Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Feb. 25, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 25, 2015 WI SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2015 NM HB 75 Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (37 - 30)
Feb. 25, 2015 UT SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 23, 2015 IN HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
Feb. 23, 2015 MO SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Feb. 20, 2015 MT HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Feb. 18, 2015 SD SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2015 MO HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 12, 2015 NM HB 32 Limits Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Feb. 10, 2015 SD HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2015 KY HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
Feb. 10, 2015 WY SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
Feb. 5, 2015 NJ S 866 Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 4, 2015 MO HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
Feb. 3, 2015 VA SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Jan. 20, 2015 VA SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
Jan. 14, 2015 National HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
Dec. 16, 2014 MI HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 9, 2014 MI HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (59 - 50)
Dec. 4, 2014 National HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
Dec. 4, 2014 OH HB 661 Increases Salaries of Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (56 - 26)
Dec. 4, 2014 National HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2014 National H Res 644 Condemning and Disapproving of the Failure of the Obama Administration to Comply with the Lawful Statutory Requirement to Notify Congress before Transferring Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Expressing Concern About the National Security Risks Over the Transfer of Five Taliban Leaders and the Repercussions of Negotiating with Terrorists Resolution Passed - House (249 - 163)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1159 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Receive Professional Licenses Bill Passed - House (55 - 22)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 11, 2014 FL SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (71 - 38)
Aug. 11, 2014 FL SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Aug. 1, 2014 National HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
Aug. 1, 2014 National HR 5230 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (223 - 189)
July 30, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
July 30, 2014 National H Res 676 Providing for Authority to Initiate Litigation for Actions by the President or Other Executive Branch Officials Inconsistent with Their Duties Under the Constitution of the United States Resolution Passed - House (225 - 201)
July 28, 2014 NC HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
July 25, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
July 16, 2014 National S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
July 16, 2014 National H Amdt 1083 Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230)
July 2, 2014 AR HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
June 26, 2014 DE HB 13 Prohibits Lawmakers from Becoming Lobbyists for 1 Year After Leaving Office Concurrence Vote Passed - House (33 - 7)
June 26, 2014 NJ S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
June 26, 2014 NJ S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 19, 2014 RI H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
June 18, 2014 MA S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - House (124 - 24)
June 18, 2014 MA S 2132 Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (126 - 22)
June 18, 2014 MA S 2132 Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (126 - 22)
June 18, 2014 RI H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
June 16, 2014 NJ S 1038 Requires Public Contractors to Report Certain Employment Information Bill Passed - House (47 - 31)
June 16, 2014 NJ S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - House (49 - 26)
June 16, 2014 NY A 6983B Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (105 - 28)
June 12, 2014 MA S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
June 3, 2014 MI HB 5575 Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 30, 2014 IL SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
May 30, 2014 IL SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Bill Passed - House (65 - 48)
May 30, 2014 National H Amdt 750 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the Transfer of Clemency Application Screening Personnel Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 935 Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/25 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/25 SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
2/25 HB 75 Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (37 - 30)
2/25 SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/24 SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/23 HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
2/23 SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/23 SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
2/20 HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
2/18 SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/17 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
2/12 HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/12 HB 32 Limits Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
2/12 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/11 SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
2/10 HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
2/10 HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
2/10 SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
2/05 S 866 Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/04 HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
2/03 SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
1/20 SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
1/14 HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
12/16 HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/09 HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - House (59 - 50)
12/04 HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
12/04 HB 661 Increases Salaries of Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (56 - 26)
12/04 HR 5759 Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (219 - 197)
12/03 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
12/03 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
12/03 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
12/03 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
9/09 H Res 644 Condemning and Disapproving of the Failure of the Obama Administration to Comply with the Lawful Statutory Requirement to Notify Congress before Transferring Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Expressing Concern About the National Security Risks Over the Transfer of Five Taliban Leaders and the Repercussions of Negotiating with Terrorists Resolution Passed - House (249 - 163)
8/29 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28)
8/29 SB 1159 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Receive Professional Licenses Bill Passed - House (55 - 22)
8/27 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/11 SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (71 - 38)
8/11 SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
8/01 HR 5272 To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (216 - 192)
8/01 HR 5230 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes Bill Passed - House (223 - 189)
7/30 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
7/30 H Res 676 Providing for Authority to Initiate Litigation for Actions by the President or Other Executive Branch Officials Inconsistent with Their Duties Under the Constitution of the United States Resolution Passed - House (225 - 201)
7/28 HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
7/25 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
7/16 S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
7/16 H Amdt 1083 Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230)
7/02 HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
6/26 HB 13 Prohibits Lawmakers from Becoming Lobbyists for 1 Year After Leaving Office Concurrence Vote Passed - House (33 - 7)
6/26 S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
6/26 S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/19 H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
6/18 S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - House (124 - 24)
6/18 S 2132 Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (126 - 22)
6/18 S 2132 Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (126 - 22)
6/18 H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
6/16 S 1038 Requires Public Contractors to Report Certain Employment Information Bill Passed - House (47 - 31)
6/16 S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - House (49 - 26)
6/16 A 6983B Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (105 - 28)
6/12 S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
6/03 HB 5575 Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/30 SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
5/30 SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Bill Passed - House (65 - 48)
5/30 H Amdt 750 Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the Transfer of Clemency Application Screening Personnel Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189)
5/29 SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/29 SB 935 Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)

arrow_upward