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
March 3, 2016 MO HB 1892 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring System Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
March 2, 2016 MS HB 938 Expands Vaccination Exemptions Bill Passed - House
March 2, 2016 AZ HB 2599 Establishes Provisions that Prohibit Certain Organizations from Receiving State or Federal Funding Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
March 2, 2016 MS SB 2238 Prohibits the Appropriation of Funds to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
March 1, 2016 IN HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
March 1, 2016 IA SF 2188 Authorizes Certain Psychologists to Prescribe Medication Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25)
March 1, 2016 OK SJR 68 Authorizes the Public to Vote on Beer and Wine Sales Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
Feb. 29, 2016 IA SF 2222 Authorizes Pharmacists to Dispense Over-the-Counter Birth Control Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 26, 2016 MS HB 1116 Increases Identification Requirements for Medicaid Bill Passed - House (76 - 40)
Feb. 26, 2016 ID H 331 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (42 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2016 KS HB 2578 Expands List of Medical Professionals Who Can Clear High School Athletes for Play After a Concussion Bill Passed - House (70 - 53)
Feb. 17, 2016 TN SB 1556 Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
Feb. 16, 2016 VA HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
Feb. 12, 2016 National HR 2017 Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (266 - 144)
Feb. 11, 2016 GA SB 308 Authorizes Grants to Pregnancy Resource Centers Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2016 WI AB 600 Amends Shoreline Development Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
Feb. 3, 2016 IN SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Feb. 3, 2016 IN SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Feb. 2, 2016 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186)
Feb. 2, 2016 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186)
Feb. 2, 2016 IN HB 1247 Establishes State Park Liquor Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
Feb. 2, 2016 IN SB 313 Prohibits Abortion Based on Gender, Race, or Disability of Fetus Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Jan. 27, 2016 OH HB 294 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Jan. 21, 2016 National S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 40)
Jan. 20, 2016 WI AB 310 Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Jan. 20, 2016 NE LB 18 Requires a Meningitis Immunization Before Entering Seventh Grade Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (29 - 14)
Jan. 14, 2016 KY SB 200 Amends Alcohol Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Jan. 13, 2016 National S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (253 - 166)
Jan. 12, 2016 National HR 1644 Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
Jan. 6, 2016 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181)
Jan. 6, 2016 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181)
Dec. 3, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Dec. 3, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Dec. 1, 2015 National S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
Dec. 1, 2015 National S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - House (242 - 180)
Nov. 17, 2015 OH HB 294 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 10, 2015 IL HB 2482 Specifies Determination of Need Score to Qualify for Assistance Veto Override Failed - House (70 - 38)
Nov. 3, 2015 National S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
Oct. 23, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
Oct. 23, 2015 National HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
Oct. 21, 2015 OH SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Sept. 29, 2015 National HR 3495 Women's Public Health and Safety Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 193)
Sept. 25, 2015 National HR 348 Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (233 - 170)
Sept. 24, 2015 National S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 24, 2015 National S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
Sept. 24, 2015 WI AB 310 Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
Sept. 18, 2015 National HR 3134 Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (241 - 187)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
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 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Aug. 27, 2015 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/03 HB 1892 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring System Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
3/02 HB 938 Expands Vaccination Exemptions Bill Passed - House
3/02 HB 2599 Establishes Provisions that Prohibit Certain Organizations from Receiving State or Federal Funding Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
3/02 SB 2238 Prohibits the Appropriation of Funds to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
3/01 HB 1386 Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
3/01 SF 2188 Authorizes Certain Psychologists to Prescribe Medication Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25)
3/01 SJR 68 Authorizes the Public to Vote on Beer and Wine Sales Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
2/29 SF 2222 Authorizes Pharmacists to Dispense Over-the-Counter Birth Control Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/26 HB 1116 Increases Identification Requirements for Medicaid Bill Passed - House (76 - 40)
2/26 H 331 Prohibits Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (42 - 24)
2/23 HB 2578 Expands List of Medical Professionals Who Can Clear High School Athletes for Play After a Concussion Bill Passed - House (70 - 53)
2/17 SB 1556 Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
2/16 HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
2/12 HR 2017 Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (266 - 144)
2/11 SB 308 Authorizes Grants to Pregnancy Resource Centers Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
2/09 AB 600 Amends Shoreline Development Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
2/03 SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
2/03 SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
2/02 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186)
2/02 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186)
2/02 HB 1247 Establishes State Park Liquor Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
2/02 SB 313 Prohibits Abortion Based on Gender, Race, or Disability of Fetus Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
1/27 HB 294 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
1/21 S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 40)
1/20 AB 310 Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
1/20 LB 18 Requires a Meningitis Immunization Before Entering Seventh Grade Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (29 - 14)
1/14 SB 200 Amends Alcohol Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
1/13 S J Res 22 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (253 - 166)
1/12 HR 1644 Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
1/06 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181)
1/06 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181)
12/03 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
12/03 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
12/01 S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - House (235 - 188)
12/01 S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - House (242 - 180)
11/17 HB 294 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
11/17 S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/17 S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/10 HB 2482 Specifies Determination of Need Score to Qualify for Assistance Veto Override Failed - House (70 - 38)
11/03 S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
10/23 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
10/23 HR 3762 Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
10/21 SB 214 Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
9/29 HR 3495 Women's Public Health and Safety Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 193)
9/25 HR 348 Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (233 - 170)
9/24 S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
9/24 S Amdt 2669 Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52)
9/24 AB 310 Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
9/18 HR 3134 Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (241 - 187)
9/11 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/09 HB 1 Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11)
9/09 AB 15 Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs Bill Passed - House (44 - 35)
9/04 AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/27 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
8/27 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
7/29 HR 1994 VA Accountability Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (256 - 170)
7/23 HR 1599 Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (275 - 150)
7/22 HR 1734 Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulations Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (258 - 166)
7/21 HB 169 Repeals Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Certain Counties Bill Passed - House (72 - 35)
7/16 HR 2898 Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (245 - 176)
7/09 HR 2647 Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (262 - 167)
7/06 HB 2828 Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
7/03 HB 2828 Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17)
7/02 SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
7/01 HB 2828 Appropriates Funds for Healthcare Financing Study Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
6/30 SB 5987 Increases Motor Fuel Tax and Amends Transportation Funding Bill Passed - House (54 - 44)
6/30 SB 895 Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
6/29 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/25 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
6/24 HR 2042 Ratepayer Protection Act Bill Passed - House (247 - 180)
6/18 HR 160 Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (280 - 140)
6/17 LD 319 Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19)
6/16 LD 319 Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care Bill Passed - House (80 - 67)
6/12 SF 5 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
6/12 HB 21-A Amends State Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)

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