Key Votes
State
Issue
Year
Chamber
Keyword Search
About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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. 18, 2018 | MI | HB 5634 | Repeals Ban on Tinted Windshields | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | SB 1098 | Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| 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. 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. 1, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10) |
| 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 | MA | S 2595 | Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| 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 | DE | HB 425 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical "Gag Clauses" | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0) |
| June 28, 2018 | National | HR 2 | Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11) |
| June 27, 2018 | NC | HB 374 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| June 26, 2018 | NC | SB 711 | Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| 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 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1448 | Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
| 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 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| 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 18, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10) |
| June 12, 2018 | MI | SB 542 | Establishes Pesticide Notification Registry | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 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 | HB 5901 | Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 7, 2018 | NJ | A 4111 | Amends Online Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| June 7, 2018 | MI | SB 787 | Authorizes Reduced Car Insurance Options for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 930 | Authorizes Cannabis Limited Charter Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 23, 2018 | RI | S 2678 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| 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) |
| May 14, 2018 | MN | HF 390 | Establishes Penalties for Obstructing a Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| May 9, 2018 | LA | HB 484 | Authorizes Fantasy Sports Contests | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 7, 2018 | CO | SB 18-272 | Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| May 2, 2018 | OK | SB 893 | Amends Taxation of Zero-Emission Facilities | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| May 1, 2018 | LA | SB 325 | Authorizes Department of Health to Close Clinics that Falsify Records | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
| April 25, 2018 | IL | SB 2332 | Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| April 23, 2018 | TN | HB 2381 | Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| April 18, 2018 | NE | LB 496 | Amends and Establishes Requirements for Redevelopment Projects Under the Community Development Law | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 8) |
| April 18, 2018 | NE | LB 117 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Individuals to Access Non-FDA Approved Experimental Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| April 18, 2018 | National | S J Res 57 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 122 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Film Production | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3723 | Amends Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 2039 | Establishes Regulations for Out-of-Network Billing | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 2313 | Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 1878 | Establishes a State Health Reinsurance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| April 7, 2018 | KS | HB 2028 | Establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 14) |
| April 6, 2018 | OK | HB 3375 | Authorizes Sports Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 3, 2018 | RI | S 2299 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| April 2, 2018 | MD | SB 1068 | Establishes Financial Consumer Protection Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| March 30, 2018 | MD | HB 908 | Requires Insurance Companies to Cover Fertility Treatments for Cancer Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| March 29, 2018 | HI | HB 2739 | Authorizes Medical Aid in Dying | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| March 25, 2018 | MS | HB 1593 | Appropriates Funds for Educational Television | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 16) |
| March 22, 2018 | MI | SB 727 | Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 22, 2018 | KS | HB 2457 | Establishes the Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| March 21, 2018 | IA | SF 2117 | Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 21, 2018 | ID | H 658 | Amends Trespassing Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| March 16, 2018 | MD | SB 790 | Repeals State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| March 14, 2018 | IN | HB 1317 | Amends Prescription Cost Disclosures | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 13) |
| March 14, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 31) |
| March 9, 2018 | WV | HB 4006 | Repeals Department of Education and Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| March 8, 2018 | NH | SB 313 | Establishes New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7) |
| March 7, 2018 | FL | HB 7067 | Authorizes Blackjack in Seminole Casinos | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| March 7, 2018 | MS | HB 900 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 9) |
| March 7, 2018 | OK | SB 888 | Repeals Wind Industry Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5) |
| March 6, 2018 | WY | HB 70 | Authorizes Cryptocurrency Regulations and Securities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| March 3, 2018 | OR | HB 4007 | Establishes Tax Sheltered Home Buyer Savings Accounts and Increases Document-Recording Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| March 3, 2018 | WV | HB 4268 | Authorizes Natural Gas Drilling in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 3, 2018 | OR | HB 4007 | Establishes Tax Sheltered Home Buyer Savings Accounts and Increases Document-Recording Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| March 1, 2018 | IN | HB 1058 | Requires Dissemination of Vaccine Information | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| March 1, 2018 | WA | HB 2578 | Establishes Source-of-Income Housing Non-Discrimination Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | KY | HB 4 | Amends Malpractice Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | OR | HB 4135 | Authorizes Healthcare Providers to Make Decisions for End of Life Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | WV | SB 415 | Authorizes Casino Sports Betting Upon Federal Approval | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | MO | SB 564 | Amends Electrical Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| Feb. 10, 2018 | WA | SB 6199 | Authorizes Privatization of Home-Care Workforce | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |