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
May 25, 2023 CT HJ 34 Establishes a Joint Resolution Recognizing the Harm Done by the Salem Witch Trials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
May 24, 2023 TX HB 1287 Amends SNAP Vehicle Asset Tests to Modernize Reporting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 24, 2023 TX HB 7 Authorizes the Creation of State Border Police Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
May 24, 2023 IL HB 3882 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain a Standardized Illinois Driver's License Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)
May 24, 2023 CA SB 735 Establishes Extra Occupational Safety Measures on Motion Picture Sets Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
May 24, 2023 CA SB 447 Authorizes State and Public University Employees to Resume Travel to Previously Restricted States Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
May 23, 2023 MI SB 150 Authorizes the Small Claims Division of the Michigan Tax Tribunal to Have Virtual Hearings Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
May 22, 2023 PA SB 190 Defines and Provides for Existing Regulatory Practices Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
May 21, 2023 MN HF 1938 Amends State Tax Policies and Rebate Check Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
May 19, 2023 OK SB 212 Prohibits Non-Citizens from Owning Certain Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
May 19, 2023 NE LB 574 Limits to Abortion Access and Prohibition of Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
May 18, 2023 IL HB 1286 Authorizes Businesses to Designate Multi-Occupancy Restrooms as All-Gender Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
May 18, 2023 IL HB 3751 Authorizes DACA Recipients to Become Law enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 20)
May 18, 2023 IL HB 218 Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to Include Firearm Industry Members Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22)
May 18, 2023 DE SB 72 Establishes a Tax Credit for Dues-paying Union Members Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
May 18, 2023 DE SB 92 Amends the Delaware Public Employment Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 4)
May 17, 2023 DE SB 102 Repeals a loophole in wage statutes that was being used to pay workers below the prevailing wage Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
May 17, 2023 National S J Res 18 A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility". Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
May 17, 2023 MN SF 37 Authorizes Minnesota Voters to Vote On a Constitutional Amendment Providing For Equality Under the Law Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 23)
May 16, 2023 RI S 71 Appropriates State Funds to Provide for Free School Breakfast and Lunch in All K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
May 10, 2023 MN HF 2073 Appropriates State Funding for Free College Tuition and Automatic Admission Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30)
May 10, 2023 PA SB 350 Amends and Reforms the State Permitting Process Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
May 9, 2023 MO SB 75 Authorizes K-12 Schools to Hire more Retired Teachers for Longer Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
May 9, 2023 VT H 126 Establishes New Protections Concerning Biodiversity Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
May 8, 2023 AL HB 261 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
May 6, 2023 CO HB 23-1189 Establishes an Income Tax Credit for Employer Assistance to Employees in Making a Home Purchase Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
May 6, 2023 CO HB 23-1120 Requires Landlords go Through Mediation Before Evicting a Renter Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
May 5, 2023 CO HB 23-1057 Requires All New Government Buildings have Non-Gendered Bathrooms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
May 5, 2023 AK SB 13 Requires the State University System List Costs of Course Materials in its Course Catalog Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
May 4, 2023 CO SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 4, 2023 FL SB 254 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
May 4, 2023 CO SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 4, 2023 CO HB 23-1304 Amends Various Affordable Housing Rules and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 3, 2023 FL HB 1069 Requires State Public K-12 Schools have a Policy Stating it is "False" to Use an Individuals Preferred Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-276 Amends Election Laws Concerning Tribal Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2023 MT SB 296 Increases State Reimbursement Rates for Room and Board at Assisted-Living Facilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
May 2, 2023 IA SF 563 Appropriates Funding for State Judicial Spending and Requires Courts Obtain Consent of Non-Contract Attorneys Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
May 2, 2023 HI SB 1079 Requires Courts Expunge Records of OWI Convictions if the Sentencing Occurred Before 1998 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)
April 29, 2023 ND SB 2012 Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services Develop a Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Website Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
April 28, 2023 ND SB 2284 Appropriates $6 Million to Provide Low-Income K-12 Students Free School Meals Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 4)
April 28, 2023 MT HB 648 Expands Eligibility for State Childcare Scholarship Programs for Low-Income Montana Families Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 28, 2023 MT HB 479 Appropriates $5 Million for Law Enforcement Services on the Flathead Indian Reservation Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
April 27, 2023 ND HB 1474 Establishes State Definitions for Male, Female, Sex, and Scrap Metal Dealer Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 4)
April 27, 2023 ND HB 1522 Requires Students Use the Same Restroom that Aligns with Their Sex at Birth Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 6)
April 27, 2023 MT SB 458 Repeals Legal Recognition of Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex Terms from Montana State Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 26, 2023 CO SB 23-058 Prohibits Age-Related Discrimination in Work Settings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 26, 2023 ND HB 1540 Appropriates $65.6 Million to Reduce Child Care Costs to Young Families Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 26, 2023 FL HB 1627 Authorizes Pretrial Detention for DUI Manslaughter, Fentanyl Trafficking, and Extortion Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
April 26, 2023 MI SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 355 Amends Commerce Laws Regarding Remote Work Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 155 Authorizes Homeless Individuals who Committed Misdemeanors to be Deferred to a Specialty Court Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 25, 2023 FL SB 1718 Amends Various State Immigration Laws, Policies, and Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 82 Restructures Previsions Relating to the Use of Apprentices on Public Works Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 82 Restructures Previsions Relating to the Use of Apprentices on Public Works Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 24, 2023 IN SB 7 Prohibits Non-Compete Agreements for Physicians Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
April 21, 2023 ND SB 2360 Prohibits the Display of "Sexually Explicit Material" in Places Where Minors are Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 21, 2023 MN HF 146 Prohibits State Extradition of Minors Seeking Gender Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 30)
April 21, 2023 MN HF 16 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27)
April 20, 2023 CO HB 23-1100 Prohibits Government Participation in Civil Immigration Detention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
April 20, 2023 NV SB 263 Authorizes Affordable Housing Grants to Women Veterans and Survivors of Domestic Abuse Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
April 19, 2023 WA SB 5702 Expands the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Pilot Program Permanently Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
April 19, 2023 WA SB 5599 Authorizes Discretion for Homeless Shelter Reporting of "At-Risk" Youth Seeking Healthcare Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 19, 2023 WA SB 5599 Authorizes Discretion for Homeless Shelter Reporting of "At-Risk" Youth Seeking Healthcare Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 19, 2023 MT HB 889 Expands Legal Protections for Mobile Home Park Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 18, 2023 VT H 89 Establishes Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
April 18, 2023 MT HB 37 Requires DPHHS to Obtain a Warrant Before Relocating a Child From Their Home Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 9)
April 17, 2023 ND SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
April 17, 2023 ND SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
April 17, 2023 CO SB 23-1196 Authorizes Individuals to Seek Legal Remedies for Breaches of the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 17, 2023 CO SB 23-184 Prohibits Landlords from Rejecting a Tenant on Income Grounds Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
April 17, 2023 NV SB 153 Requires the Nevada Department of Corrections Regulate the Security, Supervision, Medical, and Mental Health Treatment of Transgender Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 14, 2023 WA SB 5144 Requires Battery Producers to Implement Battery Stewardship Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/25 HJ 34 Establishes a Joint Resolution Recognizing the Harm Done by the Salem Witch Trials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
5/24 HB 1287 Amends SNAP Vehicle Asset Tests to Modernize Reporting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/24 HB 7 Authorizes the Creation of State Border Police Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
5/24 HB 3882 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain a Standardized Illinois Driver's License Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18)
5/24 SB 735 Establishes Extra Occupational Safety Measures on Motion Picture Sets Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
5/24 SB 447 Authorizes State and Public University Employees to Resume Travel to Previously Restricted States Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
5/23 SB 150 Authorizes the Small Claims Division of the Michigan Tax Tribunal to Have Virtual Hearings Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
5/22 SB 190 Defines and Provides for Existing Regulatory Practices Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
5/21 HF 1938 Amends State Tax Policies and Rebate Check Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
5/19 SB 212 Prohibits Non-Citizens from Owning Certain Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
5/19 LB 574 Limits to Abortion Access and Prohibition of Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
5/18 HB 1286 Authorizes Businesses to Designate Multi-Occupancy Restrooms as All-Gender Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
5/18 HB 3751 Authorizes DACA Recipients to Become Law enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 20)
5/18 HB 218 Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to Include Firearm Industry Members Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22)
5/18 SB 72 Establishes a Tax Credit for Dues-paying Union Members Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
5/18 SB 92 Amends the Delaware Public Employment Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 4)
5/17 SB 102 Repeals a loophole in wage statutes that was being used to pay workers below the prevailing wage Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
5/17 S J Res 18 A joint resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility". Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 47)
5/17 SF 37 Authorizes Minnesota Voters to Vote On a Constitutional Amendment Providing For Equality Under the Law Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 23)
5/16 S 71 Appropriates State Funds to Provide for Free School Breakfast and Lunch in All K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
5/10 HF 2073 Appropriates State Funding for Free College Tuition and Automatic Admission Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30)
5/10 SB 350 Amends and Reforms the State Permitting Process Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
