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
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)

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