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 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 30, 2016 | MS | HB 1523 | Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 24, 2016 | AZ | HB 2451 | Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 23, 2016 | NC | HB 2 | Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| March 22, 2016 | KS | SB 439 | Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 17, 2016 | NE | LB 83 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination in Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 16, 2016 | GA | HB 757 | Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18) |
| March 14, 2016 | National | PN 1152 | Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40) |
| March 14, 2016 | National | PN 1152 | Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40) |
| March 10, 2016 | MO | SJR 39 | Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 8, 2016 | IA | SF 2284 | Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| March 8, 2016 | HI | SB 2615 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| March 7, 2016 | UT | SB 179 | Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9) |
| March 3, 2016 | FL | HB 43 | Authorizes Churches to Decline to Provide Certain Marriage Services | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 3, 2016 | IL | HB 580 | Requires Mediation of Expired State Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| March 3, 2016 | MS | SB 2306 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| March 2, 2016 | UT | SB 107 | Amends Definition of a Hate Crime | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17) |
| March 2, 2016 | IA | SF 2252 | Requires Accommodations for Employees During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 1, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | GA | SB 6 | Establishes Driving Safety Cards for Certain Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | IA | SF 2222 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Dispense Over-the-Counter Birth Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | UT | SJR 2 | Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | FL | SB 250 | Requires Legal Presumption of Equal Time-Sharing for Parental Custody | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | TN | SJR 467 | Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | AZ | SB 1377 | Establishes Criminal Sentencing Requirements for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | AZ | SB 1378 | Prohibits the State Treasurer from Allocating Funds to "Sanctuary Cities" | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | CO | SB 70 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | GA | HB 757 | Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | KY | SB 5 | Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | SD | HB 1008 | Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | WI | SB 533 | Prohibits Local Governments from Issuing Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | VA | SB 41 | Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | OR | SB 1532 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | WA | SB 6443 | Repeals Rule Authorizing Use of Bathrooms Consistent with Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | SB 270 | Requires Cities to Enforce Federal Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | SB 705 | Requires Sanctuary Cities to be Liable for Damages Caused by Undocumented Immigrant | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | UT | SB 59 | Requires Employers Provide Certain Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | IN | SB 220 | Classifies an Offense Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity as Aggravating Circumstance | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 12 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Employment Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 67 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in Housing Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Jan. 26, 2016 | VA | SJ 1 | Authorizes Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | TN | SB 151 | Prohibits Automatic Deduction from Teachers' Paychecks for Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Jan. 19, 2016 | National | PN 367 | Nomination of Wilhelmina Wright to Be U.S. District Judge | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 36) |
| Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
| Sept. 28, 2015 | NC | HB 318 | Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| Sept. 10, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Aug. 19, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 932 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| June 25, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| June 25, 2015 | OR | SB 932 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| June 16, 2015 | DE | HB 115 | Authorizes Individuals to Change Name Based on Gender-Related Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5) |
| June 11, 2015 | RI | H 5074 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| June 3, 2015 | AL | SB 71 | Increases Cumulative Cap on Tax Credits Available for Scholarship Donations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 14) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 548 | Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 548 | Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 4 | Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| June 1, 2015 | NC | SB 2 | Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 30, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| May 29, 2015 | CT | HB 6844 | Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| May 20, 2015 | CT | SB 1090 | Expands Tribal Gaming Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| May 12, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 12, 2015 | TX | SB 2065 | Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| May 7, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| May 7, 2015 | TX | SB 1968 | Prohibits Wage Deductions for State Employee Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |