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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9, 2015 | IL | HB 1 | Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11) |
| Sept. 9, 2015 | CA | AB 15 | Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - House (44 - 35) |
| Sept. 4, 2015 | CA | AB 888 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| July 29, 2015 | National | HR 1994 | VA Accountability Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 170) |
| July 23, 2015 | National | HR 1599 | Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (275 - 150) |
| July 22, 2015 | National | HR 1734 | Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulations Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (258 - 166) |
| July 21, 2015 | NC | HB 169 | Repeals Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Certain Counties | Bill Passed - House (72 - 35) |
| July 16, 2015 | National | HR 2898 | Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 176) |
| July 9, 2015 | National | HR 2647 | Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 167) |
| July 6, 2015 | OR | HB 2828 | Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| July 3, 2015 | OR | HB 2828 | Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| July 1, 2015 | OR | HB 2828 | Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| June 30, 2015 | WA | SB 5987 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| June 30, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| June 29, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 25, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| June 24, 2015 | National | HR 2042 | Ratepayer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (247 - 180) |
| June 18, 2015 | National | HR 160 | Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (280 - 140) |
| June 17, 2015 | ME | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| June 16, 2015 | ME | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | Bill Passed - House (80 - 67) |
| June 12, 2015 | MN | SF 5 | 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29) |
| June 12, 2015 | FL | HB 21-A | Amends State Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| June 12, 2015 | FL | HB 23-A | Establishes Recovery Care Services | Bill Passed - House (78 - 21) |
| June 12, 2015 | FL | HB 31-A | Repeals Certain Requirements for Hospital Construction | Bill Passed - House (72 - 28) |
| June 10, 2015 | National | HR 2393 | Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (300 - 131) |
| June 5, 2015 | FL | SB 2-A | Establishes the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange Program | Bill Failed - House (41 - 72) |
| June 4, 2015 | CA | SB 128 | Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 32 | Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 2, 2015 | CT | HB 6949 | Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 4 | Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 151 | Increases Smoking Age | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 140 | Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| May 21, 2015 | CT | HB 6965 | Requires Certain Hospitals and Universities to Pay Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (82 - 60) |
| May 19, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (68 - 43) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 14, 2015 | CT | HB 6283 | Prohibits E-Cigarettes in Public Spaces | Bill Passed - House (99 - 46) |
| May 14, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 13, 2015 | WI | AB 177 | Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| May 13, 2015 | WI | AB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| May 11, 2015 | OR | HB 2546 | Prohibits Sale of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| May 7, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| May 7, 2015 | CT | HB 6949 | Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (86 - 56) |
| May 6, 2015 | TX | SB 575 | Prohibits Health Plan Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 5, 2015 | HI | SB 1028 | Appropriates Funds for the Hawaii Health Connector | Conference Report Adopted - House (41 - 9) |
| May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
| May 5, 2015 | HI | SB 1028 | Appropriates Funds for the Hawaii Health Connector | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 2) |
| May 1, 2015 | HI | HB 1075 | Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (34 - 16) |
| May 1, 2015 | HI | HB 1075 | Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1) |
| May 1, 2015 | National | HR 2028 | Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 177) |
| April 30, 2015 | OR | HB 2758 | Authorizes Confidential Communications Requests | Bill Passed - House (34 - 25) |
| April 29, 2015 | NY | A 4958 | Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct | Bill Passed - House (111 - 26) |
| April 28, 2015 | HI | SB 550 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 2) |
| April 28, 2015 | MN | SF 1458 | 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (72 - 60) |
| April 28, 2015 | MN | SF 1458 | 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (72 - 60) |
| April 28, 2015 | CO | SB 268 | Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 24, 2015 | HI | SB 1030 | Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4) |
| April 23, 2015 | IL | HB 373 | Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| April 21, 2015 | MO | SB 239 | Limits Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Awards | Bill Passed - House (125 - 27) |
| April 21, 2015 | AL | SJR 34 | Specifies the Intent to Not Expand Medicaid Services | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 20, 2015 | MT | SB 411 | Requires the Closure of the Montana Developmental Center | Bill Passed - House (60 - 40) |
| April 18, 2015 | MT | SB 405 | Expands Health Care Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| April 15, 2015 | OK | SB 383 | Amends State Liquor Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 21) |
| April 14, 2015 | HI | SB 1030 | Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 | Bill Passed - House (45 - 7) |
| April 11, 2015 | MT | SB 405 | Expands Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| April 9, 2015 | WA | SB 5870 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| April 7, 2015 | IN | HB 1432 | Establishes E-Liquid Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| April 6, 2015 | ND | HB 1434 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales on Sunday Mornings | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 39) |
| April 3, 2015 | VT | S 20 | Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| March 31, 2015 | NY | S 4610 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - House (99 - 47) |
| March 30, 2015 | MT | SB 405 | Expands Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 27, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| March 26, 2015 | NJ | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| March 25, 2015 | MT | HB 245 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 416 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 458 | Increases Liabilities for Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1318 | Limits Health Insurance Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (33 - 24) |
| March 23, 2015 | MD | HB 121 | Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - House (85 - 55) |
| March 23, 2015 | CO | HB 1259 | Authorizes Collection of Rooftop Precipitation | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1434 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales on Sunday Mornings | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| March 19, 2015 | ND | HB 1434 | Authorizes Alcohol Sales on Sunday Mornings | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| March 19, 2015 | NM | SB 503 | Authorizes Beer and Wine Delivery Licenses | Bill Passed - House (48 - 18) |
| March 19, 2015 | NM | SB 433 | Prohibits Sale of E-Cigarettes to Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| March 17, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| March 17, 2015 | IA | SF 334 | Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| March 14, 2015 | WV | SB 286 | Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| March 13, 2015 | GA | HB 535 | Expands Sunday Sales Times for Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (121 - 47) |
| March 13, 2015 | GA | HB 429 | Requires Coverage for Terminal Conditions | Bill Passed - House (105 - 61) |
| March 12, 2015 | UT | HB 48 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| March 12, 2015 | ID | H 75 | Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 11, 2015 | GA | SB 103 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages 1 Sunday Each Year | Bill Passed - House (144 - 21) |
| March 11, 2015 | AZ | HB 2643 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| March 11, 2015 | NC | HB 157 | Authorizes the Environmental Management Commission to Use Existing State and Federal Hydraulic Fracturing Air Emission Regulations | Bill Passed - House (76 - 40) |
| March 10, 2015 | WA | HB 1647 | Requires Maternity Health Plans to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| March 10, 2015 | HI | SB 1030 | Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |