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 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1251 | Authorizes Enrollee not to Pay Out-of-Network Amount Except Applicable Cost-sharing Requirement | (40 - 0) |
| March 5, 2020 | NJ | S 864 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| March 3, 2020 | SD | SB 146 | Authorizes Tribal Identification Cards for Commerce Related Purposes | Bill Passed - House (46 - 17) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | KY | HB 32 | Establishes a Tax on Vaping Products and Increases Taxes on Other Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (75 - 17) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | UT | HB 243 | Requires Warning Labels on Pornography | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| Feb. 3, 2020 | IN | SB 438 | Establishes Regulations for Pesticides | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| Feb. 3, 2020 | IN | HB 1414 | Requires Notification from Utility Companies Prior to Closure of Energy Plant | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
| Jan. 29, 2020 | National | HR 3621 | Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2020 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 189) |
| Jan. 29, 2020 | FL | HB 1189 | Prohibits Genetic Information Usage by Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - House (117 - 1) |
| Jan. 27, 2020 | VA | HB 10 | Establishes Rules for Student Loan Lenders | Bill Passed - House (84 - 15) |
| Jan. 27, 2020 | CA | AB 979 | Requires Corporations to Have Directors From Under-Represented Groups | Bill Passed - House (73 - 0) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | GA | HB 276 | Establishes an Online Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | GA | HB 276 | Establishes an Online Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - House (111 - 54) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | National | HR 5430 | United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 10) |
| Jan. 16, 2020 | National | H J Res 76 | Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to "Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability" | Bill Passed - House (231 - 180) |
| Jan. 14, 2020 | TN | HB 836 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| Jan. 9, 2020 | NH | HB 102 | Authorizes Municipalities to Regulate Single-Use Bags | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (215 - 151) |
| Jan. 8, 2020 | NH | SB 248 | Increases the Age for Sales of Tobacco Products | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
| Dec. 19, 2019 | National | HR 5430 | United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - House (385 - 41) |
| Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 4260 | Prohibits the Sale of Certain Toy Guns or Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (54 - 19) |
| Dec. 11, 2019 | OH | HB 242 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Fees on Plastic Bags in Stores | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - House (135 - 49) |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | National | HR 5084 | Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (281 - 135) |
| Nov. 15, 2019 | National | HR 4863 | United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 184) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | MA | H 4183 | Prohibits Flavored Tobacco and Vaping Products, Including Menthol Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (127 - 31) |
| Oct. 31, 2019 | NC | SB 578 | Reduces the Corporate Tax Rate and Establishes the Film and Entertainment Grant Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 1864 | Prohibits Use of Vaping Devices in Public Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 11) |
| Oct. 22, 2019 | National | HR 2513 | Corporate Transparency Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (249 - 173) |
| Oct. 18, 2019 | National | HR 3624 | Outsourcing Accountability Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (226 - 184) |
| Sept. 25, 2019 | PA | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6) |
| Sept. 20, 2019 | National | HR 1423 | Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (FAIR Act) | Bill Passed - House (225 - 186) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 857 | Authorizes Cities and Counties to Establish Public Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| July 24, 2019 | National | HR 397 | Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 169) |
| June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2270 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Increase Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 5385 | Increases Licensing and Tax Requirements for Vape Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 23) |
| June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 5385 | Increases Licensing and Tax Requirements for Vape Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| June 27, 2019 | DE | HB 79 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| June 20, 2019 | DE | HB 79 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (28 - 11) |
| June 20, 2019 | OR | HB 2270 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Increase Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| June 19, 2019 | ME | LD 1028 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| June 19, 2019 | ME | LD 1028 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (86 - 49) |
| June 17, 2019 | NC | HB 389 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales at Public College Sporting Events | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| June 17, 2019 | NY | S 5575 | Expands Data Protections for New York Residents | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 21) |
| June 11, 2019 | OR | HB 2509 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| June 11, 2019 | NY | S 1637 | Prohibits Possession of Certain Flamethrowers | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13) |
| June 6, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| June 4, 2019 | LA | SB 152 | Establishes Definitions for Meat and Beef | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 1532 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 3, 2019 | LA | SB 152 | Establishes Definitions for Meat and Beef | Bill Passed - House (62 - 29) |
| May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1564 | Authorizes Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
| May 30, 2019 | CA | AB 857 | Authorizes Cities and Counties to Establish Public Banks | Bill Passed - House (41 - 29) |
| May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1532 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (91 - 52) |
| May 29, 2019 | OR | SB 90 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| May 29, 2019 | ME | LD 946 | Prohibits Mobile Carriers from Selling Consumer Data | Bill Passed - House (96 - 45) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
| May 29, 2019 | ME | LD 1564 | Authorizes Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 574 | Requires the Disclosure of Fragrances in Cosmetic Products | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1366 | Extends the Ban on the Regulation of "Internet Protocol Enabled" Services | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 1395 | Requires Technology Companies Receive Consent Prior to Voice Storage and Recordings | Bill Passed - House (44 - 6) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | SB 43 | Establishes the Feasibility and Practicality of Assessing the Carbon Intensity of Retail Products Subject to the Sales and Use Tax Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 376 | Establishes a Student Loan Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
| May 24, 2019 | MI | SB 1 | Reduces Premium Amount Required for No-Fault Auto Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - House (52 - 16) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 161 | Prohibits Paper Receipts | Bill Passed - House (43 - 24) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 392 | Amends Safer Consumer Products Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| May 22, 2019 | NV | SB 201 | Requires the Creation of a Loan Database | Bill Passed - House (28 - 12) |
| May 22, 2019 | National | HR 1500 | Consumers First Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| May 22, 2019 | National | HR 1500 | Consumers First Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 191) |
| May 21, 2019 | TX | SB 1978 | Prohibits Government Action Against Businesses that Donate to Religious Organizations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| May 21, 2019 | IL | SB 241 | Prohibits Use of Animal Testing on Manufacturer Products Sold in the State | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 58 | Authorizes Bars to Remain Open Until 3 AM | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 20, 2019 | MN | HF 400 | Establishes an Opiate Product Registration Fee and the Opiate Epidemic Response Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 25) |