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) |
| June 12, 2014 | MA | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| June 12, 2014 | MI | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 20) |
| June 11, 2014 | National | S 2432 | Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 1372 | Amends the Corporate Tax Rate | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 22, 2014 | OK | HB 2562 | Restructures the Tax Rate for Oil and Gas Production | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
| May 5, 2014 | MO | SB 509 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| May 2, 2014 | CT | SB 455 | Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| April 30, 2014 | CO | HB 1269 | Requires Certain Retailers to Collect Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 29, 2014 | MO | HJR 68 | Increases Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 22, 2014 | OK | HB 2508 | Reduces Individual and Corporate Income Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| April 20, 2014 | AK | HB 287 | Authorizes Tax Credits for In-State Oil Refineries | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| April 17, 2014 | MO | SB 841 | Establishes Regulations for Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 10, 2014 | DE | HB 265 | Increases Certain Business Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| April 8, 2014 | IL | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
| April 1, 2014 | MO | SB 509 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| March 27, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| March 27, 2014 | IA | HF 2438 | Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 27, 2014 | NH | SB 367 | Amends Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| March 21, 2014 | MN | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| March 20, 2014 | GA | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13) |
| March 20, 2014 | MD | HB 739 | Amends Estate Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 19, 2014 | SC | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 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) |
| 6/12 | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 6/12 | HB 5477 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 20) |
| 6/11 | S 2432 | Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 38) |
| 5/28 | SB 1372 | Amends the Corporate Tax Rate | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 5/22 | HB 2562 | Restructures the Tax Rate for Oil and Gas Production | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
| 5/05 | SB 509 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 5/02 | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| 5/02 | SB 455 | Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 4/30 | HB 1269 | Requires Certain Retailers to Collect Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/29 | HJR 68 | Increases Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 4/22 | HB 2508 | Reduces Individual and Corporate Income Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 4/20 | HB 287 | Authorizes Tax Credits for In-State Oil Refineries | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| 4/17 | SB 841 | Establishes Regulations for Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 4/10 | HB 265 | Increases Certain Business Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| 4/08 | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
| 4/05 | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
| 4/01 | SB 509 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 3/27 | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| 3/27 | HF 2438 | Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 3/27 | SB 367 | Amends Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| 3/21 | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| 3/20 | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13) |
| 3/20 | HB 739 | Amends Estate Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 3/19 | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
| 3/13 | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 12) |