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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2021 | MN | SF 959 | Appropriates Funds for Environmental and Natural Resource Programs | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| April 15, 2021 | VT | H 175 | Expands the State's "Bottle Law" | Bill Passed - House (99 - 46) |
| April 7, 2021 | AR | HB 1557 | Requires Electric Utilities to Have an Emergency Plan for Certain Weather Events | Bill Passed - House (70 - 8) |
| March 31, 2021 | TX | HB 17 | Prohibits Cities from Banning Natural Gas Hookups in New Buildings | Bill Passed - House (116 - 29) |
| March 23, 2021 | RI | H 5445 | Establishes an Updated Outline of State Climate Goals | Bill Passed - House (53 - 22) |
| March 10, 2021 | NM | HB 299 | Establishes Financing Options for Improvements to Properties | Bill Passed - House (42 - 26) |
| March 9, 2021 | OK | HB 2034 | Prohibits the State From Conducting Business With Vendors that Divest From Oil and Gas | Bill Passed - House (78 - 21) |
| March 2, 2021 | WA | HB 1117 | Amends the States Comprehensive Planning Network to Improve Salmon Recovery | Bill Passed - House (58 - 38) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | WA | HB 1091 | Reduces Carbon Emissions by Altering Transportation Fuels | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 16, 2021 | MD | HB 391 | Prohibits the Release of Celebratory Balloons | Bill Passed - House (94 - 34) |
| Feb. 10, 2021 | MS | HB 949 | Prohibits New Landfills in Counties Where 2 or more Already Exist | Bill Passed - House (107 - 5) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | DE | SB 33 | Amends State Clean Energy Standards to Require Renewables Generate 40 Percent of Electricity by 2035 | Bill Passed - House (29 - 12) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | AZ | HB 2042 | Requires Aquifer Protection Permits | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | MA | S 9 | Establishes a Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy | Bill Passed - House (144 - 14) |
| Dec. 17, 2020 | NJ | S 2607 | Requires Municipal Master Plans to Factor in Climate Change | Bill Passed - House (51 - 28) |
| Sept. 24, 2020 | NJ | S 864 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 24) |
| Sept. 24, 2020 | National | HR 4447 | Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 185) |
| Sept. 17, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Veto Override Passed - House (103 - 47) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 45) |
| Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 2147 | Authorizes Certain Defendants that Participate in the California Conversation Camp Program to File Petitions for Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12) |
| Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Aug. 10, 2020 | OR | HB 4302 | Limits Number of Onshore Exploration Sites and Oil Wells | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| July 22, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (310 - 107) |
| July 22, 2020 | NY | S 6502 | Prohibits the Use of Glyphosate on State Property | Bill Passed - House (100 - 42) |
| July 8, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - House (130 - 71) |
| July 7, 2020 | PA | HB 1808 | Defines Waste Classification in the Recycling Industry to Encourage Investment | Bill Passed - House (155 - 46) |
| July 1, 2020 | HI | SB 2629 | Prohibits Burning Coal After 2022 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 5) |
| June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1264 | Establishes Maximum Contaminant Limits for Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in Drinking Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (210 - 116) |
| June 10, 2020 | CA | AB 3214 | Increases Penalties for Oil Spills | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| June 8, 2020 | CA | AB 3030 | Requires Protection for 30 Percent of State's Land and Waters by 2030 | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| June 5, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - House (40 - 24) |
| May 27, 2020 | PA | SB 790 | Repeals Certain Oil and Gas Regulations | Bill Passed - House (109 - 93) |
| May 11, 2020 | MN | HF 4502 | Increases the Minnesota Conservation Program's Energy Savings Goal | Bill Passed - House (79 - 55) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 883 | Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
| March 23, 2020 | AK | HB 232 | Authorizes Local Governments to Create Property Tax Credits to Increase Efficiency and Local Air Quality | Bill Passed - House (31 - 4) |
| March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| March 10, 2020 | FL | SB 172 | Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Certain Drugs and Cosmetics | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 31) |
| March 7, 2020 | WA | SB 5323 | Establishes Standards for the Use of Plastic Bags at Retail Establishments | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| March 3, 2020 | IN | SB 229 | Removes State Oversight of Certain Drains Near Wetlands | Bill Passed - House (58 - 37) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Feb. 20, 2020 | OH | HR 247 | Rescinds the E-Check Program | Resolution Passed - House (62 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2020 | WA | HB 2311 | Requires State Greenhouse Gas Emissions be Reduced to Zero by 2050 | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| Feb. 12, 2020 | NY | A 8349 | Increases Protections of Certain Streams and Protected Waterways | Bill Passed - House (113 - 31) |
| Jan. 29, 2020 | WA | HB 1110 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation Fuels | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Jan. 10, 2020 | National | HR 535 | PFAS Action Act | Bill Passed - House (247 - 159) |
| Jan. 9, 2020 | NH | HB 102 | Authorizes Municipalities to Regulate Single-Use Bags | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (215 - 151) |
| Dec. 11, 2019 | OH | HB 242 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Fees on Plastic Bags in Stores | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
| Oct. 31, 2019 | National | HR 823 | Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act | Bill Passed - House (227 - 182) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3888 | Prohibits the Use of Ethylene Oxide by 2023 | Bill Passed - House (60 - 47) |
| Sept. 25, 2019 | PA | HB 1410 | Authorizes Funds to Remove PFAS from Drinking Water | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| Sept. 18, 2019 | NH | HB 582 | Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Rebate Program | Veto Override Failed - House (221 - 157) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | SB 1 | Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| Sept. 12, 2019 | National | HR 1146 | Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (225 - 193) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | National | HR 1941 | Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (238 - 189) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 210 | Establishes a Smog-Check Program for Diesel Trucks | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| Aug. 29, 2019 | NC | SB 553 | Establishes the Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 31) |
| July 11, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| June 18, 2019 | OR | SB 1044 | Establishes Zero-Emission Vehicle Use Goals | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| June 17, 2019 | ME | LD 1691 | Prohibits Use of Aerial Herbicide Spraying for Deforestation | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (75 - 67) |
| June 17, 2019 | OR | HB 2020 | Establishes a Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| June 5, 2019 | OR | HB 2623 | Establishes Temporary Ban on Fracking | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 1282 | Establishes a "Green New Deal" | Bill Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| June 5, 2019 | National | HR 1921 | Ocean Acidification Innovation Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (395 - 22) |
| May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1532 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (91 - 52) |
| May 29, 2019 | OR | SB 90 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| May 29, 2019 | OH | HB 6 | Amends Clean Energy Standards | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 134 | Establishes a Safe Drinking Water Fund | Bill Passed - House (59 - 0) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1046 | Increases Tax Rebates for Electric Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
| May 28, 2019 | CT | HB 7083 | Requires Climate Change Education in School Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (102 - 44) |
| May 27, 2019 | IL | SB 9 | Establishes Coal-Ash Regulations | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49) |
| May 24, 2019 | AZ | HB 2753 | Authorizes Environmental State Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| May 24, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 161 | Prohibits Paper Receipts | Bill Passed - House (43 - 24) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
| May 14, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
| May 9, 2019 | VT | S 113 | Establishes Regulations for Single-Use Plastic Items | Bill Passed - House (120 - 24) |
| May 2, 2019 | National | HR 9 | Climate Action Now Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 190) |
| May 1, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1261 | Authorizes Regulations on Greenhouse Gases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 24) |
| April 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5993 | Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| April 25, 2019 | FL | HB 771 | Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws | Bill Passed - House (87 - 23) |
| April 25, 2019 | WA | HB 1652 | Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
| April 19, 2019 | ND | HB 1383 | Establishes an Environmental Impact Mitigation Fund | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 19) |
| 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 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 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 4, 2019 | ME | LD 289 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Bill Passed - House (87 - 51) |
| 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 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 19, 2019 | NH | HB 560 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (201 - 145) |
| March 19, 2019 | NH | HB 558 | Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested | Bill Passed - House (196 - 146) |