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
Sept. 5, 2017 CA AB 841 Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
July 3, 2017 OR SB 558 Expands Health Care Coverage for Children Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
June 30, 2017 WA SB 5975 Establishes Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
May 30, 2017 CA SB 328 Amends School Start Time Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
May 2, 2017 NE LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
April 26, 2017 LA SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 8, 2017 WV HB 2002 Amends Notification Requirements for Abortions Performed on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
March 21, 2017 TX SB 25 Prohibits Wrongful Birth Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 13, 2017 NJ A 3091 Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 13, 2017 NJ A 3091 Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 9, 2017 UT HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
March 9, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
Feb. 22, 2017 SD SB 149 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2017 SD SB 149 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Jan. 19, 2017 MT SB 26 Reduces Penalty for Non-Violent Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
Jan. 19, 2017 MT SB 22 Authorizes Termination of Parental Rights in Cases of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
Jan. 19, 2017 MT SB 22 Authorizes Termination of Parental Rights in Cases of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
Jan. 10, 2017 ND SB 2043 Amends Marriage Definition and Terminology Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 31)
May 4, 2016 LA SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 15, 2016 AL SB 143 Amends Marriage License Practices Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
March 14, 2016 GA HB 555 Establishes Regulations Regarding Records of Juvenile Petitions for Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
March 8, 2016 HI SB 2615 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
March 7, 2016 UT SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
Feb. 23, 2016 FL SB 250 Requires Legal Presumption of Equal Time-Sharing for Parental Custody Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 18, 2016 KY SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Feb. 17, 2016 NM HB 138 Authorizes Certain Minors to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 12, 2016 VA SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
July 1, 2015 OR SB 478 Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 29, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 10, 2015 MI HB 4188 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 2, 2015 CT HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 1, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
May 29, 2015 IL HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
May 26, 2015 TX HB 3994 Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
May 19, 2015 AL SB 377 Requires Marrying Couples to Sign a Marriage Contract Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
May 16, 2015 NV AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
May 14, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 12, 2015 TX SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
May 7, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 16, 2015 ND SB 2151 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
April 14, 2015 FL HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
April 7, 2015 IN HB 1432 Establishes E-Liquid Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
March 24, 2015 IA SF 232 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 17, 2015 IA SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 12, 2015 UT SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 9, 2015 UT SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/05 AB 841 Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
7/03 SB 558 Expands Health Care Coverage for Children Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
6/30 SB 5975 Establishes Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
5/30 SB 328 Amends School Start Time Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
5/02 LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
4/26 SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/08 HB 2002 Amends Notification Requirements for Abortions Performed on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
3/21 SB 25 Prohibits Wrongful Birth Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/13 A 3091 Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/13 A 3091 Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/09 HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
3/09 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
2/22 SB 149 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/22 SB 149 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
1/19 SB 26 Reduces Penalty for Non-Violent Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
1/19 SB 22 Authorizes Termination of Parental Rights in Cases of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
1/19 SB 22 Authorizes Termination of Parental Rights in Cases of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
1/10 SB 2043 Amends Marriage Definition and Terminology Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 31)
5/04 SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/15 SB 143 Amends Marriage License Practices Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
3/14 HB 555 Establishes Regulations Regarding Records of Juvenile Petitions for Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
3/08 SB 2615 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
3/07 SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
2/23 SB 250 Requires Legal Presumption of Equal Time-Sharing for Parental Custody Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/18 SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
2/17 HB 138 Authorizes Certain Minors to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/12 SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
7/01 SB 478 Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/29 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/10 HB 4188 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
6/03 SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/02 HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/02 SB 124 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/01 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
5/29 HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
5/26 HB 3994 Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
5/19 SB 377 Requires Marrying Couples to Sign a Marriage Contract Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
5/16 AB 193 Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
5/14 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/12 SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
5/07 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/16 SB 2151 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
4/14 HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
4/07 HB 1432 Establishes E-Liquid Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
3/24 SF 232 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/17 SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/12 SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/09 SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)

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