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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2015 | PA | SB 644 | Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| May 6, 2015 | PA | SB 645 | Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| May 5, 2015 | HI | HB 631 | Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 4, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 23, 2015 | National | PN 4 | Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| April 16, 2015 | TN | SB 612 | Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| April 15, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 15, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| April 14, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 14, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| April 14, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| April 7, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| April 7, 2015 | TX | SB 267 | Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| April 6, 2015 | ND | HB 1181 | Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 6, 2015 | ND | HB 1181 | Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 3, 2015 | NV | SB 193 | Increases Minimum Wage and Amends Overtime Definition | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| April 2, 2015 | IN | SB 50 | Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 2, 2015 | KS | HB 2258 | Amends Social Service Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 31, 2015 | AL | SB 71 | Increases Cumulative Cap on Tax Credits Available for Scholarship Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 26, 2015 | OK | HB 1749 | Prohibits Payroll Deductions for Public Employee Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 16) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 743 | Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 416 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| March 17, 2015 | IA | SF 334 | Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| March 12, 2015 | AR | HB 1489 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 261 | Increases Minimum Wage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 11, 2015 | OK | SJR 4 | Requests Constitutional Convention | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| March 6, 2015 | UT | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| March 5, 2015 | GA | SB 129 | Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| March 5, 2015 | AZ | SB 1222 | Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 3, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 27, 2015 | KY | SB 76 | Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MN | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MT | SB 262 | Establishes Water Rights Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | NC | SB 2 | Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | WI | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | UT | SB 164 | Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 269 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 18, 2015 | SD | SB 177 | Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 17, 2015 | ND | SB 2279 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | CO | SB 77 | Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | MS | SB 2695 | Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | WY | SF 115 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | NJ | S 866 | Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | IL | SB 11 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| Feb. 3, 2015 | VA | SB 785 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| Jan. 27, 2015 | CO | SB 52 | Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Jan. 20, 2015 | VA | SB 722 | Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20) |
| Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | SCR 125 | Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | SCR 125 | Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Aug. 11, 2014 | FL | SB 2-A | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| July 30, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1004 | Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 19, 2014 | RI | H 7194A | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| June 12, 2014 | MA | S 2123 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4) |
| June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 935 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1253 | Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| May 22, 2014 | IL | SJRCA 75 | Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
| May 16, 2014 | MO | HJR 72 | Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4) |