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
May 16, 2019 CT HB 5004 Increases the Minimum Wage to $15 Dollars Per Hour Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 15, 2019 VT H 107 Establishes a Paid Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
May 7, 2019 NV AB 337 Amends Certain Railroad Freight Transportation Safety Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
May 2, 2019 CO HB 19-1210 Authorizes Local Governments to Establish Their Own Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 1, 2019 NY S 4573 Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
April 30, 2019 CO SB 19-085 Establishes the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 24, 2019 WA HB 1155 Requires Uninterrupted Breaks for Health Care Workers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 16)
April 24, 2019 WA SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
April 22, 2019 WA HB 1324 Establishes the Washington Rural Development and Opportunity Zone Act Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
April 22, 2019 NV SB 224 Authorizes Confidentiality Requirements for Public Employee Retirement Records Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 13, 2019 MT SB 160 Establishes Presumptive Health Care Coverage for Firefighters Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 12, 2019 WA HB 1575 Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2019 WA HB 1575 Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2019 CO SB 19-1025 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Employee Criminal History Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 11, 2019 TX SB 2485 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 11, 2019 TX SB 2487 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 10 Increases Teacher Salaries to $40,000 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
April 2, 2019 IA SF 516 Requires Employers to Verify Employee Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 2, 2019 ME LD 278 Prohibits Employers from Basing Wages on Employee's Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
April 2, 2019 ME LD 278 Prohibits Employers from Basing Wages on Employee's Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
March 31, 2019 MD HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14)
March 31, 2019 NY A 2006 Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
March 21, 2019 NH SB 10 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 19, 2019 ME LD 75 Requires the Protection of Earned Pay "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
March 14, 2019 MD HB 166 Increases State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 10, 2019 NM HB 85 Prohibits Local "Right to Work" Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
March 10, 2019 NM HB 85 Prohibits Local "Right to Work" Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
March 7, 2019 IL SB 1474 Prohibits Local Right to Work Laws Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
March 7, 2019 IL SB 1474 Prohibits Local Right to Work Laws Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2019 KY SB 18 Establishes Employment Protections for Pregnant Women Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Feb. 14, 2019 NH SB 1 Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
Feb. 7, 2019 IL SB 1 Increases Minimum Wage to $15 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
Jan. 31, 2019 NJ A 15 Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
Jan. 31, 2019 NH SB 2 Increases the Amount of Funds Allocated for Job Training Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
Jan. 23, 2019 DE HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
Nov. 28, 2018 MI SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Nov. 27, 2018 MI SB 795 Amends the Public School Employees Retirement Act of 1979. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
June 20, 2018 MA H 4640 Amends Minimum Wage and Paid-Leave Programs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
May 17, 2018 IL SB 2892 Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 16)
April 19, 2018 IL SB 2546 Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 1827 Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 3686 Increases State Protections for Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 2, 2018 MD HB 1539 Establishes General Contractor Liability for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
April 2, 2018 MD HB 1243 Authorizes Workers to Sue for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 29, 2018 KY SB 151 Amends the State Public Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 26, 2018 MD SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 22, 2018 MD HB 1017 Requires Equal Access to Collective Bargaining New Employee Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2018 SD HB 1199 Prohibits Collective Bargaining at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/16 HB 5004 Increases the Minimum Wage to $15 Dollars Per Hour Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/15 H 107 Establishes a Paid Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
5/07 AB 337 Amends Certain Railroad Freight Transportation Safety Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
5/02 HB 19-1210 Authorizes Local Governments to Establish Their Own Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/01 S 4573 Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
4/30 SB 19-085 Establishes the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/24 HB 1155 Requires Uninterrupted Breaks for Health Care Workers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 16)
4/24 SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
4/22 HB 1324 Establishes the Washington Rural Development and Opportunity Zone Act Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
4/22 SB 224 Authorizes Confidentiality Requirements for Public Employee Retirement Records Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/13 SB 160 Establishes Presumptive Health Care Coverage for Firefighters Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/12 HB 1575 Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 HB 1575 Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 SB 19-1025 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Employee Criminal History Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/11 SB 2485 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/11 SB 2487 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/11 SB 10 Increases Teacher Salaries to $40,000 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11)
4/02 SF 516 Requires Employers to Verify Employee Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/02 LD 278 Prohibits Employers from Basing Wages on Employee's Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
4/02 LD 278 Prohibits Employers from Basing Wages on Employee's Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
3/31 HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14)
3/31 A 2006 Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
3/21 SB 10 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/19 LD 75 Requires the Protection of Earned Pay "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13)
3/14 HB 166 Increases State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/10 HB 85 Prohibits Local "Right to Work" Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
3/10 HB 85 Prohibits Local "Right to Work" Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
3/07 SB 1474 Prohibits Local Right to Work Laws Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
3/07 SB 1474 Prohibits Local Right to Work Laws Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
2/22 SB 18 Establishes Employment Protections for Pregnant Women Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
2/14 SB 1 Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
2/07 SB 1 Increases Minimum Wage to $15 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
1/31 A 15 Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
1/31 SB 2 Increases the Amount of Funds Allocated for Job Training Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
1/23 HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
11/28 SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
11/27 SB 795 Amends the Public School Employees Retirement Act of 1979. Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
6/25 A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
6/20 H 4640 Amends Minimum Wage and Paid-Leave Programs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
5/17 SB 2892 Requires Increase in Teacher Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 16)
4/19 SB 2546 Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
4/12 A 1827 Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
4/12 A 3686 Increases State Protections for Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/02 HB 1539 Establishes General Contractor Liability for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
4/02 HB 1243 Authorizes Workers to Sue for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/29 SB 151 Amends the State Public Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/26 SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/22 HB 1017 Requires Equal Access to Collective Bargaining New Employee Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
2/27 HB 1199 Prohibits Collective Bargaining at Public Universities Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18)

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