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
May 1, 2019 MN HF 2400 Appropriates Funds for Education Finance Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
May 1, 2019 IL SJRCA 1 Repeals the Non-Graduated Income Tax Rate Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
April 30, 2019 HI SB 1292 Requires Vacation-Rental Websites to Collect Sales Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 12)
April 30, 2019 MN HF 2414 Appropriates Funds to Various State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
April 28, 2019 WA HB 2158 Establishes a Business Tax to Finance a Higher Education Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
April 28, 2019 WA HB 2167 Increases Business and Occupation Tax on Large Financial Institutions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
April 27, 2019 CO HB 19-1239 Appropriates $12 Million for Census Outreach Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 26, 2019 IA HF 766 Establishes a Health and Human Services Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
April 25, 2019 WA SB 5998 Establishes a Graduated Real Estate Excise Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 25, 2019 WA SB 5993 Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
April 24, 2019 IA SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 24, 2019 MN SF 2415 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
April 23, 2019 IN HB 1003 Establishes the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
April 11, 2019 CA SB 92 Amends Tax Policies Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
April 8, 2019 MT HB 2 Establishes Budget for 2019-2021 Biennium Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
April 2, 2019 OH HB 62 Increases Gas and Diesel Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 10)
April 2, 2019 TX SB 22 Prohibits Taxpayer Dollars for Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 1, 2019 OR HB 2975 Reduces Oregon's "Kicker" Tax Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 31, 2019 NY A 2006 Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1507 Establishes a Healthcare Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
March 28, 2019 ID H 259 Establishes an Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 20, 2019 AR SB 571 Establishes a Tax for E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
March 14, 2019 KS SB 22 Amends State Tax Laws for Families and Small Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 12, 2019 WA SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 8, 2019 WV HB 3142 Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 21, 2019 NH SB 241 Authorizes Funding for Capitol Corridor Rail Project Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2019 National H J Res 31 Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2019 WI AB 4 Amends Individual Income Tax Brackets Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Feb. 7, 2019 AZ SB 1091 Increases State Rainy-Day Fund by 10 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 6, 2019 AR SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
Feb. 6, 2019 AR SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
Jan. 31, 2019 NJ S 1073 Authorizes Local Government Units to Establish Storm Water Utilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Jan. 31, 2019 NH SB 2 Increases the Amount of Funds Allocated for Job Training Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
Jan. 22, 2019 CT HB 5765 Authorizes Interest-Free Loans for Federal Employees During Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
Jan. 9, 2019 IL SB 3531 Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Positions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 21)
Dec. 20, 2018 MI HB 4991 Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Dec. 4, 2018 WI SB 883 Appropriates Funds from the Department of Transportation for State Road Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Sept. 27, 2018 NJ A 4495 Increases Corporate Business Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Sept. 27, 2018 NJ S 2892 Expands State Tax on Aviation Fuel Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Sept. 26, 2018 MI SB 704 Amends Tourism Laws to Impose a Hotel Room Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Sept. 18, 2018 National HR 6157 Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 7)
Sept. 12, 2018 National HR 5895 Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 5)
Aug. 27, 2018 NJ S 2293 Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Aug. 23, 2018 National HR 6157 Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
Aug. 1, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
Aug. 1, 2018 National HR 6147 Interior, Environment, Financial Services, and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
July 18, 2018 MA H 4546 Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/01 HF 2400 Appropriates Funds for Education Finance Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
5/01 SJRCA 1 Repeals the Non-Graduated Income Tax Rate Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
4/30 SB 1292 Requires Vacation-Rental Websites to Collect Sales Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 12)
4/30 HF 2414 Appropriates Funds to Various State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
4/28 HB 2158 Establishes a Business Tax to Finance a Higher Education Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/28 HB 2167 Increases Business and Occupation Tax on Large Financial Institutions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
4/27 HB 19-1239 Appropriates $12 Million for Census Outreach Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/26 HF 766 Establishes a Health and Human Services Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
4/25 SB 5998 Establishes a Graduated Real Estate Excise Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/25 SB 5993 Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
4/24 SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/24 SF 2415 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
4/23 HB 1003 Establishes the Fiscal Year 2019 Public Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
4/11 SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
4/11 SB 92 Amends Tax Policies Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
4/08 HB 2 Establishes Budget for 2019-2021 Biennium Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
4/02 HB 62 Increases Gas and Diesel Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 10)
4/02 SB 22 Prohibits Taxpayer Dollars for Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/01 HB 2975 Reduces Oregon's "Kicker" Tax Rebate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/31 A 2006 Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
3/31 S 1507 Establishes a Healthcare Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
3/28 H 259 Establishes an Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/20 SB 571 Establishes a Tax for E-Cigarettes and Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
3/14 SB 22 Amends State Tax Laws for Families and Small Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/12 SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/08 HB 3142 Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/21 SB 241 Authorizes Funding for Capitol Corridor Rail Project Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
2/21 S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/14 H J Res 31 Making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (83 - 16)
2/13 AB 4 Amends Individual Income Tax Brackets Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
2/07 SB 1091 Increases State Rainy-Day Fund by 10 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/06 SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
2/06 SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
1/31 S 1073 Authorizes Local Government Units to Establish Storm Water Utilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
1/31 SB 2 Increases the Amount of Funds Allocated for Job Training Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
1/22 HB 5765 Authorizes Interest-Free Loans for Federal Employees During Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
1/09 SB 3531 Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Positions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 21)
12/20 HB 4991 Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
12/04 SB 883 Appropriates Funds from the Department of Transportation for State Road Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
9/27 A 4495 Increases Corporate Business Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
9/27 S 2892 Expands State Tax on Aviation Fuel Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
9/26 SB 704 Amends Tourism Laws to Impose a Hotel Room Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
9/18 HR 6157 Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 7)
9/12 HR 5895 Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 5)
8/27 S 2293 Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Issue $1 Billion in Funds for School Upgrades Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
8/23 HR 6157 Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 7)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
8/01 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
8/01 HR 6147 Interior, Environment, Financial Services, and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
7/18 H 4546 Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)

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