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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 12, 2018 | MI | SB 741 | Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| March 22, 2018 | NH | SB 569 | Amends Pet Vendor Regulations | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| March 7, 2018 | OK | SB 888 | Repeals Wind Industry Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5) |
| 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. 22, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | MO | SB 564 | Amends Electrical Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| 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 - Senate (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | VA | SB 966 | Amends Various Utilities Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 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 | 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 - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 499 | Authorizes Sulfide Mining | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 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 - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Sept. 7, 2017 | National | HR 601 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 17) |
| Aug. 11, 2017 | TX | HB 7 | Specifies Tree Removal Regulations Municipalities May Impose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| 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) |
| 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 - Senate (36 - 10) |
| June 14, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 14, 2017 | WI | SB 68 | Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 15, 2017 | MN | SF 1937 | Authorizes the Construction and Repair of Statewide Oil Pipelines | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30) |
| May 15, 2017 | AK | HB 111 | Restructures Oil Tax and Credit System | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| May 11, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| May 11, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| May 11, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| May 9, 2017 | CO | SB 301 | Amends Funds and Regulations for Renewable Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 24, 2017 | NC | SB 434 | Amends Local Riparian Buffer Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 31) |
| April 19, 2017 | MT | HB 193 | Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to Approve Cost-Tracking Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | HB 473 | Increases Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuels | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 10, 2017 | IN | SB 309 | Amends Payback Rate for Excess Solar Energy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| April 10, 2017 | OR | SB 3 | Establishes Restrictions on Suction Mining | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| April 5, 2017 | WI | SB 76 | Reduces Regulations of High-Capacity Water Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| April 3, 2017 | TN | SB 0519 | Provides Certain Health Coverage for Retail Purchased Dogs | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| March 27, 2017 | MD | HB 1325 | Prohibits Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 27, 2017 | MD | HB 1325 | Prohibits Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 22, 2017 | ID | H 274 | Establishes the Office of Administrator of Invasive Species Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| March 22, 2017 | ID | H 274 | Establishes the Office of Administrator of Invasive Species Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |