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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 10, 2018 | National | PN 1803 | Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury | Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 43) |
| Dec. 6, 2018 | National | PN 2170 | Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection | (50 - 49) |
| Nov. 29, 2018 | National | PN 2170 | Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 4495 | Increases Corporate Business Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 4495 | Increases Corporate Business Tax | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 4496 | Amends Sales Tax Regulations | Bill Passed - House (43 - 35) |
| July 24, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 24) |
| July 19, 2018 | MA | S 2599 | Requires Licensure and Oversight of "Bodyworks" Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| July 19, 2018 | National | H Con Res 119 | Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. | Bill Passed - House (229 - 180) |
| July 10, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | A 1753 | Requires Sales Tax on Transient Accommodations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 29) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | A 1753 | Requires Sales Tax on Transient Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 1, 2018 | NJ | S 822 | Requires Employers and Landlords to Hold Liability Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 220 | Limits Data Breach Liability in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - House (68 - 23) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | A 4132 | Amends Nicotine Taxation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 123 | Amends Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (71 - 17) |
| May 31, 2018 | RI | H 7420 | Prohibits the Rental or Leasing of Pets | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
| May 30, 2018 | CA | SB 930 | Authorizes Cannabis Limited Charter Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 159) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 159) |
| May 16, 2018 | OH | SB 220 | Limits Data Breach Liability in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| May 9, 2018 | National | HR 5645 | Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 185) |
| May 9, 2018 | National | HR 5645 | Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 185) |
| April 26, 2018 | IL | HB 4595 | Establishes the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company | Bill Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| April 13, 2018 | National | HR 4790 | Volcker Rule Regulatory Harmonization Act | Bill Passed - House (300 - 104) |
| April 11, 2018 | National | HR 4293 | Stress Test Improvement Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 174) |
| April 7, 2018 | KS | HB 2482 | Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32) |
| April 4, 2018 | TN | SB 1631 | Prohibits Renting Hotel Rooms for Less than 7 Hours | Bill Failed - House (38 - 45) |
| April 2, 2018 | MD | SB 1068 | Establishes Financial Consumer Protection Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| April 2, 2018 | MD | SB 1068 | Establishes Financial Consumer Protection Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| March 21, 2018 | National | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| March 19, 2018 | MD | SB 877 | Authorizes Corporate Tax Incentives | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
| March 14, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 31) |
| March 14, 2018 | National | S 2155 | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 31) |
| March 12, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 37) |
| March 6, 2018 | National | HR 4607 | Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act | Bill Passed - House (246 - 143) |
| March 3, 2018 | OR | HB 4007 | Establishes Tax Sheltered Home Buyer Savings Accounts and Increases Document-Recording Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | National | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 25) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | KS | SB 405 | Authorizes Confined Feeding Facilities Within City Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | NM | HB 79 | Authorizes Sale of Goods Without Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | National | HR 620 | ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (225 - 192) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | VT | S 40 | Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 14, 2018 | NM | SB 19 | Amends Guardianship Laws | Bill Passed - House (63 - 0) |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | GA | SB 17 | Authorizes Restaurants to Sell Alcohol Earlier on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 18) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | VA | SB 966 | Amends Various Utilities Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | SC | H 3529 | Prohibits Local Regulations on Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
| Feb. 6, 2018 | National | HR 772 | Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (266 - 157) |
| Feb. 5, 2018 | MS | SB 2929 | Amends Definition of Guaranteed Asset Protection Waivers | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
| Feb. 2, 2018 | VT | S 289 | Requires Internet Providers Compliance with State Net Neutrality Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| Jan. 31, 2018 | MS | SB 2570 | Prohibits Government Bans on Storage Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Jan. 31, 2018 | MS | HB 415 | Amends Alcoholic Beverage Regulations | (86 - 26) |
| Jan. 17, 2018 | National | HR 3326 | World Bank Accountability Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 184) |
| Jan. 12, 2018 | FL | HB 13 | Prohibits Sport Franchises from Building on Publicly Owned Land | Bill Passed - House (75 - 27) |
| Jan. 10, 2018 | National | S 140 | An Act to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund | Bill Passed - House (239 - 173) |
| Dec. 14, 2017 | National | HR 4324 | Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act | Bill Passed - House (252 - 167) |
| Dec. 1, 2017 | National | HR 1699 | Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 163) |
| Oct. 24, 2017 | National | H J Res 111 | Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Arbitration Agreements" | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| Oct. 11, 2017 | OH | HB 226 | Authorizes Discharging Fireworks in Ohio | Bill Passed - House (83 - 14) |
| July 25, 2017 | National | H J Res 111 | Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Arbitration Agreements" | Bill Passed - House (231 - 190) |
| July 6, 2017 | OR | SB 754 | Raises Tobacco Sales Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| July 6, 2017 | OR | SB 754 | Raises Tobacco Sales Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| June 30, 2017 | WA | SB 5975 | Establishes Paid Family Leave Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (65 - 29) |
| June 30, 2017 | WA | SB 5975 | Establishes Paid Family Leave Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| June 29, 2017 | DE | HB 190 | Authorizes Commercial Activity in State-Designated Coastal Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 2) |
| June 20, 2017 | DE | HB 190 | Authorizes Commercial Activity in State-Designated Coastal Zones | Bill Passed - House (34 - 7) |
| June 8, 2017 | NJ | A 1119 | Prohibits Sale of Certain Toy Guns and Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (57 - 16) |
| June 8, 2017 | National | HR 10 | Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 186) |
| June 7, 2017 | ME | LD 56 | Authorizes Refunds for 50-Milliliter Bottles of Wine and Spirits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| June 7, 2017 | LA | HB 598 | Increases Gas Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| June 6, 2017 | KS | SB 30 | Establishes Tax Provisions | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 31) |
| June 6, 2017 | KS | SB 30 | Establishes Tax Provisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| June 6, 2017 | ME | LD 56 | Authorizes Refunds for 50-Milliliter Bottles of Wine and Spirits | Veto Override Passed - House (114 - 31) |
| June 1, 2017 | NC | SB 155 | Authorizes Sunday Morning Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 1351 | Establishes Laws Governing Student Loan Servicers | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
| May 26, 2017 | OK | SB 845 | Establishes a Fee for Cigarette Purchases | Bill Passed - House (51 - 43) |
| May 24, 2017 | OK | SB 845 | Establishes a Fee for Cigarette Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| May 17, 2017 | IL | SB 7 | Establishes Gambling Industry Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| May 11, 2017 | National | PN 42 | Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative | (82 - 14) |
| May 11, 2017 | National | PN 42 | Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative | Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15) |
| May 10, 2017 | IL | SB 1351 | Establishes Laws Governing Student Loan Servicers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| May 9, 2017 | ME | LD 56 | Authorizes Refunds for 50-Milliliter Bottles of Wine and Spirits | Bill Passed - House (111 - 34) |
| May 2, 2017 | National | PN 47 | Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| May 2, 2017 | WI | AB 25 | Authorizes Minors Over Age 16 to Work without Permits | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| May 1, 2017 | National | PN 47 | Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36) |
| May 1, 2017 | OR | SB 95 | Establishes Penalties for Exploiting the Elderly or Disabled | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| April 28, 2017 | TX | HB 28 | Establishes Standards for Determining Adjusted Franchise Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (96 - 39) |
| April 26, 2017 | FL | SB 106 | Revises Provisions on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| April 21, 2017 | IN | HB 1496 | Prohibits Sale of Certain Alcohol at Convenience Stores | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 14) |
| April 18, 2017 | IA | SF 489 | Authorizes the Sale of Consumer Fireworks | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| April 17, 2017 | AZ | SB 1406 | Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 12, 2017 | CO | SB 192 | Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| April 12, 2017 | CT | HB 5730 | Authorizes Automated Beer and Wine Dispensers | Bill Passed - House (129 - 19) |
| April 11, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Bill Passed - House (65 - 65) |
| April 11, 2017 | WA | HB 1493 | Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| April 7, 2017 | KS | SB 70 | Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| March 30, 2017 | NC | HB 142 | Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| March 30, 2017 | MT | SB 354 | Raises Cigarette Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 28, 2017 | AZ | SB 1122 | Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks | Bill Passed - House (32 - 23) |
| March 23, 2017 | ID | H 139 | Reduces the Number of Training Hours Required for Cosmetologists | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |