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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2017 | WI | SB 15 | Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 2, 2017 | WI | SB 15 | Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 1, 2017 | National | PN 47 | Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36) |
| April 27, 2017 | National | PN 88 | Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| April 26, 2017 | NC | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| April 26, 2017 | NC | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| April 26, 2017 | National | PN 88 | Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor | Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39) |
| April 25, 2017 | NY | S 1229 | Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9) |
| April 25, 2017 | NY | S 1229 | Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9) |
| April 24, 2017 | NE | LB 75 | Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| April 20, 2017 | MN | HF 600 | Prohibits Local Laws Regarding Minimum Wage or Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31) |
| April 20, 2017 | IA | SF 516 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| April 11, 2017 | AL | SB 193 | Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| April 9, 2017 | NY | A 3009 | Establishes State Fiscal Plan | (53 - 4) |
| April 7, 2017 | National | PN 55 | Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | (54 - 45) |
| April 6, 2017 | ME | LD 306 | Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| April 6, 2017 | KS | HB 2052 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2017 to FY 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 10) |
| April 6, 2017 | National | PN 55 | Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| April 5, 2017 | DE | SB 27 | Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
| April 5, 2017 | DE | SB 27 | Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
| April 5, 2017 | DE | SB 27 | Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
| April 5, 2017 | DE | SB 27 | Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7) |
| April 4, 2017 | IN | HB 1384 | Expands Indiana's Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| April 4, 2017 | IA | HF 517 | Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 129 | Establishes Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| April 3, 2017 | TN | SB 38 | Amends Provisions for Campaign Fundraising | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| April 3, 2017 | NE | LB 46 | Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5) |
| April 3, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 29, 2017 | OH | HB 26 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| March 28, 2017 | NH | SB 3 | Establishes New Voter Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 295 | Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 27, 2017 | TN | HB 173 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 23, 2017 | IA | HF 516 | Requires Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 23, 2017 | WA | SB 5048 | Establishes 2017-2019 Fiscal Biennium Operating Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| March 15, 2017 | FL | SB 128 | Authorizes Immunity for Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 13, 2017 | OK | SB 170 | Repeals Automatic Income Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6) |
| March 13, 2017 | NJ | S 3048 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 8, 2017 | AR | HB 1047 | Requires Voters to Provide Identification When Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 2, 2017 | WA | SB 5223 | Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 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. 22, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 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. 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. 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. 1, 2017 | National | PN 25 | Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Jan. 30, 2017 | National | PN 25 | Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State | Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 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) |
| 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. 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) |
| 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 6, 2016 | AK | SB 128 | Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 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 23, 2016 | CA | SB 1190 | Prohibits Coastal Commission from Engaging in Ex Parte Communications | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |