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 31, 2017 | CO | HB 1242 | Increases State Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| March 30, 2017 | ME | LD 156 | Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Failed - House (66 - 73) |
| March 30, 2017 | MO | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enacting Ordinances that Oppose State Law | Bill Passed - House (118 - 36) |
| March 23, 2017 | FL | HB 7007 | Authorizes Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (77 - 37) |
| March 23, 2017 | NJ | A 4243 | Requires "Whistleblower" Settlements to be Public Record | Bill Passed - House (73 - 0) |
| March 20, 2017 | CA | AB 18 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Appropriate $3 Billion to State Parks | Bill Passed - House (59 - 19) |
| March 16, 2017 | NJ | S 3048 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| March 15, 2017 | VT | S 79 | Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information | Bill Passed - House (110 - 24) |
| March 15, 2017 | HI | HB 100 | Establishes the Budget for 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - House (50 - 0) |
| March 10, 2017 | SC | H 3643 | Requires Public Universities to Adopt Antisemitism Policy | Bill Passed - House (103 - 3) |
| March 9, 2017 | IA | HF 295 | Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| March 9, 2017 | IA | HF 516 | Requires Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 8, 2017 | NC | H 100 | Restores Partisan Court Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| March 8, 2017 | NC | H 100 | Restores Partisan Court Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| March 7, 2017 | IA | HF 517 | Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 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. 23, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| 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. 16, 2017 | OK | HB 1845 | Requires REAL ID Compliance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 18) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| 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 | 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. 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. 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. 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) |
| July 7, 2016 | National | HR 4361 | Government Reform and Improvement Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 181) |
| June 9, 2016 | National | HR 5278 | Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) | Bill Passed - House (297 - 127) |
| 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 25, 2016 | OH | SB 296 | Requires Bond for Extended Polling Hours | Bill Passed - House (64 - 32) |
| May 4, 2016 | MO | HB 1631 | Requires Individuals to Present Certain Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 38) |
| May 3, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - House (119 - 36) |
| April 27, 2016 | LA | HB 598 | Amends Voter Registration Policies for Convicted Felons | Bill Failed - House (37 - 60) |
| April 20, 2016 | TN | HB 615 | Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book | Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50) |
| 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 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 7, 2016 | AK | HB 222 | Limits Governor's Ability to Accept Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| April 6, 2016 | AZ | SB 1248 | Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
| March 29, 2016 | AZ | SB 1516 | Repeals Certain Campaign Finance Reforms | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
| 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 14, 2016 | KY | HB 290 | Authorizes In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 37) |
| March 14, 2016 | TN | HB 779 | Authorizes Voters to Petition for De-annexation Elections | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| March 3, 2016 | OR | SB 1573 | Authorizes City Property Annexation without Voter Authorization | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| March 3, 2016 | OK | HB 3162 | Amends Nomination Procedure for Appellate Judges | Bill Passed - House (58 - 34) |
| March 3, 2016 | MS | HB 989 | Establishes the Mississippi Achievement School District | Bill Passed - House (82 - 38) |
| March 3, 2016 | SC | H 4701 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Restrictions on Firearms | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| March 1, 2016 | MS | HB 738 | Amends Attorney General Hiring and Filing Oversight Processes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | MS | HB 782 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Law Relating to Firearms | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2403 | Limits Property Deed Recording Fee to $500 | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | MS | HB 868 | Amends State Supreme Court District Boundaries | Bill Passed - House (71 - 50) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | KS | HCR 5010 | Establishes State Commitment to a Proposed Constitutional Convention | Bill Failed - House (77 - 47) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | NC | SB 2 | Amends Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | ID | H 463 | Prohibits Local Governments from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | WV | HB 4013 | Requires Certain Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | WI | SB 707 | Prohibits a Legislator from Holding Office as County Executive | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 31) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | WA | HB 2682 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | AL | HB 37 | Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Failed - House (60 - 24) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Joint Resolution Passed - House (125 - 34) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | AZ | HB 2131 | Prohibits Local Governments from Taxing Disposable Bags | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 34) |