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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2018 | CA | SB 836 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 22, 2018 | MI | SB 652 | Establishes 11-Member Stakeholder Committee to Review and Amend Environmental Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
| May 22, 2018 | MI | SB 654 | Establishes an Environmental Science Review Board | Bill Passed - House (59 - 49) |
| May 22, 2018 | MI | SB 653 | Establishes a New Environmental Rules Committee | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| May 18, 2018 | MN | HF 3232 | Amends the State's Solar Energy Incentive Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 35) |
| May 18, 2018 | MN | HF 3232 | Amends the State's Solar Energy Incentive Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 35) |
| May 17, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 26) |
| May 16, 2018 | MI | SB 839 | Amends Mining Permit Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 15, 2018 | MI | SB 839 | Amends Mining Permit Laws | Bill Passed - House (63 - 45) |
| May 15, 2018 | MI | SB 881 | Amends Certain Environmental Laws Regarding Mining and Water Pollution | Bill Passed - House (63 - 45) |
| May 15, 2018 | MN | HF 3819 | Repeals Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20) |
| May 14, 2018 | LA | SB 236 | Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 10, 2018 | National | HR 3053 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (340 - 72) |
| May 10, 2018 | National | HR 3053 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (340 - 72) |
| May 7, 2018 | LA | SB 160 | Prohibits Tying Up Pets During Hurricanes | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| May 3, 2018 | MO | SB 917 | Authorizes State to Establish Coal Ash Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 3, 2018 | MO | SB 782 | Amends Department of Natural Resources Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| May 3, 2018 | MO | SB 782 | Amends Department of Natural Resources Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| May 2, 2018 | OK | SB 893 | Amends Taxation of Zero-Emission Facilities | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| May 2, 2018 | NH | SB 569 | Amends Pet Vendor Regulations | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (222 - 111) |
| April 25, 2018 | OK | SB 888 | Repeals Wind Industry Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| April 25, 2018 | National | HR 3144 | To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes. | Bill Passed - House (225 - 189) |
| April 19, 2018 | MN | HF 3157 | Prohibits Misrepresentation of a Service Animal | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 0) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 839 | Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration in New Jersey Waters | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 1) |
| April 12, 2018 | National | PN 1426 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | (53 - 45) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3723 | Amends Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 2313 | Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (60 - 10) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 2313 | Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (60 - 10) |
| April 12, 2018 | National | PN 1426 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| April 12, 2018 | MI | SB 741 | Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3723 | Amends Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
| 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 2313 | Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| April 10, 2018 | HI | SB 2571 | Prohibits Sunscreens with Ingredients that Kill Corals | Bill Passed - House (46 - 5) |
| April 10, 2018 | SC | H 4421 | Expands Use of Solar Power | Bill Failed - House (61 - 44) |
| March 22, 2018 | NH | SB 569 | Amends Pet Vendor Regulations | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| March 21, 2018 | OH | HB 506 | Amends Laws Related to High-Volume Dog Breeding | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| March 16, 2018 | VT | H 710 | Amends State Beer Franchise Contracts | Bill Passed - House (123 - 11) |
| March 12, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 37) |
| March 12, 2018 | TN | HB 1875 | Authorizes Commissioner of Agriculture to Exempt Industrial Hemp from Regulatory Requirements | Bill Passed - House (79 - 7) |
| March 8, 2018 | National | HR 1119 | SENSE Act | Bill Passed - House (215 - 189) |
| March 8, 2018 | National | HR 1119 | SENSE Act | Bill Passed - House (215 - 189) |
| March 8, 2018 | National | HR 1119 | SENSE Act | Bill Passed - House (215 - 189) |
| March 7, 2018 | OK | SB 888 | Repeals Wind Industry Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5) |
| March 7, 2018 | National | HR 1917 | BRICK Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 180) |
| March 7, 2018 | National | HR 1917 | BRICK Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 180) |
