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 25, 2019 ME LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
April 25, 2019 FL HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - House (87 - 23)
April 25, 2019 WA SB 5993 Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
April 25, 2019 WA HB 1652 Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
April 22, 2019 WA SB 5135 Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
April 19, 2019 ND HB 1383 Establishes an Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 19)
April 19, 2019 WA SB 5001 Authorizes Composting of Human Remains Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
April 18, 2019 WA HB 1578 Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35)
April 18, 2019 IA SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
April 15, 2019 WA SB 5135 Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
April 12, 2019 WA HB 1578 Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
April 11, 2019 WA SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
April 11, 2019 FL HB 521 Authorizes Mitigation of Conservation Lands by Municipal Governments Bill Passed - House (72 - 42)
April 11, 2019 OR SB 90 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
April 8, 2019 TN SB 923 Authorizes Recycling of Plastic Using Pyrolysis Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
April 5, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
April 5, 2019 MD SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
April 4, 2019 ME LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
April 3, 2019 CO SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 2, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 1, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
March 26, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
March 26, 2019 National S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
March 25, 2019 ND SB 2044 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Bill Passed - House (76 - 14)
March 25, 2019 TN HB 1021 Prohibits Local Governments from Regulating, Restricting, or Banning Auxiliary Containers Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
March 21, 2019 VT S 55 Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 20, 2019 IA SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 19, 2019 NH HB 558 Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested Bill Passed - House (196 - 146)
March 19, 2019 NH HB 560 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (201 - 145)
March 13, 2019 UT HB 353 Establishes the "Reduction of Single Occupancy Vehicle Trips Pilot Program" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
March 13, 2019 CO SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 12, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
March 6, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 522 Prohibits Certain Plastics Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1)
March 5, 2019 MD SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
March 1, 2019 WA SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2019 National PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency (52 - 47)
Feb. 27, 2019 National PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 25, 2019 IN SB 553 Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2019 UT HB 220 Authorizes the Disposal of Certain Types of Radioactive Waste in Utah Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 20)
Feb. 19, 2019 OR SB 256 Prohibits Oil and Gas Exploration In Coastal Waters Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2019 National S 47 Natural Resources Management Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
Jan. 11, 2019 National HR 266 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - House (240 - 179)
Dec. 5, 2018 MI SB 1197 Establishes Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Oct. 29, 2018 NJ S 678 Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Oct. 3, 2018 MI HB 6200 Prohibit Ship Operators from Dropping Anchor in the Straits of Mackinac Bill Passed - House (106 - 1)
Oct. 3, 2018 MI HB 6201 Amends Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (105 - 2)
Aug. 31, 2018 CA SB 901 Requires Utilities to File Wildfire Mitigation Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/25 LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
4/25 HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - House (87 - 23)
4/25 SB 5993 Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
4/25 HB 1652 Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
4/22 SB 5135 Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
4/19 HB 1383 Establishes an Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 19)
4/19 SB 5001 Authorizes Composting of Human Remains Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
4/18 HB 1578 Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35)
4/18 SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
4/15 SB 5135 Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
4/12 HB 1578 Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
4/11 SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
4/11 HB 521 Authorizes Mitigation of Conservation Lands by Municipal Governments Bill Passed - House (72 - 42)
4/11 SB 90 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
4/08 SB 923 Authorizes Recycling of Plastic Using Pyrolysis Bill Passed - House (75 - 16)
4/05 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
4/05 SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/04 LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
4/03 SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/02 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/01 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
3/31 S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
3/31 S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
3/26 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
3/26 S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
3/25 SB 2044 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Bill Passed - House (76 - 14)
3/25 HB 1021 Prohibits Local Governments from Regulating, Restricting, or Banning Auxiliary Containers Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
3/21 S 55 Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/20 SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/19 HB 558 Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested Bill Passed - House (196 - 146)
3/19 HB 560 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (201 - 145)
3/13 HB 353 Establishes the "Reduction of Single Occupancy Vehicle Trips Pilot Program" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
3/13 SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/12 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
3/06 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
3/05 SB 522 Prohibits Certain Plastics Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1)
3/05 SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
3/01 SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/28 PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency (52 - 47)
2/27 PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
2/25 SB 553 Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/22 HB 220 Authorizes the Disposal of Certain Types of Radioactive Waste in Utah Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 20)
2/19 SB 256 Prohibits Oil and Gas Exploration In Coastal Waters Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
2/12 S 47 Natural Resources Management Act Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8)
1/11 HR 266 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 Bill Passed - House (240 - 179)
12/05 SB 1197 Establishes Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
10/29 S 678 Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
10/03 HB 6200 Prohibit Ship Operators from Dropping Anchor in the Straits of Mackinac Bill Passed - House (106 - 1)
10/03 HB 6201 Amends Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (105 - 2)
8/31 SB 901 Requires Utilities to File Wildfire Mitigation Plans Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 14)

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