Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 3, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Oct. 27, 2015 National S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
Oct. 21, 2015 WI SB 43 Amends John Doe Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
Oct. 21, 2015 OH SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Oct. 20, 2015 National S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Oct. 20, 2015 National S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Sept. 28, 2015 NC HB 318 Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
Sept. 24, 2015 National S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 17, 2015 MA S 1981 Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 9, 2015 CA AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
July 30, 2015 National HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
July 13, 2015 PA SB 683 Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
July 3, 2015 OR SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
June 30, 2015 OR SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
June 29, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 29, 2015 CT HB 7104 Amends Drug Sentencing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
June 25, 2015 OR SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
June 23, 2015 RI S 997 Establishes a Toll for Large Commercial Trucks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
June 19, 2015 CA SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 18, 2015 DE HB 39 Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
June 4, 2015 CA SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 3, 2015 LA HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
June 2, 2015 CT HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
May 29, 2015 CT HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
May 29, 2015 IL HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
May 27, 2015 MI HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 17, 2015 NV AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 16, 2015 NV AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
May 14, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 12, 2015 MI HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 7, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
May 7, 2015 CA SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 7, 2015 MN SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
May 5, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
May 1, 2015 HI HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
April 28, 2015 CO SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 27, 2015 TX SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 23, 2015 IL HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
April 23, 2015 MN SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
April 23, 2015 TX SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 16, 2015 TN SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 9, 2015 TX SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 7, 2015 TX SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 3, 2015 VT S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
April 2, 2015 ND HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 30, 2015 AZ HB 2318 Authorizes the State to Adopt the Interstate Compact on the Transfer of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 27, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
March 26, 2015 AZ SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1445 Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1145 Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
March 19, 2015 NY S 3709 Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15)
March 17, 2015 IA SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 17, 2015 ID S 1095 Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 16, 2015 ID S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 16, 2015 MD SB 340 Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 16, 2015 NJ S 1593 Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 14, 2015 WV HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 12, 2015 UT HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 12, 2015 ID H 75 Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 12, 2015 NH SB 40 Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
March 11, 2015 AK SB 6 Exempts State from Daylight Saving Time Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
March 6, 2015 WY SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
March 5, 2015 AZ SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 WY HB 144 Establishes a School Safety Tip Line Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 24, 2015 CO SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2015 NM SB 53 Authorizes Mandatory Outpatient Treatment for Certain Individuals with Mental Disorders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 219 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Feb. 20, 2015 NV AB 125 Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2015 WY SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2015 WY SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Jan. 23, 2015 WY SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
Jan. 23, 2015 WY SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
Jan. 20, 2015 VA SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/03 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
10/27 S 754 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21)
10/21 SB 43 Amends John Doe Law Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
10/21 SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
10/20 S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
10/20 S 2146 Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
9/28 HB 318 Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
9/24 S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
9/17 S 1981 Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
9/11 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/09 AB 953 Amends "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
7/30 HR 22 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
7/13 SB 683 Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
7/03 SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
6/30 SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
6/29 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/29 HB 7104 Amends Drug Sentencing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
6/25 SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
6/23 S 997 Establishes a Toll for Large Commercial Trucks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
6/19 SB 88 Amends Water Use Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/18 HB 39 Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
6/04 SB 128 Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/03 HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
6/02 HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/02 SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/02 SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
5/29 HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
5/29 HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
5/27 HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/17 AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/16 AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
5/14 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/12 HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/07 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
5/07 SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/07 SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
5/05 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
5/01 HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
4/28 SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/27 SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/23 HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
4/23 SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
4/23 SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/16 SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/09 SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/07 SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/03 S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
4/02 HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/30 HB 2318 Authorizes the State to Adopt the Interstate Compact on the Transfer of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/27 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
3/26 SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
3/24 SB 1445 Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/24 SB 1145 Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
3/19 S 3709 Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15)
3/17 SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/17 S 1095 Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/16 S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/16 SB 340 Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/16 S 1593 Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/14 HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/12 HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/12 H 75 Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/12 SB 40 Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
3/11 SB 6 Exempts State from Daylight Saving Time Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
3/06 SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
3/05 SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 HB 144 Establishes a School Safety Tip Line Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
2/26 SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/24 SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/24 SB 53 Authorizes Mandatory Outpatient Treatment for Certain Individuals with Mental Disorders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
2/24 SF 219 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
2/20 AB 125 Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/11 SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
1/30 SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
1/23 SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
1/23 SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
1/20 SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)

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