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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 8, 2016 | MD | SB 1112 | Establishes Tax Credit for Certain Aerospace Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SB 623 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 16, 2016 | MD | SB 706 | Establishes Education Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
| March 2, 2016 | WV | SB 705 | Reduces Severance Tax Rate on Oil, Natural Gas and Coal Production | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 1, 2016 | SD | HB 1182 | Increases Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | SD | SB 159 | Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | AZ | SB 1402 | Amends Tax Rate for Property Belonging to Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Dec. 18, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
| Sept. 15, 2015 | AL | HB 3 | Increases Cigarette Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Sept. 15, 2015 | AL | HB 8 | Amends Budget for the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
| June 24, 2015 | NH | HB 550 | Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| May 5, 2015 | HI | HB 134 | Authorizes Rail Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
| May 4, 2015 | MN | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
| April 23, 2015 | ND | HB 1476 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 17, 2015 | AK | HB 158 | Establishes Refined Fuel Surcharge | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| April 13, 2015 | NE | LB 610 | Increases Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
| April 10, 2015 | ID | H 312 | Increases Gas Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 7, 2015 | ID | H 312 | Increases Gax Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 2, 2015 | GA | HB 202 | Establishes Vehicle Manufacturer Headquarter License Plates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 22) |
| March 31, 2015 | AR | HB 1402 | Amends Income Tax Applicable to Capital Gains | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| March 31, 2015 | MT | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| March 30, 2015 | ND | HB 1437 | Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| March 25, 2015 | CO | SB 45 | Establishes Tax Credits for Private School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 24, 2015 | KY | HB 299 | Increases Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 9) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 19, 2015 | NY | S 3709 | Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15) |
| March 12, 2015 | UT | HB 362 | Amends Motor Fuel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 12, 2015 | ID | H 75 | Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 2, 2015 | WA | SB 5987 | Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | ND | SB 2223 | Exempts Certain Clothing from Sales Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
| Feb. 14, 2015 | MT | SB 200 | Restructures Income Tax Brackets | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | NC | SB 20 | Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Dec. 19, 2014 | MI | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 3, 2014 | OH | HB 5 | Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Nov. 13, 2014 | MI | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 23, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| Sept. 10, 2014 | MO | SB 841 | Establishes Regulations for Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Products | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| Aug. 1, 2014 | NC | HB 1224 | Amends Sales Tax Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| July 30, 2014 | National | S 2569 | Bring Jobs Home Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
| July 24, 2014 | NC | HB 1224 | Amends Sales Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| July 8, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| July 1, 2014 | PA | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/08 | SB 1112 | Establishes Tax Credit for Certain Aerospace Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 4/06 | SB 623 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 3/16 | SB 706 | Establishes Education Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
| 3/02 | SB 705 | Reduces Severance Tax Rate on Oil, Natural Gas and Coal Production | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 3/01 | HB 1182 | Increases Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 2/24 | SB 159 | Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 2/22 | SB 1402 | Amends Tax Rate for Property Belonging to Institutions of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 1/21 | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 12/18 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
| 10/01 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
| 9/15 | HB 3 | Increases Cigarette Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 9/15 | HB 8 | Amends Budget for the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| 7/03 | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
| 6/24 | HB 550 | Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 5/05 | HB 134 | Authorizes Rail Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 5/04 | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
| 4/23 | HB 1476 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 4/17 | HB 158 | Establishes Refined Fuel Surcharge | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| 4/13 | LB 610 | Increases Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
| 4/10 | H 312 | Increases Gas Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 4/07 | H 312 | Increases Gax Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 4/02 | HB 202 | Establishes Vehicle Manufacturer Headquarter License Plates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 22) |
| 3/31 | HB 1402 | Amends Income Tax Applicable to Capital Gains | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 3/31 | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 3/30 | HB 1437 | Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 3/25 | SB 45 | Establishes Tax Credits for Private School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/24 | HB 299 | Increases Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 3/24 | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 3/19 | S 3709 | Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15) |
| 3/12 | HB 362 | Amends Motor Fuel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 3/12 | H 75 | Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/02 | SB 5987 | Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 2/24 | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 2/16 | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 2/16 | SB 2223 | Exempts Certain Clothing from Sales Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
| 2/14 | SB 200 | Restructures Income Tax Brackets | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| 2/12 | SB 20 | Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 12/19 | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/03 | HB 5 | Amends Municipal Income Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 11/13 | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 10/23 | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 9/23 | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 9/10 | SB 841 | Establishes Regulations for Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Products | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| 8/01 | HB 1224 | Amends Sales Tax Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 7/30 | S 2569 | Bring Jobs Home Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
| 7/29 | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
| 7/29 | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
| 7/24 | HB 1224 | Amends Sales Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| 7/08 | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| 7/01 | HB 1177 | Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |