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 13, 2016 | NE | LB 947 | Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| April 9, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 33) |
| April 9, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 33) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 7, 2016 | AK | HB 222 | Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| April 4, 2016 | LA | SB 25 | Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| March 30, 2016 | MS | HB 1523 | Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 24, 2016 | AZ | HB 2451 | Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 24, 2016 | CO | HB 1001 | Requires State Contractors to Comply with Federal Equal Pay Standards | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
| March 23, 2016 | NC | HB 2 | Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
| March 23, 2016 | NC | HB 2 | Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex | Bill Passed - House (82 - 26) |
| March 23, 2016 | NH | HB 1661 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (299 - 99) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| March 22, 2016 | KS | SB 439 | Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 17, 2016 | NE | LB 83 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination in Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 17, 2016 | National | H Res 639 | Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 | Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186) |
| March 17, 2016 | National | H Res 639 | Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 | Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186) |
| March 17, 2016 | CO | HB 1210 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| March 16, 2016 | GA | HB 757 | Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18) |
| March 16, 2016 | GA | HB 757 | Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 65) |
| March 14, 2016 | National | PN 1152 | Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40) |
| March 14, 2016 | National | PN 1152 | Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40) |