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
April 1, 2025 TX SB 8 Requires Local Law Enforcement Assist the Federal Government in Deportation Efforts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 1, 2025 TX SB 16 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 1, 2025 OR SB 1176 Requires that the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Conduct an Education Effort to Ensure Businesses Accept Cash Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
March 31, 2025 GA SB 1 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
March 31, 2025 TX SB 379 Limits SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 31, 2025 OR SB 1098 Prohibits Schools and Library districts from Removing Books with Stories about Religion, Disability, LGBTQ+ Issues, or Other Characteristics of a Protected Class Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
March 28, 2025 GA HB 86 Establishes New Structure for State Judge Salaries (46 - 2)
March 28, 2025 CO HB 25-1090 Prohibits Landlords from Charging Renters Hidden Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 28, 2025 ND HB 1300 Specifies Timeline for When Term Limits Passed by Voters in 2022 Officially Take Effect Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
March 28, 2025 ND HB 1231 Authorizes Low-Risk Sex Offenders to Ask the Court to Remove Them from the State Registry Early Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 3)
March 28, 2025 NE LB 415 Exempts Small Businesses, Minors, and Temporary Agriculture Workers from Receiving Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
March 28, 2025 GA HB 85 Establishes Guidelines for Local Supplements for State Superior Court Judges Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 2)
March 27, 2025 KY SB 84 Prohibits Courts from Deferring to a State Agency's Interpretation When Dealing With Ambiguity in Statute Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 27, 2025 KY HB 495 Repeals and Overturns the Governors Executive Order that Prohibited the Practice of Conversion Therapy Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
March 27, 2025 KY HB 399 Establishes Criminal Penalties for Interfering with a Legislative Proceeding Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
March 27, 2025 KY HB 398 Repeals and Amends Certain Protections Currently in Place for Kentucky Workers Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
March 27, 2025 KS HB 2062 Require Child Support Payments to be Calculated from the Point of Conception Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
March 27, 2025 National PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45)
March 27, 2025 National PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45)
March 27, 2025 National PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
March 27, 2025 National PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
March 26, 2025 OH SB 1 Prohibits Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives at State Public Universities and Community Colleges Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
March 26, 2025 National PN 12-15 Nomination of Michael Faulkender to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 43)
March 26, 2025 National PN 12-37 Nomination of Aaron Reitz to be an Assistant Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
March 26, 2025 CO HB 25-1109 Requires that Death Certificates Issued in Colorado Must Report a Decedent's Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 26, 2025 National PN 12-37 Nomination of Aaron Reitz to be an Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
March 26, 2025 National PN 12-15 Nomination of Michael Faulkender to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
March 26, 2025 WV SB 705 Requires New Rules from the State Board of Education to be Submitted to the Legislative Rule Making Committee Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 25, 2025 National PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 44)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-3 Nomination of James Bishop to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
March 25, 2025 National PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 25)
March 25, 2025 OR SB 1038 Establishes Year Round Standard Time in Oregon if California and Washington Also Agree Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 25, 2025 IA SF 473 Establishes Protections for Religious and Moral Beliefs of Foster and Adoptive Parents Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
March 24, 2025 National PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 31)
March 24, 2025 National PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (62 - 30)
March 24, 2025 NJ A 3361 Establishes a Limit on Rent Increases for Certain Dwelling Sites for Modular or Industrialized Buildings or Manufactured Homes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
March 24, 2025 IN HB 1393 Requires Law Enforcement to Report Arrestees for Suspected Illegal Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
March 24, 2025 OR SB 599 Prohibits Landlords From Inquiring About the Immigration or Citizenship Status of an Applicant, Tenant, or Other Member of a Household Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 24, 2025 WV SB 579 Prohibits Municipalities Participating in the Home Rule Program from Establishing Nondiscrimination Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
March 20, 2025 NM HB 128 Establishes a $20 Million Fund to Provide Grants for Solar Energy and Battery Storage for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 20, 2025 NM HB 128 Establishes a $20 Million Fund to Provide Grants for Solar Energy and Battery Storage for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 20, 2025 NH SB 72 Establishes a Parental Bill of Rights in Education "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
March 20, 2025 NH SB 84 Reduces the Minimum Lot Size Requirement for Single-Family Homes "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10)
