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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2016 | NH | HB 1252 | Authorizes Employers to Pay Wages Biweekly | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12) |
| May 4, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Veto Override Passed - House (109 - 47) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| May 3, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36) |
| April 26, 2016 | LA | HB 266 | Prohibits Criminal History Questions on Certain Employment Applications | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| April 12, 2016 | LA | SB 254 | Expands Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 9, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 33) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 5, 2016 | MD | HB 580 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| March 28, 2016 | CO | HB 1166 | Prohibits Employers from Discussing Salary History | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| March 24, 2016 | CO | HB 1001 | Requires State Contractors to Comply with Federal Equal Pay Standards | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| March 17, 2016 | NE | LB 83 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination in Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 17, 2016 | KY | SB 297 | Repeals State Coal Mine Inspections | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| March 9, 2016 | UT | HB 251 | Prohibits Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| March 3, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 49) |
| March 3, 2016 | IL | HB 580 | Requires Mediation of Expired State Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| March 2, 2016 | IA | SF 2252 | Requires Accommodations for Employees During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 1, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 1, 2016 | AZ | HB 2579 | Prohibits a City from Regulating Nonwage Compensation | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | UT | SB 59 | Requires Employers Provide Certain Accommodations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | CO | SB 70 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | TN | SB 1621 | Prohibits Local-Hire Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | CO | SB 70 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | ID | H 463 | Prohibits Local Governments from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | OR | SB 1532 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Bill Passed - House (110 - 47) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | IL | HB 580 | Requires Mediation of Expired State Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 31) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | AL | HB 37 | Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Failed - House (60 - 24) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | OR | SB 1532 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Joint Resolution Passed - House (125 - 34) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | CO | HB 1002 | Authorizes Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | HB 1004 | Authorizes Higher Wages for Hard-to-Fill Teaching Positions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | NY | A 3870 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | UT | SB 59 | Requires Employers Provide Certain Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 12 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Employment Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | NM | HB 195 | Specifies Employer is not Liable for Medical Marijuana Workers' Compensation Costs | Bill Passed - House (33 - 29) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | TN | SB 151 | Prohibits Automatic Deduction from Teachers' Paychecks for Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | VA | SB 335 | Prohibits State Employers From Inquiring about an Applicant's Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Nov. 17, 2015 | National | HR 511 | Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (249 - 177) |
| Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Veto Override Failed - House (96 - 63) |
| Sept. 2, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 34) |
| Aug. 19, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| July 9, 2015 | IL | HB 3593 | Limits Community College Severance Packages | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 34) |
| June 25, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| June 23, 2015 | IL | HB 3593 | Limits Community College Severance Packages | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (51 - 44) |
| June 23, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
| June 16, 2015 | OR | HB 3025 | Prohibits Asking Job Applicants' Criminal History | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 25) |
| June 12, 2015 | OR | SB 454 | Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (33 - 24) |
| June 11, 2015 | OR | HB 3025 | Prohibits Asking Job Applicants' Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |