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 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes Family and Medical Leave | Bill Passed - House (70 - 59) |
| March 5, 2020 | National | HR 1140 | Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act | Bill Passed - House (230 - 171) |
| March 4, 2020 | WA | SB 6205 | Prohibits Harassment, Abuse, and Discrimination Towards Long-Term Care Workers | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| March 4, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1044 | Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 6037 | Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
| March 3, 2020 | SD | SB 147 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 6261 | Expands Farm Labor Contractor System | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| March 3, 2020 | SD | SB 147 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| March 3, 2020 | HI | HB 2541 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 2) |
| Feb. 28, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1048 | Establishes the CROWN Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 28, 2020 | MD | HB 14 | Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees | Bill Passed - House (99 - 37) |
| Feb. 27, 2020 | MO | HB 1559 | Authorizes for State Minimum Wage Exemption for Private School Employees | Bill Passed - House (94 - 53) |
| Feb. 25, 2020 | SD | SB 147 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Feb. 25, 2020 | SD | SB 147 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Feb. 21, 2020 | ID | S 1318 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On Criminal History Background | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 20, 2020 | NM | HB 21 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Feb. 20, 2020 | VT | H 568 | Repeals Prohibitions on Sex Work | Bill Passed - House (126 - 19) |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | NM | HB 364 | Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | NM | HB 364 | Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1044 | Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers | Bill Passed - House (42 - 21) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1153 | Authorizes the State Employee's Union to Collectively Bargain with the State | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | WA | SB 6261 | Expands Farm Labor Contractor System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | NM | HB 364 | Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (43 - 25) |
| Feb. 18, 2020 | NM | HB 364 | Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (43 - 25) |
| Feb. 13, 2020 | WA | HB 2614 | Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Feb. 13, 2020 | WA | HB 2614 | Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Feb. 12, 2020 | AZ | SB 1160 | Increases Cancer Coverage for Firefighters | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| Feb. 12, 2020 | OH | HB 308 | Establishes Workers' Compensation for First Responders with PTSD | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| Feb. 11, 2020 | VA | SB 481 | Requires Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1048 | Establishes the CROWN Act | Bill Passed - House (42 - 21) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | National | HR 2474 | Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (224 - 194) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | National | HR 2474 | Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (224 - 194) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 582 | Amends State Collective Bargaining Laws Relating to Right to Work Protections | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 827 | Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| Feb. 5, 2020 | RI | S 2147 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
| Feb. 4, 2020 | IN | SB 342 | Establishes Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Jan. 31, 2020 | KY | HB 168 | Requires Legislative Ethics Commission to Review Sexual Harassment Complaints | Bill Passed - House (85 - 0) |
| Jan. 24, 2020 | WA | SB 6037 | Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| Jan. 23, 2020 | CA | AB 323 | Establishes the Save Local Journalism Act | Bill Passed - House (77 - 0) |
| Jan. 15, 2020 | National | HR 1230 | Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act | Bill Passed - House (261 - 155) |
| Jan. 8, 2020 | NH | HB 506 | Authorizes Employees Time to Vote | Bill Passed - House (186 - 173) |
| Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | HB 1477 | Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts | Bill Passed - House (193 - 4) |
| Dec. 11, 2019 | National | HR 5038 | Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (260 - 165) |
| Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | S 761 | Establishes Inmate Re-Entry Plans | Bill Passed - House (55 - 16) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | National | HR 1309 | Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act | Bill Passed - House (251 - 158) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | IL | SB 1784 | Amends Labor Union Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 9) |
| Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 1784 | Amends Labor Union Regulations | Bill Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| Oct. 18, 2019 | National | HR 3624 | Outsourcing Accountability Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (226 - 184) |
| Sept. 26, 2019 | National | PN 1099 | Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor | (53 - 44) |
| Sept. 25, 2019 | National | PN 1099 | Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 16) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 16) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 142 | Requires Additional Lactation Accommodations for Employees | Bill Passed - House (57 - 13) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 51 | Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| July 24, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| July 24, 2019 | National | HR 397 | Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (264 - 169) |
| July 22, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| July 18, 2019 | National | HR 582 | Raise the Wage Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 199) |
| July 17, 2019 | OH | HB 80 | Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9) |
| June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2005 | Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 27, 2019 | NH | SB 10 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Conference Report Adopted - House (207 - 143) |
| June 25, 2019 | NJ | S 761 | Establishes Inmate Re-Entry Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| June 21, 2019 | NY | S 4573 | Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment | Bill Passed - House (106 - 30) |
| June 20, 2019 | NY | S 5248 | Prohibits Class-Based Wage Differentials | Bill Passed - House (138 - 9) |
| June 20, 2019 | OR | HB 2005 | Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1451 | Requires Public Employers to Provide Bargaining Agents Access to Certain Member Information and Other Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1451 | Requires Public Employers to Provide Bargaining Agents Access to Certain Member Information and Other Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 17, 2019 | CA | SB 83 | Increases State Paid Family Leave Benefits from 6 to 8 Weeks | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| June 17, 2019 | ME | LD 1451 | Requires Public Employers to Provide Bargaining Agents Access to Certain Member Information and Other Rights | Bill Passed - House (87 - 57) |
| June 17, 2019 | ME | LD 1451 | Requires Public Employers to Provide Bargaining Agents Access to Certain Member Information and Other Rights | Bill Passed - House (87 - 57) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1412 | Amends the Laws Governing the Collective Bargaining Rights of Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1412 | Amends the Laws Governing the Collective Bargaining Rights of Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1529 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees Sign Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 6, 2019 | OR | HB 2016 | Establishes a Worker's Right to Participate in Labor Unions | (17 - 11) |
| June 6, 2019 | ME | LD 1620 | Exempts Certain Salary or Wage Increases From a Cap on Earnings when Calculating Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (86 - 53) |
| June 6, 2019 | ME | LD 1620 | Exempts Certain Salary or Wage Increases From a Cap on Earnings when Calculating Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (86 - 53) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 2 | Increases the Amount of Funds Allocated for Job Training | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (207 - 140) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 235 | Establishes a Human Resources Office to Investigate Sexual Harassment Complaints in Legislature | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (207 - 139) |
| June 5, 2019 | OH | HB 80 | Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 1620 | Exempts Certain Salary or Wage Increases From a Cap on Earnings when Calculating Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 1386 | Expands the Definition of Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 1620 | Exempts Certain Salary or Wage Increases From a Cap on Earnings when Calculating Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 31, 2019 | NV | AB 456 | Increases The State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| May 31, 2019 | CT | SB 1 | Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave | Bill Passed - House (79 - 69) |
| May 30, 2019 | AL | HB 225 | Prohibits Pay Discrimination Based on Sex and Race | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| May 30, 2019 | OR | SB 1049 | Reduces State Public Pension Liability Costs | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1564 | Authorizes Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 19) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13) |
| May 29, 2019 | ME | LD 1564 | Authorizes Project Labor Agreements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
| May 28, 2019 | NV | AB 456 | Increases The State Minimum Wage | (28 - 12) |
| May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2756 | Amends Minimum Wage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 24, 2019 | AZ | HB 2756 | Amends Minimum Wage Regulations | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |