 - 17) |
| June 7, 2018 | MI | SB 787 | Authorizes Reduced Car Insurance Options for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 456 | Prohibits Required Overtime for Nurses | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 10828 | Amends Housing Finance Laws | Bill Passed - House (107 - 33) |
| May 31, 2018 | IL | HB 2617 | Requires Coverage of Egg or Sperm Preservation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 30) |
| May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 336 | Establishes the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (72 - 38) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2332 | Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 930 | Authorizes Cannabis Limited Charter Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 24, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - House (351 - 66) |
| May 23, 2018 | NC | SB 470 | Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| May 23, 2018 | RI | S 2678 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | S 204 | Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 169) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 159) |
| May 18, 2018 | MN | HF 3232 | Amends the State's Solar Energy Incentive Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 35) |
| May 17, 2018 | National | PN 1857 | Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | (54 - 45) |
| May 17, 2018 | National | PN 1857 | Nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 44) |
| May 17, 2018 | MI | SB 826 | Establishes Licensing for Naturopaths | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 16, 2018 | LA | SB 184 | Amends Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 246 | Limits Out-of-School Suspensions and Expulsions For Students in Kindergarten to Third Grade | (32 - 0) |