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 11, 2024 NE LB 840 Establishes the Poverty Elimination Action Plan Act and Amends the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 253 Establishes State Alternatives to Prosecution and Incarceration for Veterans Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 0)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 870 Requires Law Enforcement Notify Sexual Assault Survivors at least 6 Weeks Before Destruction or Disposal Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 0)
April 11, 2024 MO SB 767 Prohibits Individuals Under 18 from Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
April 11, 2024 IL SB 3310 Extends the Timeline for Employees to File Human Rights Charges Against Employers Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 18)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 904 Establishes the Intergenerational Care Facility Incentive Grant Program Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
April 10, 2024 ID H 421 Amends Existing Law to Define Terms and Revise Definitions for "Sex"and "Gender" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
April 10, 2024 IL SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 1)
April 10, 2024 ID H 538 Prohibits Governmental Entities From Compelling Employees to Use Certain Pronouns or Titles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
April 9, 2024 LA SB 181 Expands Governor Authority Over State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
April 8, 2024 MD SB 949 Prohibits the Self-Administering Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to be Used in Court Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
April 8, 2024 MN SF 3492 Establishes Tenants Rights for Renters Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
April 8, 2024 LA SB 388 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
April 5, 2024 PA SB 745 Requires Contracts for Information Technology Commodities Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
April 5, 2024 NE LB 575 Requires Students Use Restrooms that Align with Their Biological Sex and Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Failed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 3, 2024 ME LD 779 Establishes a Separate Department of Child and Family Services "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 8)
March 29, 2024 MD HB 649 Requires Employers Disclose Wage Information to Applicants for Employment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
March 28, 2024 GA SB 479 Establishes Guidelines to Raise and Standardize Pay for Judges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 4)
March 28, 2024 GA HB 1170 Prohibits Puberty Delaying Medications for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
March 28, 2024 RI S 2121 Increases Eligible Benefits and Pay to Employees on Leave Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
March 27, 2024 KS SB 233 Prohibits Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
March 26, 2024 GA HB 1104 Amends Various LGBTQ Regulations and Standards in State K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21)
March 25, 2024 TN HB 2124 Requires Local Law Enforcement Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 25, 2024 ID S 1428 Amends Existing Laws to Clarify that Military Retirement Benefits are Exempt Regardless of Status of the Member Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 22, 2024 ID H 668 Prohibits Public Funding for Gender Transition Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 21, 2024 GA HB 1339 Expands Health Care Coverage for Lower-Income Adults Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
March 21, 2024 GA HB 1105 Establishes Penalties for Sheriff's that Refuse to Follow Federal Immigration Orders Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
March 21, 2024 GA HB 404 Establishes Building Code Standards for Rental Properties Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 2)
March 21, 2024 GA HB 301 Limits Law Enforcement Funding for Local Governments with Reduced Immigration Policies Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5215 Amends Genetic DNA Testing Requirements for Certain Parental Cases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5207 Establishes and Authorizes Assisted Reproduction Including Surrogacy Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5208 Establishes Birth Certificates for Children whose Parentage is Determined Under the Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5211 Establishes Legal Protections for Children Born Through Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Methods like IVF Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5212 Repeals Determination of Parentage for Children Born via Assisted Reproduction or Surrogacy from the Revocation of Paternity Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5213 Establishes Procedures for Determining Paternity and Support of State Departments and Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5214 Authorizes Alleged or Intended Parents of Children Born via Assisted Reproduction or Surrogacy to Sign Legally Binding Acknowledgements of Parentage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5209 Establishes Sentencing Guidelines for Surrogate Parentage Contracts involving Minors or Intellectually Disabled Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5210 Establishes that Children Born Through Surrogacy or Assisted Reproduction are Legal Children for the Purposes of Inheritance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 18, 2024 NJ S 1313 Establishes a State Certification Process for LGBTQ+ Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
March 15, 2024 KY HB 5 Increases Penalties for Violent Crimes and Camping on Public Property Without Permission Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
March 14, 2024 GA HB 1339 Expands Health Care Coverage for Lower-Income Adults Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
March 13, 2024 CO HB 24-1139 Amends Death Benefit Statutes after Remarriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
March 12, 2024 WI AB 1073 Amends Several Worker Compensation Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
March 12, 2024 WI AB 377 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 12, 2024 WI AJR 112 Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Create or Increase any Tax or Fee Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 12, 2024 OK SB 1658 Repeals and Eliminates the Statute of Limitations for Rape Cases Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
March 8, 2024 WY SF 83 Amends Statutory References Resulting from Inadvertent Errors and Omissions in Previous Legislation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
March 8, 2024 WV HB 5257 Authorizes State Appeals Court to Set Pay Scales for Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 8, 2024 WV HB 5257 Authorizes State Appeals Court to Set Pay Scales for Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 7, 2024 WA SB 6194 Establishes Collective Bargaining Rights for State Legislative Staffers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 7, 2024 WY SF 99 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
March 7, 2024 WY SF 47 Amends Law Enforcement Retirement Contributions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 7, 2024 MO SB 756 Requires Homeowners be 62 or Older to Qualify for Property Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
March 7, 2024 National S 3853 A bill to extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation for workers involved in uranium mining. Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
March 7, 2024 ID S 1379 Establishes Additional Requirements for Child Care Placements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
March 7, 2024 MO SB 895 Amends Provisions Relating to Landlord-Tenant Actions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 6, 2024 KY HB 18 Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Source-of-Income Discrimination in Housing Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
March 6, 2024 FL HB 1451 Prohibits the Acceptance of Certain Forms of Identification Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
March 6, 2024 WY HB 29 Amends Cold Case Database and Investigation Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 6, 2024 KY SB 147 Establishes Various Regulations and Restrictions on Adult Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 6, 2024 KY SB 147 Establishes Various Regulations and Restrictions on Adult Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 5, 2024 SD SB 80 Appropriates $2 million to the State Department of Human Services for Technology Grants to Elderly Care Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
March 5, 2024 VA HB 1398 Establishes Frameworks to Preserve Local Housing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
March 5, 2024 OR HB 4045 Reduces Retirement Age for Firefighters and Police with 5 Years Left on the Job from 60 to 55 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 5, 2024 OR HB 4164 Amends Sexual Misconduct Rules on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
March 5, 2024 OK SB 1854 Prohibits Unauthorized Camping on State-Owned Land Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 6)
March 5, 2024 IA SF 2340 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 6015 Reduces Building Construction Requirements for Housing Developments in Urban Areas Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 5462 Amends State Learning Standards to Include Education on the LGBTQ+ Community Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
March 4, 2024 OR SB 1533 Requires the Secretary of State Translate Voter Pamphlets into the 10 Most Common Languages in the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 29, 2024 WA HB 1929 Establishes Temporary Supportive-Housing Options for Young Adults Following Inpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
Feb. 29, 2024 WV HB 4233 Prohibits Non-Binary from Being Used as Sex Designations on State Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
Feb. 29, 2024 AZ SB 1406 Expands Amount of International Medical Licensees Valid in Arizona Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10)
Feb. 29, 2024 NE LB 1288 Establishes Recognition and Tribal Mental Health and Dangerous Sex Offender Commitment Orders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 29, 2024 GA SB 180 Authorizes Religious Freedom for All Government, Business, and Corporate Employees Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 LB 840 Establishes the Poverty Elimination Action Plan Act and Amends the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
4/11 LB 253 Establishes State Alternatives to Prosecution and Incarceration for Veterans Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 0)
4/11 LB 870 Requires Law Enforcement Notify Sexual Assault Survivors at least 6 Weeks Before Destruction or Disposal Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 0)
4/11 SB 767 Prohibits Individuals Under 18 from Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
4/11 SB 3310 Extends the Timeline for Employees to File Human Rights Charges Against Employers Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 18)
4/11 LB 904 Establishes the Intergenerational Care Facility Incentive Grant Program Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
4/10 H 421 Amends Existing Law to Define Terms and Revise Definitions for "Sex"and "Gender" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
4/10 SB 2690 Requires Public Universities to Pay or Reimburse Refugee Transcript Evaluation Fees Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 1)
4/10 H 538 Prohibits Governmental Entities From Compelling Employees to Use Certain Pronouns or Titles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
4/09 SB 181 Expands Governor Authority Over State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
4/08 SB 949 Prohibits the Self-Administering Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to be Used in Court Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
4/08 SF 3492 Establishes Tenants Rights for Renters Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
4/08 SB 388 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
4/05 SB 745 Requires Contracts for Information Technology Commodities Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
4/05 LB 575 Requires Students Use Restrooms that Align with Their Biological Sex and Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Failed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/03 LD 779 Establishes a Separate Department of Child and Family Services "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 8)
3/29 HB 649 Requires Employers Disclose Wage Information to Applicants for Employment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
3/28 SB 479 Establishes Guidelines to Raise and Standardize Pay for Judges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 4)
3/28 HB 1170 Prohibits Puberty Delaying Medications for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
3/28 S 2121 Increases Eligible Benefits and Pay to Employees on Leave Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
3/27 SB 233 Prohibits Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
3/26 HB 1104 Amends Various LGBTQ Regulations and Standards in State K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21)
3/25 HB 2124 Requires Local Law Enforcement Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/25 S 1428 Amends Existing Laws to Clarify that Military Retirement Benefits are Exempt Regardless of Status of the Member Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/22 H 668 Prohibits Public Funding for Gender Transition Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/21 HB 1339 Expands Health Care Coverage for Lower-Income Adults Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
3/21 HB 1105 Establishes Penalties for Sheriff's that Refuse to Follow Federal Immigration Orders Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
3/21 HB 404 Establishes Building Code Standards for Rental Properties Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 2)
3/21 HB 301 Limits Law Enforcement Funding for Local Governments with Reduced Immigration Policies Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)
3/19 HB 5215 Amends Genetic DNA Testing Requirements for Certain Parental Cases Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5207 Establishes and Authorizes Assisted Reproduction Including Surrogacy Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5208 Establishes Birth Certificates for Children whose Parentage is Determined Under the Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5211 Establishes Legal Protections for Children Born Through Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Methods like IVF Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/19 HB 5212 Repeals Determination of Parentage for Children Born via Assisted Reproduction or Surrogacy from the Revocation of Paternity Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5213 Establishes Procedures for Determining Paternity and Support of State Departments and Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5214 Authorizes Alleged or Intended Parents of Children Born via Assisted Reproduction or Surrogacy to Sign Legally Binding Acknowledgements of Parentage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5209 Establishes Sentencing Guidelines for Surrogate Parentage Contracts involving Minors or Intellectually Disabled Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/19 HB 5210 Establishes that Children Born Through Surrogacy or Assisted Reproduction are Legal Children for the Purposes of Inheritance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/18 S 1313 Establishes a State Certification Process for LGBTQ+ Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
3/15 HB 5 Increases Penalties for Violent Crimes and Camping on Public Property Without Permission Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
3/14 HB 1339 Expands Health Care Coverage for Lower-Income Adults Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
3/13 HB 24-1139 Amends Death Benefit Statutes after Remarriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
3/12 AB 1073 Amends Several Worker Compensation Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
3/12 AB 377 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/12 AJR 112 Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Create or Increase any Tax or Fee Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/12 SB 1658 Repeals and Eliminates the Statute of Limitations for Rape Cases Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
3/08 SF 83 Amends Statutory References Resulting from Inadvertent Errors and Omissions in Previous Legislation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
3/08 HB 5257 Authorizes State Appeals Court to Set Pay Scales for Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/08 HB 5257 Authorizes State Appeals Court to Set Pay Scales for Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/07 SB 6194 Establishes Collective Bargaining Rights for State Legislative Staffers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/07 SF 99 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
3/07 SF 47 Amends Law Enforcement Retirement Contributions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/07 SB 756 Requires Homeowners be 62 or Older to Qualify for Property Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
3/07 S 3853 A bill to extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation for workers involved in uranium mining. Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30)
3/07 S 1379 Establishes Additional Requirements for Child Care Placements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
3/07 SB 895 Amends Provisions Relating to Landlord-Tenant Actions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/06 HB 18 Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Source-of-Income Discrimination in Housing Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
3/06 HB 1451 Prohibits the Acceptance of Certain Forms of Identification Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
3/06 HB 29 Amends Cold Case Database and Investigation Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/06 SB 147 Establishes Various Regulations and Restrictions on Adult Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/06 SB 147 Establishes Various Regulations and Restrictions on Adult Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/05 SB 80 Appropriates $2 million to the State Department of Human Services for Technology Grants to Elderly Care Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
3/05 HB 1398 Establishes Frameworks to Preserve Local Housing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
3/05 HB 4045 Reduces Retirement Age for Firefighters and Police with 5 Years Left on the Job from 60 to 55 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/05 HB 4164 Amends Sexual Misconduct Rules on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
3/05 SB 1854 Prohibits Unauthorized Camping on State-Owned Land Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 6)
3/05 SF 2340 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
3/04 SB 6015 Reduces Building Construction Requirements for Housing Developments in Urban Areas Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/04 SB 5462 Amends State Learning Standards to Include Education on the LGBTQ+ Community Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
3/04 SB 1533 Requires the Secretary of State Translate Voter Pamphlets into the 10 Most Common Languages in the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/29 HB 1929 Establishes Temporary Supportive-Housing Options for Young Adults Following Inpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
2/29 HB 4233 Prohibits Non-Binary from Being Used as Sex Designations on State Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
2/29 SB 1406 Expands Amount of International Medical Licensees Valid in Arizona Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10)
2/29 LB 1288 Establishes Recognition and Tribal Mental Health and Dangerous Sex Offender Commitment Orders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/29 SB 180 Authorizes Religious Freedom for All Government, Business, and Corporate Employees Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 19)

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