March 20, 2025 CA SB 177 Requires Big Corporations to Pay the Taxpayer Costs of Their Employees Enrolled in the Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 20, 2025 OR SB 916 Authorizes Striking Workers to Receive Unemployment Pay Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/01 SB 8 Requires Local Law Enforcement Assist the Federal Government in Deportation Efforts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/01 SB 16 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/01 SB 1176 Requires that the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Conduct an Education Effort to Ensure Businesses Accept Cash Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
3/31 SB 1 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
3/31 SB 379 Limits SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/31 SB 1098 Prohibits Schools and Library districts from Removing Books with Stories about Religion, Disability, LGBTQ+ Issues, or Other Characteristics of a Protected Class Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
3/28 HB 86 Establishes New Structure for State Judge Salaries (46 - 2)
3/28 HB 25-1090 Prohibits Landlords from Charging Renters Hidden Fees Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/28 HB 1300 Specifies Timeline for When Term Limits Passed by Voters in 2022 Officially Take Effect Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
3/28 HB 1231 Authorizes Low-Risk Sex Offenders to Ask the Court to Remove Them from the State Registry Early Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 3)
3/28 LB 415 Exempts Small Businesses, Minors, and Temporary Agriculture Workers from Receiving Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
3/28 HB 85 Establishes Guidelines for Local Supplements for State Superior Court Judges Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 2)
3/27 SB 84 Prohibits Courts from Deferring to a State Agency's Interpretation When Dealing With Ambiguity in Statute Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/27 HB 495 Repeals and Overturns the Governors Executive Order that Prohibited the Practice of Conversion Therapy Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
3/27 HB 399 Establishes Criminal Penalties for Interfering with a Legislative Proceeding Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
3/27 HB 398 Repeals and Amends Certain Protections Currently in Place for Kentucky Workers Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
3/27 HB 2062 Require Child Support Payments to be Calculated from the Point of Conception Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
3/27 PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45)
3/27 PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45)
3/27 PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
3/27 PN 13-9 Nomination of Paul Lawrence to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
3/26 SB 1 Prohibits Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives at State Public Universities and Community Colleges Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
3/26 PN 12-15 Nomination of Michael Faulkender to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 43)
3/26 PN 12-37 Nomination of Aaron Reitz to be an Assistant Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
3/26 HB 25-1109 Requires that Death Certificates Issued in Colorado Must Report a Decedent's Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/26 PN 12-37 Nomination of Aaron Reitz to be an Assistant Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
3/26 PN 12-15 Nomination of Michael Faulkender to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
3/26 SB 705 Requires New Rules from the State Board of Education to be Submitted to the Legislative Rule Making Committee Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/25 PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
3/25 PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 44)
3/25 PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
3/25 PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
3/25 PN 12-3 Nomination of James Bishop to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
3/25 PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
3/25 PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 25)
3/25 SB 1038 Establishes Year Round Standard Time in Oregon if California and Washington Also Agree Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/25 SF 473 Establishes Protections for Religious and Moral Beliefs of Foster and Adoptive Parents Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
3/24 PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 31)
3/24 PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (62 - 30)
3/24 A 3361 Establishes a Limit on Rent Increases for Certain Dwelling Sites for Modular or Industrialized Buildings or Manufactured Homes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
3/24 HB 1393 Requires Law Enforcement to Report Arrestees for Suspected Illegal Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10)
3/24 SB 599 Prohibits Landlords From Inquiring About the Immigration or Citizenship Status of an Applicant, Tenant, or Other Member of a Household Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/24 SB 579 Prohibits Municipalities Participating in the Home Rule Program from Establishing Nondiscrimination Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/20 HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
3/20 HB 128 Establishes a $20 Million Fund to Provide Grants for Solar Energy and Battery Storage for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/20 HB 128 Establishes a $20 Million Fund to Provide Grants for Solar Energy and Battery Storage for Tribal, Rural and Low-Income Schools, Municipalities and Counties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/20 SB 72 Establishes a Parental Bill of Rights in Education "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
3/20 SB 84 Reduces the Minimum Lot Size Requirement for Single-Family Homes "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10)
3/20 SB 177 Requires Big Corporations to Pay the Taxpayer Costs of Their Employees Enrolled in the Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/20 SB 916 Authorizes Striking Workers to Receive Unemployment Pay Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)

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