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
Jan. 21, 2025 VA SJR 249 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage Equality Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
Jan. 20, 2025 National S 5 Laken Riley Act Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
Jan. 20, 2025 National PN 11-13 Nomination of Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (99 - 0)
Jan. 20, 2025 WY HB 32 Establishes Statutory Definitions for "Man", "Woman", and "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
Jan. 20, 2025 WY HB 32 Establishes Statutory Definitions for "Man", "Woman", and "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
Jan. 17, 2025 National S 5 Laken Riley Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 35)
Jan. 17, 2025 MT HB 76 Establishes a Certification Process for Family Peer Support Specialists Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
Jan. 16, 2025 National HR 30 Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act Bill Passed - House (274 - 145)
Jan. 16, 2025 National HR 30 Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act Bill Passed - House (274 - 145)
Jan. 16, 2025 AR HB 1056 Establishes a Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - House (98 - 0)
Jan. 16, 2025 MT HB 121 Requires Individuals to Use Facilities that Correspond with Their Biological Sex at Birth Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Jan. 14, 2025 NY S 757 Authorizes Local Social Services Districts to Use Child Care Block Grant Funds for the Presumptive Eligibility Period Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 0)
Jan. 14, 2025 NY S 784 Repeals Subsidies for Adoptive Parents of Disabled or Hard-to-Place Children if They No Longer Support Them Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 3)
Jan. 14, 2025 VA HJR 9 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage Equality Joint Resolution Passed - House (58 - 35)
Jan. 14, 2025 National HR 28 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
Jan. 14, 2025 ME SP 97 Limits the Use of Vague Placeholder Bills Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Jan. 14, 2025 MO HR 7 Establishes Rules of the State House of Representatives for the 103rd General Assembly Resolution Passed - House (106 - 54)
Jan. 14, 2025 National HR 28 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
Jan. 13, 2025 National S 5 Laken Riley Act Motion Agreed - Senate (82 - 10)
Jan. 8, 2025 National S 5 Laken Riley Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (84 - 9)
Jan. 7, 2025 IL HB 5164 Amends the Clerks of the Court Act to Reduce State Requirements for Name Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 38)
Jan. 7, 2025 National HR 29 Laken Riley Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 159)
Jan. 5, 2025 IL HB 5164 Amends the Clerks of the Court Act to Reduce State Requirements for Name Changes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Jan. 3, 2025 National H Res 5 Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes. Resolution Passed - House (215 - 209)
Dec. 21, 2024 National HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 20)
Dec. 20, 2024 MI HB 5303 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 20, 2024 MI HB 5300 Amends State Name Change Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 19, 2024 National HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Motion Agreed - Senate (73 - 23)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH HB 8 Requires Parental Consent for Teachers to Educate on Sexuality-Related Content Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 31)
Dec. 18, 2024 National HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 27)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH HB 8 Requires Parental Consent for Teachers to Educate on Sexuality-Related Content Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Dec. 18, 2024 National S 3857 Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act Bill Passed - House (369 - 37)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH HB 106 Requires Employers to Provide Pay Stubs to Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
Dec. 17, 2024 National HR 1101 Lumbee Fairness Act Bill Passed - House (311 - 96)
Dec. 16, 2024 National S 141 Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (382 - 12)
Dec. 13, 2024 MI HB 5302 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Personal Identification Cards Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
Dec. 13, 2024 MI HB 5303 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
Dec. 13, 2024 MI HB 5301 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Driver Licenses Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
Dec. 13, 2024 MI HB 5300 Amends State Name Change Proceedings Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
Dec. 13, 2024 MI HB 4900 Amends and Updates Consumer Debt Garnishment Exemptions Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
Dec. 12, 2024 National S 4199 Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 173)
Dec. 12, 2024 MI SB 408 Prohibits Wages and Taxpayer-Funded Benefits from Excessive Debt Collections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Dec. 12, 2024 MI SB 409 Prohibits Family Homes from Being Included in Excessive Debt Collections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Dec. 11, 2024 National PN 1789 Nomination of Lauren McGarity McFerran, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 50)
Dec. 10, 2024 OH SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Bill Passed - House (74 - 16)
Dec. 10, 2024 MI SB 976 Amends the Michigan Employment Security Act to Add New Requirements and Exemptions Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
Dec. 10, 2024 MI SB 981 Requires Unemployment Insurance Application (UIA) Materials be Subject to Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Requests Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
Dec. 10, 2024 MI SB 962 Amends the State Unemployment Hardship Waiver Application Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
Dec. 10, 2024 MI SB 975 Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Receive Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/21 SJR 249 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage Equality Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
1/20 S 5 Laken Riley Act Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35)
1/20 PN 11-13 Nomination of Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (99 - 0)
1/20 HB 32 Establishes Statutory Definitions for "Man", "Woman", and "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
1/20 HB 32 Establishes Statutory Definitions for "Man", "Woman", and "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
1/17 S 5 Laken Riley Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 35)
1/17 HB 76 Establishes a Certification Process for Family Peer Support Specialists Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
1/16 HR 30 Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act Bill Passed - House (274 - 145)
1/16 HR 30 Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act Bill Passed - House (274 - 145)
1/16 HB 1056 Establishes a Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - House (98 - 0)
1/16 HB 121 Requires Individuals to Use Facilities that Correspond with Their Biological Sex at Birth Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
1/14 S 757 Authorizes Local Social Services Districts to Use Child Care Block Grant Funds for the Presumptive Eligibility Period Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 0)
1/14 S 784 Repeals Subsidies for Adoptive Parents of Disabled or Hard-to-Place Children if They No Longer Support Them Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 3)
1/14 HJR 9 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage Equality Joint Resolution Passed - House (58 - 35)
1/14 HR 28 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
1/14 SP 97 Limits the Use of Vague Placeholder Bills Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
1/14 HR 7 Establishes Rules of the State House of Representatives for the 103rd General Assembly Resolution Passed - House (106 - 54)
1/14 HR 28 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Bill Passed - House (218 - 206)
1/13 S 5 Laken Riley Act Motion Agreed - Senate (82 - 10)
1/08 S 5 Laken Riley Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (84 - 9)
1/07 HB 5164 Amends the Clerks of the Court Act to Reduce State Requirements for Name Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 38)
1/07 HR 29 Laken Riley Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 159)
1/05 HB 5164 Amends the Clerks of the Court Act to Reduce State Requirements for Name Changes Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
1/03 H Res 5 Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, and for other purposes. Resolution Passed - House (215 - 209)
12/21 HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 20)
12/20 HB 5303 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/20 HB 5300 Amends State Name Change Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/19 HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Motion Agreed - Senate (73 - 23)
12/18 SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
12/18 HB 8 Requires Parental Consent for Teachers to Educate on Sexuality-Related Content Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 31)
12/18 HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 27)
12/18 HB 8 Requires Parental Consent for Teachers to Educate on Sexuality-Related Content Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
12/18 S 3857 Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act Bill Passed - House (369 - 37)
12/18 HB 106 Requires Employers to Provide Pay Stubs to Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
12/17 HR 1101 Lumbee Fairness Act Bill Passed - House (311 - 96)
12/16 S 141 Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (382 - 12)
12/13 HB 5302 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Personal Identification Cards Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
12/13 HB 5303 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
12/13 HB 5301 Repeals Name Change Barriers on Driver Licenses Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
12/13 HB 5300 Amends State Name Change Proceedings Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
12/13 HB 4900 Amends and Updates Consumer Debt Garnishment Exemptions Bill Passed - House (56 - 0)
12/12 S 4199 Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 173)
12/12 SB 408 Prohibits Wages and Taxpayer-Funded Benefits from Excessive Debt Collections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
12/12 SB 409 Prohibits Family Homes from Being Included in Excessive Debt Collections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
12/11 PN 1789 Nomination of Lauren McGarity McFerran, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 50)
12/10 SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Bill Passed - House (74 - 16)
12/10 SB 976 Amends the Michigan Employment Security Act to Add New Requirements and Exemptions Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
12/10 SB 981 Requires Unemployment Insurance Application (UIA) Materials be Subject to Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Requests Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
12/10 SB 962 Amends the State Unemployment Hardship Waiver Application Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
12/10 SB 975 Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Receive Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)

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