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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 15, 2021 | IN | SB 386 | Establishes Refinancing Plans to Retire Coal Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6) |
| Feb. 4, 2021 | WY | HB 30 | Increases Tax Mills to the Utilities Regulated by the Public Service Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Jan. 29, 2021 | WY | SB 16 | Requires the State Public Service Commission Establish a New Net Metering System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| Jan. 21, 2021 | DE | SB 33 | Amends State Clean Energy Standards to Require Renewables Generate 40 Percent of Electricity by 2035 | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| Jan. 4, 2021 | MA | S 2995 | Amends State Climate Goals | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 2) |
| Nov. 17, 2020 | PA | SB 790 | Repeals Certain Oil and Gas Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | S 2484 | Establishes the Office of Clean Energy Equity | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 3367 | Requires Installment of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Common Interest Communities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| June 29, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1215 | Appropriates Funds to Assist Municipalities with Power Outages | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| June 9, 2020 | NY | S 8075 | Amends Tax Law to Include Nuclear Fuel From Ceased Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 17) |
| May 20, 2020 | LA | SB 440 | Limits Environmental Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| March 12, 2020 | ME | LD 1894 | Increases Purchases of Electric School Buses | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 12, 2020 | AL | SB 45 | Amends Criminal Trespassing Penalties Relating to Critical Infrastructure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| March 10, 2020 | SD | SB 151 | Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| March 10, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 2, 2020 | AK | SB 115 | Increases the State Highway Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 5) |
| Feb. 13, 2020 | AZ | HB 2686 | Amends Local Government Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| Dec. 2, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 15) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 18) |
| Oct. 17, 2019 | National | S J Res 53 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations" | Bill Failed - Senate (41 - 53) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 1440 | Amends State Law Concerning Oil and Gas Extraction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| July 17, 2019 | OH | HB 6 | Amends Clean Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2007 | Reduces Number of Diesel Trucks Allowed in Specified Counties | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 582 | Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Rebate Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 18, 2019 | NY | S 6599 | Increases Renewable Energy Goals | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 21) |
| June 12, 2019 | NC | SB 377 | Establishes Restrictions on State Wind Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
| May 29, 2019 | OR | HB 2623 | Establishes Temporary Ban on Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 551 | Amends Oil and Gas Pipeline Facility Decommissioning Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 13, 2019 | NE | LB 155 | Amends Eminent Domain Provisions to Apply to Renewable Energy Generation Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 0) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1298 | Prohibits Drivers of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars and Non-Charging Electric Vehicles to Park in Front of Charging Stations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1298 | Prohibits Drivers of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars and Non-Charging Electric Vehicles to Park in Front of Charging Stations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 2, 2019 | NC | SB 559 | Authorizes Rate Changes to Public Electric Utilities for Storm Recovery Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| May 1, 2019 | OH | SB 33 | Increases Penalties for Infrastructure Protesting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 12, 2019 | WA | HB 1578 | Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 3, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 3, 2019 | IL | HB 2988 | Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| April 2, 2019 | OH | HB 62 | Increases Gas and Diesel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 2, 2019 | MD | SB 516 | Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| March 29, 2019 | MT | SB 331 | Restructures Electric Utility Cost Recovery for Certain Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 28, 2019 | NH | SB 168 | Authorizes Solar Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 26, 2019 | National | S J Res 8 | A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57) |
| March 13, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 8, 2019 | WV | HB 3142 | Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| March 6, 2019 | NM | SB 489 | Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9) |
| March 1, 2019 | WA | SB 5116 | Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | OR | SB 256 | Prohibits Oil and Gas Exploration In Coastal Waters | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | KY | SB 100 | Requires Net Metering for Solar Power | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | NY | S 2316 | Prohibits Offshore Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14) |
| Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | S 678 | Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | S 678 | Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| May 2, 2018 | OK | SB 893 | Amends Taxation of Zero-Emission Facilities | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3723 | Amends Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 2313 | Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| March 7, 2018 | OK | SB 888 | Repeals Wind Industry Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5) |
| March 5, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| March 3, 2018 | WV | HB 4268 | Authorizes Natural Gas Drilling in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | MO | SB 564 | Amends Electrical Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 9, 2018 | VA | SB 966 | Amends Various Utilities Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Nov. 17, 2017 | OK | HB 1085 | Increases Tax Rates on Oil and Gas Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15) |
| May 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 23, 2017 | OR | HB 2482 | Limits Self-Service Fuel Dispensing to Low-Population Counties | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| May 15, 2017 | MN | SF 1937 | Authorizes the Construction and Repair of Statewide Oil Pipelines | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30) |
| May 15, 2017 | MN | SF 1937 | Authorizes the Construction and Repair of Statewide Oil Pipelines | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30) |
| May 11, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| May 9, 2017 | CO | SB 301 | Amends Funds and Regulations for Renewable Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 19, 2017 | TN | HB 534 | Establishes Gas Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| April 19, 2017 | MT | HB 193 | Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to Approve Cost-Tracking Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | HB 473 | Increases Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuels | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | HB 473 | Increases Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuels | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 10, 2017 | IN | SB 309 | Amends Payback Rate for Excess Solar Energy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| March 27, 2017 | MD | HB 1325 | Prohibits Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 27, 2017 | MD | HB 1325 | Prohibits Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| Feb. 2, 2017 | MD | HB 1106 | Increases Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| June 20, 2016 | NC | HB 763 | Prohibits Wind Farms in Certain Military Flight Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| June 6, 2016 | AK | HB 247 | Amends Oil and Gas Tax Credit System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 6) |
| April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 824 | Amends Renewable Energy Development Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SB 623 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 6, 2016 | MD | SB 921 | Increases Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| April 5, 2016 | RI | S 2185 | Extends Renewable Energy Standard Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| March 29, 2016 | CO | SB 157 | Requires Suspension of Clean Power Plan Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 23, 2016 | AK | SB 125 | Amends Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board of Directors | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| March 14, 2016 | NJ | S 1707 | Requires Increased Use of Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 115 | Amends Regulations Regarding Public Electricity | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 2, 2016 | OR | SB 1547 | Prohibits the Use of Coal as an Energy Supply Source | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 2, 2016 | OR | HB 4037 | Establishes Solar Energy Incentives Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 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 | KY | SB 89 | Authorizes Construction of Nuclear Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | NJ | S 988 | Authorizes Qualified Wind Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | National | S 2012 | Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (43 - 54) |
| Nov. 3, 2015 | AK | SB 3001 | Appropriates Funds for Liquid Natural Gas (AKLNG) Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |