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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| March 22, 2018 | NH | HB 628 | Requires Paid Family and Medical Leave | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (171 - 162) |
| March 21, 2018 | MI | HB 5456 | Establishes Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 25) |
| March 16, 2018 | VT | H 710 | Amends State Beer Franchise Contracts | Bill Passed - House (123 - 11) |
| March 13, 2018 | PA | HB 153 | Decreases Size of State Legislature | Bill Passed - House (101 - 84) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | HB 811 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining New Employee Processing | Bill Passed - House (84 - 49) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | HB 811 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining New Employee Processing | Bill Passed - House (84 - 49) |
| March 7, 2018 | WA | HB 1506 | Prohibits Employers from Retaliating Against Employees for Discussing Wages | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28) |
| March 3, 2018 | OR | HB 4111 | Authorizes DMV to Renew and Replace Limited-Term Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| March 3, 2018 | OR | SB 1563 | Authorizes Undocumented Students to Continue Receiving Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| March 1, 2018 | WA | SB 6199 | Authorizes Privatization of Home-Care Workforce | Bill Passed - House (50 - 0) |
| March 1, 2018 | WA | SB 6199 | Authorizes Privatization of Home-Care Workforce | Bill Passed - House (50 - 0) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | WA | SB 5722 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | WA | SB 6037 | Authorizes Financial Compensation of Surrogates | Bill Passed - House (50 - 47) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | WA | SB 5996 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Sexual Assault Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - House (98 - 0) |
| Feb. 23, 2018 | WA | SB 6617 | Exempts Legislators from Public Records Law | Bill Passed - House (83 - 14) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | MI | HB 4053 | Establishes English as Official Language | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
| Feb. 21, 2018 | KY | HB 2 | Amends Workers' Compensation Law | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | ID | H 419 | Prohibits Courts from Ruling Based on Foreign Law | Bill Passed - House (44 - 24) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | OR | HB 4113 | Requires School Districts to Bargain About Class Size | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | OR | HB 4113 | Requires School Districts to Bargain About Class Size | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | OR | HB 4145 | Prohibits Convicted Stalkers from Possessing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | WI | AB 10 | Requires Photo Identification for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | WI | AB 1 | Increases Work Hour Requirements for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| Feb. 14, 2018 | NM | SB 19 | Amends Guardianship Laws | Bill Passed - House (63 - 0) |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | SD | HB 1199 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining at Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | VA | HB 1257 | Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| Feb. 8, 2018 | NH | HB 628 | Requires Paid Family and Medical Leave | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (186 - 164) |
| Feb. 8, 2018 | MI | HB 5456 | Establishes Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Act | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| Jan. 31, 2018 | WV | HB 4006 | Repeals Department of Education and Arts | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| Jan. 29, 2018 | WV | HB 2546 | Authorizes Company Equipment Cost Deductions from an Employee's Final Paycheck | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| Jan. 17, 2018 | WA | HB 1506 | Prohibits Employers from Retaliating Against Employees for Discussing Wages | Bill Passed - House (69 - 28) |
| Jan. 12, 2018 | FL | HB 9 | Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies | Bill Passed - House (71 - 35) |
| 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) |
| Nov. 9, 2017 | National | HR 2201 | Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act | Bill Passed - House (23 - 188) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | National | HR 3441 | Save Local Business Act | Bill Passed - House (242 - 181) |
| Nov. 2, 2017 | WI | AB 128 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage in State Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| Oct. 17, 2017 | NC | S 656 | Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 40) |
| Sept. 15, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| Sept. 14, 2017 | National | HR 3697 | Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act | Bill Passed - House (233 - 175) |
| Sept. 13, 2017 | CA | SB 179 | Recognizes Nonbinary as an Official Legal Gender | Bill Passed - House (57 - 21) |
| Sept. 11, 2017 | CA | AB 291 | Prohibits Landlords from Disclosing Immigration Status of Tenants | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 20) |
| July 27, 2017 | National | HR 3219 | Make America Secure Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 192) |
| June 30, 2017 | WA | SB 5975 | Establishes Paid Family Leave Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (65 - 29) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3004 | Kate's Law | Bill Passed - House (257 - 167) |
| June 28, 2017 | OH | HB 27 | Amends Eligibility for Workers' Compensation Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| June 28, 2017 | OH | HB 27 | Amends Eligibility for Workers' Compensation Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| June 27, 2017 | IL | HB 3904 | Requires Gender-Responsive Practices in Women's Prisons | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
| June 26, 2017 | RI | H 5280A | Requires More State Contracts for Veteran-Owned Businesses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 0) |
| June 26, 2017 | RI | H 5280A | Requires More State Contracts for Veteran-Owned Businesses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 0) |
| June 20, 2017 | MO | SB 5 | Amends Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (110 - 38) |
| June 20, 2017 | OR | HB 3464 | Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| June 13, 2017 | National | S 1094 | Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (368 - 55) |
| June 7, 2017 | National | HR 2213 | Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (282 - 137) |
| June 6, 2017 | DE | SB 5 | Authorizes Abortions Before the Point of Viability | Bill Passed - House (22 - 16) |
| May 29, 2017 | IL | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| May 25, 2017 | IL | HB 1785 | Authorizes Birth Certificate Changes for Transgender People | Bill Passed - House |
| May 24, 2017 | MA | H 3034 | Limits the Use of Prison Labor | Bill Passed - House (120 - 35) |
| May 18, 2017 | NV | SB 176 | Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras | Bill Passed - House (33 - 9) |
| May 17, 2017 | OH | HB 27 | Amends Eligibility for Workers' Compensation Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| May 17, 2017 | OH | HB 27 | Amends Eligibility for Workers' Compensation Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| May 15, 2017 | AK | HB 132 | Authorizes Operation of Ridesharing Services | Bill Passed - House (35 - 5) |
| May 8, 2017 | MO | SB 43 | Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (98 - 30) |
| May 6, 2017 | TX | HB 2466 | Expands Healthcare to Cover Postpartum Depression | Bill Passed - House (135 - 7) |
| May 3, 2017 | VT | H 196 | Requires a Statewide Payroll Tax to Fund a Paid Family Leave Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (88 - 58) |
| May 2, 2017 | National | HR 1180 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
| April 27, 2017 | TX | SB 4 | Prohibits Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (94 - 53) |
| April 26, 2017 | NC | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44) |
| April 26, 2017 | IL | HB 2462 | Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History | Bill Passed - House (91 - 24) |
| April 25, 2017 | NV | AB 249 | Requires Insurance Coverage for 12-Month Refills of Contraceptive Drugs | Bill Passed - House (40 - 2) |
| April 25, 2017 | IL | HB 40 | Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 55) |
| April 11, 2017 | HI | SB 501 | Requires Certain Disclosures from Limited Service Pregnancy Centers | (41 - 10) |
| April 11, 2017 | NC | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43) |
| April 7, 2017 | WV | SB 330 | Repeals Provisions from the Workplace Freedom Act | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| April 7, 2017 | WV | SB 330 | Repeals Provisions from the Workplace Freedom Act | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| April 7, 2017 | WV | HB 2646 | Terminates West Virginia Women's Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 39) |
| April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 16 | Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| March 30, 2017 | MO | HB 104 | Repeals Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Construction Projects | Bill Passed - House (89 - 60) |
| March 23, 2017 | NJ | S 3006 | Prohibits Blocking Entry of Individuals from Certain Countries | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| March 23, 2017 | NJ | A 4243 | Requires "Whistleblower" Settlements to be Public Record | Bill Passed - House (73 - 0) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | HB 241 | Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - House (60 - 0) |
| March 16, 2017 | IA | HF 518 | Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (55 - 38) |
| March 16, 2017 | National | HR 1181 | Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 175) |
| March 16, 2017 | AL | HB 24 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (60 - 14) |
| March 16, 2017 | National | HR 1259 | VA Accountability First Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 178) |
| March 15, 2017 | NM | SB 121 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (44 - 23) |
| March 15, 2017 | VT | S 79 | Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information | Bill Passed - House (110 - 24) |
| March 9, 2017 | IA | HF 295 | Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| March 8, 2017 | NC | H 100 | Restores Partisan Court Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| March 2, 2017 | WV | HB 2646 | Terminates West Virginia Women's Commission | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| March 1, 2017 | National | HR 998 | Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| March 1, 2017 | National | HR 998 | Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | MO | HB 288 | Requires Term of Unemployment Benefits be Pegged to Unemployment Rate | Bill Passed - House (100 - 56) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | AZ | HB 2372 | Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | GA | HB 37 | Prohibits State Funding for Sanctuary Campuses | Bill Passed - House (112 - 57) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | IA | HF 291 | Limits Collective Bargaining for Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (53 - 47) |