Key Votes
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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. 17, 2025 | PA | HB 1663 | Establishes the Pennsylvania Children's Literacy Program | Bill Passed - House (116 - 87) |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | PA | SB 160 | Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | PA | SB 160 | Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (156 - 47) |
| Oct. 8, 2025 | PA | SB 160 | Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 | Bill Passed - House (105 - 98) |
| Oct. 8, 2025 | PA | SB 1040 | Authorizes Treasurer Stacy Garrity to Waive Interest, Costs and Fees on Loans Administered Through her Short-Term Loan Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Oct. 1, 2025 | PA | HB 1608 | Authorizes the Department of Transportation and the Turnpike Commission to use Design-Build Best Value Procurement for Road and Bridge Projects | Bill Passed - House (191 - 12) |
| Aug. 12, 2025 | PA | HB 257 | Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Aug. 12, 2025 | PA | HB 257 | Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Aug. 12, 2025 | PA | SB 160 | Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Aug. 11, 2025 | PA | HB 1788 | Appropriates Funding for the State Public Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (108 - 95) |
| July 14, 2025 | PA | HB 1330 | Appropriates Funds for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Pennsylvania Operating Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 97) |
| July 14, 2025 | PA | HB 1330 | Appropriates Funds for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Pennsylvania Operating Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 97) |
| July 7, 2025 | PA | HB 1505 | Extends State Pre-K Counts Grant Eligibility to Intermediate Units | Bill Passed - House (202 - 1) |
| June 17, 2025 | PA | HB 1364 | Transfers Funds for the Purpose of Public Transportation | Bill Passed - House (107 - 96) |
| Oct. 22, 2024 | PA | HB 2625 | Increases State Funding Transfers for Public Transportation | Bill Passed - House (111 - 91) |
| Oct. 9, 2024 | PA | SB 1051 | Authorizes the Board of Finance and Revenue (BF&R) to Accept Late-Filed Tax Applications | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| Oct. 7, 2024 | PA | SB 765 | Amends Borough Surcharges, Managers, and Organization of Civil Service Commissions | Bill Passed - House (119 - 83) |
| Oct. 7, 2024 | PA | HB 2536 | Requires Property Tax Freezes for Homeowners | Bill Passed - House (202 - 0) |
| July 11, 2024 | PA | SB 700 | Appropriates Funding for Cell Phone Pouches in Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| July 11, 2024 | PA | SB 656 | Amends and Restructures Taxes for Electric Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| July 11, 2024 | PA | SB 700 | Appropriates Funding for Cell Phone Pouches in Schools | Bill Passed - House (137 - 65) |
| July 11, 2024 | PA | HB 115 | Amends and Simplifies Heir Estates | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| July 10, 2024 | PA | SB 656 | Amends and Restructures Taxes for Electric Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (190 - 12) |
| July 1, 2024 | PA | HB 2180 | Establishes a School Meal Debt Fund | Bill Passed - House (118 - 84) |
| June 10, 2024 | PA | HB 2370 | Establishes a New System for the Funding of Public Education | Bill Passed - House (107 - 94) |
| June 4, 2024 | PA | SB 1051 | Authorizes the Board of Finance and Revenue (BF&R) to Accept Late-Filed Tax Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 15, 2024 | PA | HB 1573 | Establishes the Historic and Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (102 - 99) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (175 - 28) |
| Nov. 14, 2023 | PA | HB 1416 | Amends Cost of Living Adjustments for Pre-2001 School Retirees' Pensions | Bill Passed - House (140 - 63) |
| Oct. 4, 2023 | PA | HB 27 | Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Public Education System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 97) |
| Oct. 4, 2023 | PA | HB 1456 | Appropriates $45 Billion for the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (115 - 88) |
| July 5, 2023 | PA | HB 611 | Appropriates Funding for the General Budget for the State of Pennsylvania | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 86) |
| June 30, 2023 | PA | HB 611 | Appropriates Funding for the General Budget for the State of Pennsylvania | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 21, 2023 | PA | SB 656 | Amends and Restructures Taxes for Electric Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 13, 2023 | PA | HB 1131 | Establishes the Pennsylvania Department of Health | Bill Passed - House (199 - 4) |
| June 12, 2023 | PA | HB 1259 | Establishes the Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| June 7, 2023 | PA | HB 849 | Appropriates $100 Million in Funding for Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - House (173 - 30) |
| May 10, 2023 | PA | SB 245 | Establishes New Rules Regarding Eligibility for Welfare Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| May 10, 2023 | PA | SB 350 | Amends and Reforms the State Permitting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Jan. 11, 2023 | PA | SB 35 | Repeals the Automatic Gas Tax Increase for 2023 and Permanently Sets the Wholesale Price of Gas at $2.99 Per Gallon | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | HB 1059 | Amends Tax Law Relating to Personal Income Tax and Transfer of Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (139 - 59) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | HB 1059 | Amends Tax Law Relating to Personal Income Tax and Transfer of Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (139 - 59) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | HB 1059 | Amends Tax Law Relating to Personal Income Tax and Transfer of Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | HB 1059 | Amends Tax Law Relating to Personal Income Tax and Transfer of Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| July 7, 2022 | PA | SB 1284 | Appropriates Funds for State-Related Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| July 6, 2022 | PA | SB 1284 | Appropriates Funds for State-Related Universities | Bill Passed - House (145 - 55) |
| June 20, 2022 | PA | SB 1283 | Prohibits Fetal Tissue Research at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| June 25, 2021 | PA | SB 255 | Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| June 25, 2021 | PA | SB 255 | Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments | Bill Passed - House (140 - 61) |
| Jan. 27, 2021 | PA | SB 109 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 92) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1350 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 General Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1350 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 General Budget | Bill Passed - House (104 - 97) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| June 10, 2020 | PA | SB 1125 | Authorizes School Districts to Extend Time Needed to Pay Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 1232 | Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 1232 | Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 28, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (160 - 39) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 25, 2019 | PA | HB 790 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - House (140 - 62) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 172 | Authorizes Speed Cameras in Work Zones | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (173 - 22) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 2121 | Establishes a State Budget for Fiscal year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| June 13, 2018 | PA | HB 1810 | Requires Data Information Sharing for Hosting Platforms | Bill Passed - House (177 - 14) |
| May 2, 2018 | PA | HB 1843 | Requires Public Release of Budget Requests and Expenditures | Bill Passed - House (178 - 12) |
| Sept. 13, 2017 | PA | HB 453 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 91) |
| July 27, 2017 | PA | HB 453 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| June 30, 2017 | PA | HB 218 | Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| June 30, 2017 | PA | HB 218 | Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 1071 | Prohibits Bans, Fees, and Taxes on Recyclable Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (102 - 87) |
| April 4, 2017 | PA | HB 218 | Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - House (144 - 84) |
| June 30, 2015 | PA | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| June 27, 2015 | PA | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - House (112 - 77) |
| Sept. 23, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| Sept. 22, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 84) |
| July 8, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| July 2, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (119 - 80) |
| July 1, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1411 | Requires Schools To Make Their Expenses Public | Bill Passed - House (119 - 81) |
| May 6, 2013 | PA | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | HB 761 | Exempts Certain Transfers from the Realty Transfer Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 56) |
| June 29, 2012 | PA | SB 1466 | 2012-2013 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| June 28, 2012 | PA | SB 1466 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (120 - 81) |
| Nov. 14, 2011 | PA | HB 1503 | Angel Investment Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (151 - 44) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | PA | SB 1 | Charter School Guidelines | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | PA | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Bill Passed - House (109 - 86) |
| June 29, 2011 | PA | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| June 28, 2011 | PA | HB 1485 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | PA | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| July 3, 2010 | PA | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| July 3, 2010 | PA | SB 1042 | 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (109 - 86) |