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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2020 | UT | HB 494 | Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0) |
| March 12, 2020 | WA | HB 2965 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| March 11, 2020 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizes School Districts To Use Tax Dollars For Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 10, 2020 | WY | HB 159 | Requires Payment of Ad Valorem Tax on Mineral Production | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 9, 2020 | WY | SF 1 | Establishes Biennium Budget for Fiscal Years 2020-2022 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | SB 150 | Establishes the Budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year | (33 - 1) |
| March 6, 2020 | WA | HB 1590 | Authorizes Local Affordable Housing Tax to be Imposed by a Councilmanic Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| March 5, 2020 | National | HR 6074 | Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1) |
| March 5, 2020 | AZ | HB 2771 | Amends State Income Tax Code to Conform with Federal Tax Law | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| March 3, 2020 | IN | HB 1222 | Reduces Number of Assistance Funding Requests Made by Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| March 3, 2020 | RI | S 2326 | Establishes Film Production Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| March 3, 2020 | HI | SB 75 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0) |
| March 2, 2020 | NY | S 7919 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 4) |
| March 2, 2020 | AK | SB 115 | Increases the State Highway Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 5) |
| March 2, 2020 | AZ | SB 1059 | Establishes a Ballot Referendum to Raise $900 Million Per Year for State K-12 Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| Feb. 25, 2020 | WV | SJR 9 | Amends the Constitution to Authorize the State Legislature to Establish Certain Tax Exemptions | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | WV | SB 837 | Establishes Certain Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | WI | AB 532 | Increases Tax Incentives for Investors putting Capital Gains in the Wisconsin Opportunity Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | NM | SB 2 | Establishes an Electric Vehicle Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| Feb. 17, 2020 | VA | HB 386 | Prohibits State Funding for Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 15, 2020 | NM | SB 29 | Establishes a Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
| Jan. 30, 2020 | WA | SB 6492 | Amends the Business and Occupation Tax for Workforce Education Investment Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Jan. 23, 2020 | IN | HB 1007 | Appropriates Funds from State Surplus Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | GA | HB 276 | Establishes an Online Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| Dec. 19, 2019 | National | HR 1158 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 11) |
| Dec. 19, 2019 | National | HR 1865 | Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 23) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | National | HR 3055 | Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 20) |
| Nov. 5, 2019 | WI | SJR 59 | Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Increase State Expenditures | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| Oct. 31, 2019 | NC | SB 354 | Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Oct. 31, 2019 | NC | SB 578 | Reduces the Corporate Tax Rate and Establishes the Film and Entertainment Grant Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Oct. 31, 2019 | National | HR 3055 | Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | NC | HB 398 | Appropriates State Funding for a Cybersecurity Development Initiative | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Oct. 24, 2019 | NC | HB 377 | Increases State Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| Oct. 24, 2019 | NC | HB 231 | Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| Oct. 23, 2019 | OH | SB 26 | Repeals the Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
| Sept. 26, 2019 | National | HR 4378 | Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| Sept. 24, 2019 | MI | SB 149 | Establishes a Transportation Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Sept. 24, 2019 | MI | HB 4231 | Appropriates $2.2 Billion for the State Corrections Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Sept. 19, 2019 | MI | HB 4242 | Establishes K-12 Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 468 | Authorizes Evaluation of Tax Expenditures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Aug. 1, 2019 | National | HR 3877 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28) |
| July 23, 2019 | National | HR 1327 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2270 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Increase Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| June 27, 2019 | NC | HB 966 | Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | HB 1615 | Expands Tax Credit Education Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| June 26, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8) |
| June 26, 2019 | WI | AB 56 | Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| June 25, 2019 | DE | HB 225 | Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1) |
| June 20, 2019 | ME | LD 1836 | Establishes Ballot Measure for Infrastructure Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| June 19, 2019 | ME | LD 1028 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| June 14, 2019 | ME | LD 1001 | Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 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) |
| June 6, 2019 | NH | HB 1 | Appropriates $12.9 Billion to State Agencies | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 6, 2019 | NH | HB 2 | Appropriates Funds for Various Community Development Initiatives | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9) |
| June 4, 2019 | CT | HB 7424 | Authorizes State Budget for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| June 2, 2019 | IL | SB 689 | Establishes a Tax Amnesty Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 8) |
| June 1, 2019 | IL | SB 262 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| May 31, 2019 | IL | SB 687 | Establishes a Graduated Tax Structure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 20) |
| May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2749 | Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2753 | Authorizes Environmental State Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2754 | Appropriates Funds for Health-Related Costs and Areas for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 27, 2019 | AZ | SB 1558 | Increases Stipends for State Legislators | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| May 23, 2019 | National | HR 2157 | Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 8) |
| May 23, 2019 | OR | SB 1049 | Reduces State Public Pension Liability Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| May 21, 2019 | SC | H 4000 | Establishes a State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| May 21, 2019 | OK | HB 2765 | Authorizes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| May 20, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
| May 20, 2019 | CA | AB 74 | Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 13, 2019 | OR | HB 3427 | Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 13, 2019 | OR | HB 3427 | Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 8, 2019 | NY | S 5072 | Amends State Tax Laws Regarding Presidential Tax Return Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
| May 4, 2019 | KS | SB 25 | Establishes a $7.7 Billion State Budget for FY 2020-2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1245 | Reduces Sales Tax Vendor Fee Allowance and Increases Funding for Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 2, 2019 | NC | SB 559 | Authorizes Rate Changes to Public Electric Utilities for Storm Recovery Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |