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 10, 2015 | WA | HB 1647 | Requires Maternity Health Plans to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| March 9, 2015 | WA | SB 5735 | Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| March 9, 2015 | UT | HB 396 | Prohibits a Seasonal Prohibition on Wood-Burning Stoves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 15) |
| March 7, 2015 | NM | HB 235 | Requires Consent to Use Waterways that Flow Through Private Property | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| March 6, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Conference Report Adopted - House (42 - 15) |
| March 6, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7) |
| March 5, 2015 | MS | SB 2585 | Authorizes the State to Jail Tuberculosis Patients Who Decline Treatment | Bill Failed - House (40 - 70) |
| March 5, 2015 | GA | SB 103 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages 1 Sunday Each Year | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| March 5, 2015 | UT | HB 104 | Authorizes Cow-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (61 - 11) |
| March 4, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Bill Passed - House (50 - 9) |
| March 4, 2015 | KY | HB 168 | Prohibits Out-of-State Breweries from Holding Alcohol Distributors Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| March 4, 2015 | OR | SB 324 | Extends Low Carbon Fuel Standards Target Date | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| March 2, 2015 | NM | SB 503 | Authorizes Beer and Wine Delivery Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 10) |
| March 2, 2015 | WA | SB 5987 | Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MO | HB 130 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (107 - 48) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | PA | HB 466 | Authorizes Private Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (114 - 87) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MT | SB 262 | Establishes Water Rights Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | UT | SB 164 | Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | WY | SF 106 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| Feb. 24, 2015 | NM | SB 53 | Authorizes Mandatory Outpatient Treatment for Certain Individuals with Mental Disorders | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | PA | SB 293 | Requires Health Care Exchange Navigator Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2015 | WV | SB 30 | Authorizes the Consumption of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 20, 2015 | MT | HB 200 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| Feb. 19, 2015 | CO | HB 1144 | Prohibits Production and Sale of Products Containing Microbeads | Bill Passed - House (47 - 18) |
| Feb. 19, 2015 | AZ | SB 1318 | Limits Health Insurance Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2015 | OR | SB 1 | Repeals Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Corporation | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Feb. 18, 2015 | ND | HB 1430 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (26 - 67) |
| Feb. 17, 2015 | WV | SB 6 | Amends Existing Medical Malpractice Law | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 17, 2015 | OR | SB 324 | Extends Low Carbon Fuel Standards Target Date | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | NM | HB 54 | Expands Practice Locations for Anesthesiologist Assistants | Bill Passed - House (38 - 28) |
| Feb. 13, 2015 | KY | HB 145 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 13, 2015 | KY | HB 145 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | CO | SB 77 | Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | AZ | HB 2359 | Increases Number of Parties Required to Protest New Liquor Licenses | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | ND | HB 1259 | Requires Performance Audits of Certain State Agencies | Bill Failed - House (22 - 67) |
| Feb. 11, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2015 | OK | HB 1948 | Authorizes Monitoring of Prescription Drugs | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| Feb. 6, 2015 | WY | SF 129 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | NJ | S 866 | Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 3, 2015 | National | HR 596 | Repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 | Bill Passed - House (239 - 186) |
| Feb. 2, 2015 | CO | HB 1031 | Prohibits the Sale of Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (46 - 17) |
| Jan. 28, 2015 | WY | SF 106 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Jan. 27, 2015 | CO | SB 52 | Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Jan. 22, 2015 | National | HR 7 | No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 179) |
| Jan. 8, 2015 | National | HR 30 | Save American Workers Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (252 - 172) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Dec. 4, 2014 | MI | SB 247 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol until 4 a.m. | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35) |
| Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (75 - 34) |
| Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | SB 1130 | Amends Public Health Code to Include Hepatitis C Virus | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Nov. 19, 2014 | National | HR 4012 | Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (237 - 190) |
| Nov. 18, 2014 | National | HR 1422 | EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 191) |
| Nov. 13, 2014 | NJ | A 2811 | Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Meal Plans for Students | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| Nov. 13, 2014 | NJ | A 2270 | Authorizes Certain Terminally Ill Individuals to Use Life-Ending Medication | Bill Passed - House (41 - 31) |
| Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | SCR 125 | Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1565 | Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (118 - 79) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 2354 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| Oct. 14, 2014 | PA | HB 1565 | Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Oct. 14, 2014 | PA | SB 1268 | Amends Health Insurance Navigator Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Sept. 24, 2014 | PA | SB 1182 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| Sept. 11, 2014 | National | HR 3522 | Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 167) |
| Sept. 10, 2014 | MO | SB 506 | Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs | Veto Override Failed - House (108 - 52) |
| Sept. 10, 2014 | MO | SB 506 | Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Sept. 9, 2014 | National | HR 5078 | Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (262 - 152) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 270 | Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1168 | Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1168 | Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage | Bill Passed - House (47 - 27) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| Aug. 28, 2014 | CA | SB 270 | Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Aug. 25, 2014 | CA | SB 270 | Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags | Bill Failed - House (38 - 33) |
| Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | SB 1010 | Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | AB 1699 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Aug. 19, 2014 | CA | AB 2198 | Requires Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Professionals | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 13) |
| Aug. 14, 2014 | CA | SB 1010 | Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession | Bill Passed - House (50 - 19) |
| July 30, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| July 25, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
| July 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1040 | Prohibits Implementation of Certain Climate Assessments | Amendment Adopted - House (229 - 188) |
| July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1003 | Limits Eligibility for School Employee Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1004 | Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| July 1, 2014 | PA | HB 2354 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection | Bill Passed - House (144 - 59) |
| June 20, 2014 | NY | A 6357E | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10) |
| June 19, 2014 | NY | A 6357E | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (117 - 13) |
| June 19, 2014 | NY | S 6617B | Requires State-Funded Projects to Consider Climate Change Effects | Bill Passed - House (119 - 16) |
| June 18, 2014 | NY | A 8769A | Prohibits Workplace Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decisions | Bill Passed - House (106 - 30) |
| June 18, 2014 | RI | H 7904 | Establishes a Climate Change Coordinating Council | Bill Passed - House (62 - 6) |
| May 29, 2014 | IL | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |