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
Jan. 22, 2021 National PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
Jan. 22, 2021 VA SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Jan. 20, 2021 National PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
Jan. 14, 2021 DE SCR 3 Extends Congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
Jan. 12, 2021 WI AB 1 Expands State Medicaid to Ensure Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations (29 - 2)
Jan. 11, 2021 IL HB 2451 Increases the Annual Cost of Living for Retired Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 14)
Jan. 11, 2021 IL HB 2275 Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
Jan. 11, 2021 NJ SR 106 Establishes Disapproval of Events of January 6 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Jan. 11, 2021 NJ SR 106 Establishes Disapproval of Events of January 6 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY SB 1 Establishes a 30 Day Expiration Date on Executive Orders Restricting In Person Meetings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 5 Limits the Governor's Ability to Reorganize Executive Cabinets, Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Dec. 28, 2020 NY S 9114 Establishes Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Protections Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
Dec. 21, 2020 OR HB 4401 Requires Distribution of Unpaid Rent During State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
Dec. 18, 2020 MI SB 748 Extends Unemployment Benefits Through March Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Dec. 11, 2020 National HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
Nov. 16, 2020 NJ A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Oct. 26, 2020 National PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
Oct. 25, 2020 National PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
Oct. 22, 2020 LA HB 43 Establishes Guidelines for Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
Oct. 8, 2020 MI SB 1094 Prohibits Nursing Homes from Admitting or Retaining Coronavirus Positive Individuals for Care Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Oct. 8, 2020 MI SB 886 Extends COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Until the End of 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Oct. 5, 2020 PA HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Oct. 1, 2020 National S 4653 A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
Sept. 24, 2020 NJ S 2712 Establishes Minimum Direct Care Staff-to-Resident Ratios in Nursing Homes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Sept. 2, 2020 NC HB 1105 Appropriates COVID Relief Checks to Parents Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Sept. 2, 2020 MO HB 2 Amends the Admissibility of Certain Witness Statements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA SB 132 Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 1869 Repeals Certain Judicial Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 1876 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrant Workers to Qualify for State Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Aug. 30, 2020 CA SB 973 Requires Employers to Submit Annual Pay Data Report Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Aug. 30, 2020 CA AB 826 Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Aug. 29, 2020 CA AB 2405 Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 4476 Establishes a Long-Term Care Emergency Operations Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Aug. 27, 2020 NJ A 1263 Prohibits Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Policy Arrangements Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Aug. 26, 2020 VA SB 5032 Repeals the 6-Month Mandatory Minimum Requirement for Assaulting Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 10, 2020 OR SB 1701 Authorizes Unemployment Benefits for Employees Working Less than Full-Time Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
Aug. 2, 2020 NV SB 1 Authorizes Courts to Grant a Stay on Certain Evictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
July 30, 2020 NJ S 2380 Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
July 30, 2020 NJ ACR 188 Establishes Referendum to Delay Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 30, 2020 NJ S 419 Requires Cultural Diversity Training for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
July 23, 2020 National S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
July 22, 2020 NY A 5045 Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
July 21, 2020 NY A 6710 Requires Incarcerated Parents to Be Placed at Facilities Closest to Their Children's Home Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11)
July 16, 2020 RI H 7541 Establishes the "Uniform Parentage Act" Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/22 PN 78-1 Nomination of Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (93 - 2)
1/22 SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
1/20 PN 78-10 Nomination of Avril Haines as the Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (84 - 10)
1/14 SCR 3 Extends Congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
1/12 AB 1 Expands State Medicaid to Ensure Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations (29 - 2)
1/11 HB 2451 Increases the Annual Cost of Living for Retired Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 14)
1/11 HB 2275 Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
1/11 SR 106 Establishes Disapproval of Events of January 6 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
1/11 SR 106 Establishes Disapproval of Events of January 6 Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
1/09 SB 1 Establishes a 30 Day Expiration Date on Executive Orders Restricting In Person Meetings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
1/09 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
1/09 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
1/09 HB 5 Limits the Governor's Ability to Reorganize Executive Cabinets, Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
12/28 S 9114 Establishes Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Protections Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
12/21 HB 4401 Requires Distribution of Unpaid Rent During State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
12/18 SB 748 Extends Unemployment Benefits Through March Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
12/11 HR 6395 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13)
11/16 A 1649 Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
10/26 PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
10/25 PN 2252 Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
10/22 HB 43 Establishes Guidelines for Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
10/08 SB 1094 Prohibits Nursing Homes from Admitting or Retaining Coronavirus Positive Individuals for Care Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
10/08 SB 886 Extends COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Until the End of 2020 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
10/05 HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
10/02 SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
10/01 S 4653 A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43)
9/25 HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
9/24 S 2712 Establishes Minimum Direct Care Staff-to-Resident Ratios in Nursing Homes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
9/02 HB 1105 Appropriates COVID Relief Checks to Parents Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
9/02 HB 2 Amends the Admissibility of Certain Witness Statements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
8/31 SB 132 Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
8/31 AB 1869 Repeals Certain Judicial Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
8/31 AB 1876 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrant Workers to Qualify for State Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
8/30 SB 973 Requires Employers to Submit Annual Pay Data Report Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
8/30 AB 826 Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
8/29 AB 2405 Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
8/27 A 4476 Establishes a Long-Term Care Emergency Operations Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
8/27 A 1263 Prohibits Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Policy Arrangements Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
8/26 SB 5032 Repeals the 6-Month Mandatory Minimum Requirement for Assaulting Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/10 SB 1701 Authorizes Unemployment Benefits for Employees Working Less than Full-Time Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
8/02 SB 1 Authorizes Courts to Grant a Stay on Certain Evictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
7/30 S 2380 Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
7/30 ACR 188 Establishes Referendum to Delay Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/30 S 419 Requires Cultural Diversity Training for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
7/23 S 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 14)
7/22 A 5045 Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
7/21 A 6710 Requires Incarcerated Parents to Be Placed at Facilities Closest to Their Children's Home Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11)
7/16 H 7541 Establishes the "Uniform Parentage Act" Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
7/15 SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
7/15 SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)

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