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 2, 2017 | WA | SB 5223 | Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| March 1, 2017 | National | HR 998 | Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| March 1, 2017 | National | HR 998 | Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 185) |
| Feb. 28, 2017 | IN | SB 423 | Prohibits Sanctuary Policies on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Feb. 24, 2017 | VT | S 79 | Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | NV | IP 1 | Requires Automatic Voter Registration when Applying for Driver's License | Bill Passed - House (27 - 15) |
| Feb. 21, 2017 | UT | HB 11 | Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| Feb. 17, 2017 | National | PN 44 | Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 17, 2017 | UT | HB 11 | Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | National | PN 44 | Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | OK | HB 1845 | Requires REAL ID Compliance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 18) |
| Feb. 15, 2017 | National | H J Res 40 | Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43) |
| Feb. 13, 2017 | National | PN 26 | Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 10, 2017 | National | PN 33 | Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 10, 2017 | National | PN 26 | Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 10, 2017 | MD | SJ 5 | Authorizes State Attorney General to Sue Federal Government | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | National | PN 30 | Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | National | PN 33 | Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48) |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | WI | SB 3 | Prohibits Localities from Requiring Project Labor Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | National | PN 37 | Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | National | PN 30 | Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| Feb. 3, 2017 | National | PN 37 | Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 2, 2017 | National | H J Res 38 | Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 2, 2017 | National | H J Res 40 | Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 180) |
| Feb. 1, 2017 | National | PN 25 | Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 1, 2017 | National | H J Res 38 | Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule | Joint Resolution Passed - House (228 - 194) |
| Feb. 1, 2017 | UT | HB 11 | Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| Jan. 31, 2017 | AR | HB 1047 | Requires Voters to Provide Identification When Voting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| Jan. 30, 2017 | National | PN 25 | Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State | Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Jan. 27, 2017 | VT | HB 125 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - House (141 - 0) |
| Jan. 5, 2017 | National | HR 26 | Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| Jan. 5, 2017 | National | HR 26 | Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| Jan. 4, 2017 | National | HR 21 | Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (238 - 184) |
| Jan. 4, 2017 | National | HR 21 | Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (238 - 184) |
| Sept. 28, 2016 | OH | SB 329 | Requires the Legislature to Review State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1870 | Reauthorizes Small Business Tax Deductions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1631 | Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1870 | Reauthorizes Small Business Tax Deductions | Veto Override Passed - House (113 - 43) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | HB 1631 | Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - House (115 - 41) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | National | HR 5620 | VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (310 - 116) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 2002 | Requires Coastal Commission Members to Disclose Private Meetings | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 30, 2016 | CA | AB 385 | Repeals Daylight Savings Time | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 19) |
| Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 23, 2016 | CA | AB 1887 | Prohibits State-Funded Travel to Certain States | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 21) |
| Aug. 23, 2016 | CA | AB 385 | Repeals Daylight Savings Time | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 17, 2016 | CA | AB 1887 | Prohibits State-Funded Travel to Certain States | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Aug. 16, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| July 7, 2016 | National | HR 4361 | Government Reform and Improvement Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| June 27, 2016 | NC | SB 897 | Establishes Electoral Districts for City of Asheville | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| June 13, 2016 | NC | HB 169 | Repeals Recycling Program | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| June 9, 2016 | National | HR 5278 | Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) | Bill Passed - House (297 - 127) |
| June 6, 2016 | AK | SB 128 | Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| June 2, 2016 | CA | AB 2002 | Requires Coastal Commission Members to Disclose Private Meetings | Bill Passed - House (54 - 23) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| May 30, 2016 | LA | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | SB 296 | Requires Bond for Extended Polling Hours | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | SB 296 | Requires Bond for Extended Polling Hours | Bill Passed - House (64 - 32) |
| May 23, 2016 | CA | SB 1190 | Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 19, 2016 | IL | SB 250 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 16) |
| May 10, 2016 | MI | SB 853 | Prohibits Cities from Restricting Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 4, 2016 | MO | HB 1631 | Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 38) |
| May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1268 | Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| May 3, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36) |
| May 3, 2016 | MO | HB 1631 | Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 27, 2016 | LA | HB 598 | Amends Voter Registration Policies for Convicted Felons | Bill Failed - House (37 - 60) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 29 | Repeals Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 28) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | SJRCA 30 | Amends Redistricting Process | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
| April 20, 2016 | TN | HB 615 | Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book | Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50) |
| April 19, 2016 | TN | SJR 467 | Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| April 18, 2016 | TN | SJR 467 | Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program | Bill Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| April 14, 2016 | National | HR 3340 | Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 179) |
| April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 580 | Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 580 | Establishes Independent Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| April 11, 2016 | ME | LD 1600 | Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 7, 2016 | AK | HB 222 | Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| April 7, 2016 | ME | LD 1600 | Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations | Bill Passed - House (77 - 73) |
| April 7, 2016 | AK | HB 222 | Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 6, 2016 | AZ | SB 1248 | Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
| April 4, 2016 | NE | LB 10 | Establishes Winner-Take-All Election System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 4, 2016 | TN | HB 615 | Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| April 4, 2016 | LA | SB 25 | Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| March 29, 2016 | RI | H 7024 | Authorizes Online Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
| March 29, 2016 | AZ | SB 1516 | Repeals Certain Campaign Finance Reforms | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
| March 29, 2016 | LA | SB 164 | Amends Absentee Voting Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| March 29, 2016 | LA | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| March 29, 2016 | CO | SB 157 | Requires Suspension of Clean Power Plan Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 23, 2016 | GA | SB 323 | Increases Deadline for Disclosure of Records of Intercollegiate Sports Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 22) |
| March 22, 2016 | KY | SB 245 | Authorizes State to Issue Real ID Compliant Identification Documents | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 22, 2016 | KS | SB 439 | Specifies Qualifications for Impeachment | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 21, 2016 | MD | HB 1007 | Establishes Electronic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| March 17, 2016 | National | H Res 639 | Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 | Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186) |
| March 15, 2016 | ID | H 372 | Prohibits Local Limitation on Use of Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| March 14, 2016 | National | PN 1152 | Nomination of John B. King to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 40) |