5/09 SB 75 Authorizes K-12 Schools to Hire more Retired Teachers for Longer Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
5/09 H 126 Establishes New Protections Concerning Biodiversity Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
5/08 HB 261 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
5/06 HB 23-1189 Establishes an Income Tax Credit for Employer Assistance to Employees in Making a Home Purchase Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
5/06 HB 23-1120 Requires Landlords go Through Mediation Before Evicting a Renter Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
5/05 HB 23-1057 Requires All New Government Buildings have Non-Gendered Bathrooms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
5/05 SB 13 Requires the State University System List Costs of Course Materials in its Course Catalog Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
5/04 SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/04 SB 254 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
5/04 SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/04 HB 23-1304 Amends Various Affordable Housing Rules and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/03 HB 1069 Requires State Public K-12 Schools have a Policy Stating it is "False" to Use an Individuals Preferred Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
5/02 SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 SB 23-276 Amends Election Laws Concerning Tribal Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/02 SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 SB 296 Increases State Reimbursement Rates for Room and Board at Assisted-Living Facilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
5/02 SF 563 Appropriates Funding for State Judicial Spending and Requires Courts Obtain Consent of Non-Contract Attorneys Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
5/02 SB 1079 Requires Courts Expunge Records of OWI Convictions if the Sentencing Occurred Before 1998 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)
4/29 SB 2012 Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services Develop a Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Website Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
4/28 SB 2284 Appropriates $6 Million to Provide Low-Income K-12 Students Free School Meals Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 4)
4/28 HB 648 Expands Eligibility for State Childcare Scholarship Programs for Low-Income Montana Families Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/28 HB 479 Appropriates $5 Million for Law Enforcement Services on the Flathead Indian Reservation Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
4/27 HB 1474 Establishes State Definitions for Male, Female, Sex, and Scrap Metal Dealer Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 4)
4/27 HB 1522 Requires Students Use the Same Restroom that Aligns with Their Sex at Birth Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 6)
4/27 SB 458 Repeals Legal Recognition of Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex Terms from Montana State Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/26 SB 23-058 Prohibits Age-Related Discrimination in Work Settings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/26 HB 1540 Appropriates $65.6 Million to Reduce Child Care Costs to Young Families Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/26 HB 1627 Authorizes Pretrial Detention for DUI Manslaughter, Fentanyl Trafficking, and Extortion Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
4/26 SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
4/25 SB 355 Amends Commerce Laws Regarding Remote Work Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
4/25 SB 155 Authorizes Homeless Individuals who Committed Misdemeanors to be Deferred to a Specialty Court Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/25 SB 1718 Amends Various State Immigration Laws, Policies, and Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
4/25 SB 82 Restructures Previsions Relating to the Use of Apprentices on Public Works Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/25 SB 82 Restructures Previsions Relating to the Use of Apprentices on Public Works Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/24 SB 7 Prohibits Non-Compete Agreements for Physicians Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
4/21 SB 2360 Prohibits the Display of "Sexually Explicit Material" in Places Where Minors are Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/21 HF 146 Prohibits State Extradition of Minors Seeking Gender Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 30)
4/21 HF 16 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27)
4/20 HB 23-1100 Prohibits Government Participation in Civil Immigration Detention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
4/20 SB 263 Authorizes Affordable Housing Grants to Women Veterans and Survivors of Domestic Abuse Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
4/19 SB 5702 Expands the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Pilot Program Permanently Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
4/19 SB 5599 Authorizes Discretion for Homeless Shelter Reporting of "At-Risk" Youth Seeking Healthcare Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/19 SB 5599 Authorizes Discretion for Homeless Shelter Reporting of "At-Risk" Youth Seeking Healthcare Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/19 HB 889 Expands Legal Protections for Mobile Home Park Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/18 H 89 Establishes Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
4/18 HB 37 Requires DPHHS to Obtain a Warrant Before Relocating a Child From Their Home Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 9)
4/17 SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
4/17 SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
4/17 SB 23-1196 Authorizes Individuals to Seek Legal Remedies for Breaches of the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/17 SB 23-184 Prohibits Landlords from Rejecting a Tenant on Income Grounds Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
4/17 SB 153 Requires the Nevada Department of Corrections Regulate the Security, Supervision, Medical, and Mental Health Treatment of Transgender Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/14 SB 5144 Requires Battery Producers to Implement Battery Stewardship Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 6)

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