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 17, 2015 | NY | A 3870 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - House (97 - 48) |
| March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 1593 | Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | HB 2011 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Injury Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| March 12, 2015 | AR | HB 1489 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 261 | Increases Minimum Wage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 12, 2015 | AR | SB 366 | Authorizes Additional Compensations to Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| March 11, 2015 | UT | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
| March 11, 2015 | NH | HB 658 | Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (149 - 146) |
| March 10, 2015 | WA | SB 5513 | Reduces Minimum Age to Settle a Worker's Compensation Claim | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 6, 2015 | UT | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| March 5, 2015 | WI | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| March 5, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - House (23 - 19) |
| March 3, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 3, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 3, 2015 | WA | HB 1355 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| March 3, 2015 | WA | HB 1356 | Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 28, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 28, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 27, 2015 | WV | SB 357 | Establishes New Coal Mining Safety Guidelines. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MN | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | NM | HB 75 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (37 - 30) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | WI | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | NM | HB 75 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (37 - 30) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 269 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 270 | Prohibits Wage Diversion | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| Feb. 18, 2015 | SD | SB 177 | Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 17, 2015 | ND | SB 2279 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 64) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | WV | HB 2217 | Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | KY | HB 2 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | WV | HB 2011 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Injury Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| Feb. 10, 2015 | WY | SF 115 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | IL | SB 11 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | KY | SB 9 | Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Feb. 4, 2015 | WV | HB 2217 | Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor | Bill Passed - House (64 - 35) |
| Feb. 3, 2015 | IN | SB 127 | Authorizes Religious Organizations to Hire Based on Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| Jan. 8, 2015 | National | HR 30 | Save American Workers Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 172) |
| Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Dec. 11, 2014 | MI | SB 1156 | Prohibits Actions that Coerce a Woman to Get an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Dec. 9, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| Sept. 17, 2014 | NH | HB 591 | Requires State Employers to Implement a Policy Prohibiting Certain Conduct in the Workplace | Veto Override Failed - House (141 - 154) |
| Aug. 30, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/17 | A 3870 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - House (97 - 48) |
| 3/16 | S 1593 | Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 3/14 | HB 2011 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Injury Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| 3/12 | HB 1489 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| 3/12 | SB 261 | Increases Minimum Wage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/12 | SB 366 | Authorizes Additional Compensations to Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 3/11 | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
| 3/11 | HB 658 | Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (149 - 146) |
| 3/10 | SB 5513 | Reduces Minimum Age to Settle a Worker's Compensation Claim | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/06 | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| 3/05 | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| 3/05 | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - House (23 - 19) |
| 3/03 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 3/03 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 3/03 | HB 1355 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| 3/03 | HB 1356 | Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| 2/28 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| 2/28 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| 2/27 | SB 357 | Establishes New Coal Mining Safety Guidelines. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 25) |
| 2/26 | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 2/26 | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 2/25 | HB 75 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (37 - 30) |
| 2/25 | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 2/25 | HB 75 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (37 - 30) |
| 2/24 | SF 269 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 2/24 | SF 270 | Prohibits Wage Diversion | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 2/23 | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/23 | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| 2/23 | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| 2/18 | SB 177 | Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/17 | SB 2279 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 2/16 | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 2/12 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 2/12 | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 2/12 | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 64) |
| 2/10 | HB 2217 | Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| 2/10 | HB 2 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| 2/10 | HB 2011 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Injury Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| 2/10 | SF 115 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| 2/05 | SB 11 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 2/05 | SB 9 | Exempts Certain Construction Projects from Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 2/04 | HB 2217 | Amends Qualifications for Commissioner of Labor | Bill Passed - House (64 - 35) |
| 2/03 | SB 127 | Authorizes Religious Organizations to Hire Based on Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 1/08 | HR 30 | Save American Workers Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 172) |
| 12/16 | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 12/11 | SB 1156 | Prohibits Actions that Coerce a Woman to Get an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 12/09 | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
| 9/17 | HB 591 | Requires State Employers to Implement a Policy Prohibiting Certain Conduct in the Workplace | Veto Override Failed - House (141 - 154) |
| 8/30 | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| 8/29 | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |