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 21, 2020 PA HB 2388 Establishes Exemption Waivers for Business Closures Due to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (113 - 89)
April 21, 2020 PA HB 1822 Extends Workplace Protections Related to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (105 - 97)
March 28, 2020 AK SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
March 26, 2020 KY SB 150 Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0)
March 25, 2020 PA SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 25, 2020 PA HB 68 Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 22, 2020 AK HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
March 18, 2020 MD HB 1663 Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3)
March 18, 2020 MS HB 1647 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Grant Administrative Leave with Pay In Case of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
March 18, 2020 NY S 8091 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 6)
March 17, 2020 KS SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
March 17, 2020 MD HB 14 Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 17, 2020 ID S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
March 16, 2020 NJ A 3847 Amends Paid Leave Laws for Local Government Employees Who Test Positive for COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (56 - 4)
March 16, 2020 MD HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 13, 2020 MD HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - House (98 - 36)
March 12, 2020 FL SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 12, 2020 NH HB 712 Establishes a System of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 12, 2020 MS SB 2522 Requires Employers to Pay Employees the Same Wage Regardless of Sex Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
March 11, 2020 FL SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Bill Passed - House (73 - 45)
March 9, 2020 MS SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 395 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
March 5, 2020 SD SB 186 Establishes Paid Family Leave Policies for State Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
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 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. 18, 2020 WA SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
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 OH HB 308 Establishes Workers' Compensation for First Responders with PTSD Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
Feb. 12, 2020 AZ SB 1160 Increases Cancer Coverage for Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
Feb. 11, 2020 CO HB 20-1048 Establishes the CROWN Act Bill Passed - House (42 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2020 VA SB 481 Requires Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2020 VA HB 827 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (66 - 31)
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 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. 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)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/21 HB 2388 Establishes Exemption Waivers for Business Closures Due to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (113 - 89)
4/21 HB 1822 Extends Workplace Protections Related to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (105 - 97)
3/28 SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
3/26 SB 150 Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0)
3/25 SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/25 HB 68 Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/22 HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
3/18 HB 1663 Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3)
3/18 HB 1647 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Grant Administrative Leave with Pay In Case of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
3/18 S 8091 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 6)
3/17 SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
3/17 HB 14 Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/17 S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
3/16 A 3847 Amends Paid Leave Laws for Local Government Employees Who Test Positive for COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (56 - 4)
3/16 HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/13 HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - House (98 - 36)
3/12 SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/12 HB 712 Establishes a System of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/12 SB 2522 Requires Employers to Pay Employees the Same Wage Regardless of Sex Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
3/11 SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Bill Passed - House (73 - 45)
3/09 SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
3/07 HB 395 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
3/05 SB 186 Establishes Paid Family Leave Policies for State Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
3/05 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/05 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/05 HF 5 Establishes Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - House (70 - 59)
3/05 HR 1140 Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 171)
3/04 SB 6205 Prohibits Harassment, Abuse, and Discrimination Towards Long-Term Care Workers Bill Passed - House (74 - 23)
3/04 HB 20-1044 Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/03 SB 6037 Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
3/03 SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
3/03 SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
3/03 SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
3/03 HB 2541 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (48 - 2)
2/28 HB 20-1048 Establishes the CROWN Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/28 HB 14 Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees Bill Passed - House (99 - 37)
2/27 HB 1559 Authorizes for State Minimum Wage Exemption for Private School Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 53)
2/25 SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/25 SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/21 S 1318 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On Criminal History Background Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/20 HB 21 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/20 H 568 Repeals Prohibitions on Sex Work Bill Passed - House (126 - 19)
2/19 HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
2/19 HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
2/19 HB 20-1044 Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers Bill Passed - House (42 - 21)
2/18 HB 20-1153 Authorizes the State Employee's Union to Collectively Bargain with the State Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
2/18 HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
2/18 HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - House (43 - 25)
2/18 SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/13 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
2/13 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
2/12 HB 308 Establishes Workers' Compensation for First Responders with PTSD Bill Passed - House (74 - 22)
2/12 SB 1160 Increases Cancer Coverage for Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
2/11 HB 20-1048 Establishes the CROWN Act Bill Passed - House (42 - 21)
2/11 SB 481 Requires Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/06 HB 827 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Pregnancy Bill Passed - House (66 - 31)
2/06 HB 582 Amends State Collective Bargaining Laws Relating to Right to Work Protections Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
2/06 HR 2474 Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)
2/06 HR 2474 Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (224 - 194)
2/05 S 2147 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
2/04 SB 342 Establishes Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
1/31 HB 168 Requires Legislative Ethics Commission to Review Sexual Harassment Complaints Bill Passed - House (85 - 0)
1/24 SB 6037 Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
1/23 AB 323 Establishes the Save Local Journalism Act Bill Passed - House (77 - 0)
1/15 HR 1230 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act Bill Passed - House (261 - 155)
1/08 HB 506 Authorizes Employees Time to Vote Bill Passed - House (186 - 173)
12/18 HB 1477 Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts Bill Passed - House (193 - 4)
12/11 HR 5038 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (260 - 165)
11/25 S 761 Establishes Inmate Re-Entry Plans Bill Passed - House (55 - 16)
11/21 HR 1309 Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act Bill Passed - House (251 - 158)
11/13 SB 1784 Amends Labor Union Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 9)
10/29 SB 1784 Amends Labor Union Regulations Bill Passed - House (93 - 23)
10/18 HR 3624 Outsourcing Accountability Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (226 - 184)
9/26 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor (53 - 44)
9/25 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42)

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