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
May 31, 2017 RI H 5702A Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at DMV Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
May 29, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
May 24, 2017 MA H 3034 Limits the Use of Prison Labor Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
May 18, 2017 NV SB 176 Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (33 - 9)
May 15, 2017 AK HB 74 Authorizes REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (27 - 13)
May 9, 2017 CO HB 1375 Requires School Districts to Develop a Plan to Equitably Distribute Funds Bill Passed - House (65 - 0)
May 6, 2017 TX HB 25 Prohibits One-Punch Straight Ticket Voting Bill Passed - House (88 - 57)
May 4, 2017 CA AB 84 Authorizes Earlier Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
May 2, 2017 OH HB 49 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
April 27, 2017 MI HB 4177 Amends Guidelines for Party Labels on Ballots Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
April 26, 2017 PA HB 671 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances Bill Passed - House (134 - 53)
April 25, 2017 MT SB 366 Establishes Real-ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
April 21, 2017 MT SB 368 Increases the Individual Limit for Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
April 13, 2017 AZ SB 1236 Establishes Regulations for Statewide Initiatives and Referendum Petitions Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
April 11, 2017 ME LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (115 - 30)
April 11, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
April 11, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
April 9, 2017 WV HB 2018 Reduces State Spending Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37)
April 6, 2017 CA SB 1 Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs Bill Passed - House (54 - 26)
April 6, 2017 WI AB 109 Authorizes Towns to Withdraw from County Zoning Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
April 6, 2017 IL HB 109 Establishes Stopgap Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 45)
April 6, 2017 IL HB 109 Establishes Stopgap Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 45)
April 4, 2017 AL SB 16 Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
April 4, 2017 PA HB 218 Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Bill Passed - House (144 - 84)
March 31, 2017 CO HB 1242 Increases State Sales Tax Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
March 31, 2017 MT HB 595 Amends State Constitution to Define "Person" Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 41)
March 30, 2017 MO HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Enacting Ordinances that Oppose State Law Bill Passed - House (118 - 36)
March 30, 2017 ME LD 156 Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Failed - House (66 - 73)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/31 H 5702A Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at DMV Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
5/29 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
5/24 H 3034 Limits the Use of Prison Labor Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
5/18 SB 176 Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (33 - 9)
5/15 HB 74 Authorizes REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (27 - 13)
5/09 HB 1375 Requires School Districts to Develop a Plan to Equitably Distribute Funds Bill Passed - House (65 - 0)
5/06 HB 25 Prohibits One-Punch Straight Ticket Voting Bill Passed - House (88 - 57)
5/04 AB 84 Authorizes Earlier Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
5/02 HB 49 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
4/27 HB 4177 Amends Guidelines for Party Labels on Ballots Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
4/26 HB 671 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances Bill Passed - House (134 - 53)
4/25 SB 366 Establishes Real-ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
4/21 SB 368 Increases the Individual Limit for Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
4/13 SB 1236 Establishes Regulations for Statewide Initiatives and Referendum Petitions Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
4/11 LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (115 - 30)
4/11 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
4/11 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
4/09 HB 2018 Reduces State Spending Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37)
4/06 SB 1 Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs Bill Passed - House (54 - 26)
4/06 AB 109 Authorizes Towns to Withdraw from County Zoning Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
4/06 HB 109 Establishes Stopgap Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 45)
4/06 HB 109 Establishes Stopgap Budget Bill Passed - House (64 - 45)
4/04 SB 16 Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
4/04 HB 218 Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Bill Passed - House (144 - 84)
3/31 HB 1242 Increases State Sales Tax Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
3/31 HB 595 Amends State Constitution to Define "Person" Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 41)
3/30 HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Enacting Ordinances that Oppose State Law Bill Passed - House (118 - 36)
3/30 LD 156 Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Failed - House (66 - 73)
3/23 HB 7007 Authorizes Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (77 - 37)
3/23 A 4243 Requires "Whistleblower" Settlements to be Public Record Bill Passed - House (73 - 0)
3/20 AB 18 Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Appropriate $3 Billion to State Parks Bill Passed - House (59 - 19)
3/16 S 3048 Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
3/15 S 79 Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information Bill Passed - House (110 - 24)
3/15 HB 100 Establishes the Budget for 2017-2018 Bill Passed - House (50 - 0)
3/10 H 3643 Requires Public Universities to Adopt Antisemitism Policy Bill Passed - House (103 - 3)
3/09 HF 295 Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
3/09 HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
3/08 H 100 Restores Partisan Court Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 43)
3/08 H 100 Restores Partisan Court Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 43)
3/07 HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
3/01 HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
3/01 HR 998 Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act Bill Passed - House (240 - 185)
2/23 HB 2000 Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 34)
2/22 IP 1 Requires Automatic Voter Registration when Applying for Driver's License Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
2/21 HB 11 Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 31)
2/16 HB 1845 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (78 - 18)
2/07 HB 2000 Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (63 - 33)
2/02 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)

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