| March 5, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| March 3, 2018 | WV | HB 4268 | Authorizes Natural Gas Drilling in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | MS | SB 2295 | Transfer Exclusive Jurisdiction of Utility Matters to Public Service Commission | Bill Passed - House (90 - 26) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | NJ | S 598 | Requires New Jersey to Join US Climate Alliance | Bill Passed - House (49 - 23) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | WV | HB 4268 | Authorizes Natural Gas Drilling in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - House (60 - 40) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | MO | SB 564 | Amends Electrical Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| Feb. 14, 2018 | WA | HB 1144 | Amends Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| Feb. 12, 2018 | MD | SB 138 | Requires Governor to Include Maryland as a Member of US Climate Alliance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | VA | SB 966 | Amends Various Utilities Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Feb. 8, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | SC | H 3529 | Prohibits Local Regulations on Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | National | HR 772 | Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (266 - 157) |
| Feb. 5, 2018 | WV | HB 2662 | Prohibits the Waste of Game Animals | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 1, 2018 | NJ | S 598 | Requires New Jersey to Join US Climate Alliance | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2018 | MI | SB 660 | Extends the Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs to 2025 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Jan. 23, 2018 | IA | SF 512 | Amends Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Jan. 23, 2018 | IA | SF 512 | Amends Wastewater Treatment Financial Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Jan. 23, 2018 | MI | SB 409 | Authorizes Private Harbor Permits in the Great Lakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Jan. 18, 2018 | WA | SB 6091 | Authorizes Rural Landowners to Tap Household Wells | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| Jan. 18, 2018 | WA | SB 6091 | Authorizes Rural Landowners to Tap Household Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Jan. 10, 2018 | National | S 140 | An Act to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| Dec. 21, 2017 | National | HR 4667 | Making further supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and calendar year 2017 wildfires, and for other purposes | Bill Passed - House (251 - 169) |
| Nov. 14, 2017 | National | HR 2874 | 21st Century Flood Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (237 - 189) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 499 | Authorizes Sulfide Mining | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | MI | HB 5095 | Amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (66 - 42) |
| Nov. 2, 2017 | WI | AB 499 | Authorizes Sulfide Mining | Bill Passed - House (53 - 38) |
| Nov. 1, 2017 | National | HR 2936 | Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (232 - 188) |
| Oct. 18, 2017 | MI | SB 542 | Establishes Pesticide Notification Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Oct. 4, 2017 | NC | H 56 | Transfers Funds for Cape Fear River Cleanup | Veto Override Passed - House (70 - 44) |
| Oct. 4, 2017 | NC | H 56 | Transfers Funds for Cape Fear River Cleanup | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2017 | National | HR 601 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 | Bill Passed - House (316 - 90) |
| Sept. 7, 2017 | National | HR 601 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 17) |
| Sept. 6, 2017 | National | H Res 502 | Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 | Bill Passed - House (419 - 3) |
| Aug. 11, 2017 | TX | HB 7 | Specifies Tree Removal Regulations Municipalities May Impose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| July 18, 2017 | National | HR 806 | Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 199) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 617 | Establishes Air-Quality Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 398 | Extends California's Cap-and-Trade Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 398 | Extends California's Cap-and-Trade Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 617 | Establishes Air-Quality Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 12, 2017 | National | HR 23 | Gaining Responsibility on Water Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 190) |
| July 12, 2017 | National | HR 23 | Gaining Responsibility on Water Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 190) |
| June 30, 2017 | NC | HB 589 | Specifies North Carolina's Energy Policy | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 41) |
| June 29, 2017 | DE | HB 190 | Authorizes Commercial Activity in State-Designated Coastal Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 2) |
| June 28, 2017 | NC | SB 615 | Amends Agricultural Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 18) |
| June 28, 2017 | NC | SB 615 | Amends Agricultural Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| June 21, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| June 21, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| June 21, 2017 | OH | SB 2 | Amends Environmental Protection Laws | Bill Passed - House (85 - 10) |
| June 20, 2017 | DE | HB 190 | Authorizes Commercial Activity in State-Designated Coastal Zones | Bill Passed - House (34 - 7) |
| June 14, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - House (72 - 0) |