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, 2018 IL SB 336 Establishes the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (72 - 38)
May 31, 2018 CA SB 1138 Requires Prisons to Provide Vegan Meal Options Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
May 30, 2018 IL SB 2332 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (61 - 49)
May 30, 2018 CA AB 2965 Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (47 - 25)
May 30, 2018 CA SB 905 Authorizes Alcohol Sales Until 4 AM Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
May 29, 2018 CA SB 836 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
May 23, 2018 NC SB 470 Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)
May 22, 2018 MI SB 653 Establishes a New Environmental Rules Committee Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
May 22, 2018 MI SB 654 Establishes an Environmental Science Review Board Bill Passed - House (59 - 49)
May 22, 2018 MI SB 652 Establishes 11-Member Stakeholder Committee to Review and Amend Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
May 22, 2018 National S 204 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (250 - 169)
May 17, 2018 CA AB 1668 Requires Water-Use Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 26)
May 17, 2018 RI H 7419 Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
May 17, 2018 MI SB 826 Establishes Licensing for Naturopaths Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 16, 2018 NY A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
May 16, 2018 NY A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
May 15, 2018 MI SB 881 Amends Certain Environmental Laws Regarding Mining and Water Pollution Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
May 15, 2018 MI HB 5901 Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System Bill Passed - House (69 - 39)
May 10, 2018 CA AB 1668 Requires Water-Use Targets Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 10, 2018 CA AB 1815 Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers Bill Passed - House (50 - 22)
May 10, 2018 CA AB 1815 Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers Bill Passed - House (50 - 22)
May 10, 2018 National HR 3053 Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (340 - 72)
May 9, 2018 CO SB 18-272 Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training Bill Passed - House (53 - 12)
May 9, 2018 MA H 4479 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (147 - 4)
May 7, 2018 CA AB 2741 Limits Amount of Opioids that can be Prescribed to Minors Bill Passed - House (58 - 0)
May 7, 2018 CO SB 18-272 Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 3, 2018 MO SB 782 Amends Department of Natural Resources Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 3, 2018 MO SB 917 Authorizes State to Establish Coal Ash Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 2, 2018 OK HB 2932 Prohibits Individual from Receiving Medicaid Unless Working More than 20 hours a week Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 23)
May 2, 2018 OK HB 2932 Prohibits Individual from Receiving Medicaid Unless Working More than 20 hours a week Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 23)
May 2, 2018 CT HB 5460 Requires Raise for Home Care Employees Bill Passed - House (88 - 62)
May 2, 2018 RI S 2350 Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
May 1, 2018 KS HB 2470 Amends Alcoholic Beverage Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 28)
May 1, 2018 LA SB 325 Authorizes Department of Health to Close Clinics that Falsify Records Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
April 27, 2018 IL HB 5245 Requires Nurses to Complete Sexual Assault Response Training Bill Passed - House (101 - 0)
April 25, 2018 IL SB 2332 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
April 25, 2018 National HR 3144 To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (225 - 189)
April 24, 2018 OK SB 793 Amends Drug Possession Sentences Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20)
April 23, 2018 TN HB 2381 Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
April 19, 2018 MI SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
April 19, 2018 MO HB 2155 Authorizes State to Regulate Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (117 - 30)
April 19, 2018 TN HB 2381 Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' Bill Passed - House (63 - 15)
April 18, 2018 NE LB 117 Authorizes Terminally Ill Individuals to Access Non-FDA Approved Experimental Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
April 17, 2018 TN SB 2133 Prohibits Criminal Sentencing Based on Sterilization Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
April 17, 2018 PA HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - House (115 - 80)
April 16, 2018 PA SB 936 Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees Bill Passed - House (101 - 92)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 839 Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration in New Jersey Waters Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 1)
April 12, 2018 National PN 1426 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (53 - 45)
April 12, 2018 NJ S 2313 Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
April 12, 2018 NJ S 1878 Establishes a State Health Reinsurance Plan Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/31 SB 336 Establishes the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (72 - 38)
5/31 SB 1138 Requires Prisons to Provide Vegan Meal Options Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
5/30 SB 2332 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (61 - 49)
5/30 AB 2965 Authorizes Medicaid Benefits for Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (47 - 25)
5/30 SB 905 Authorizes Alcohol Sales Until 4 AM Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
5/29 SB 836 Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
5/23 SB 470 Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)
5/22 SB 653 Establishes a New Environmental Rules Committee Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
5/22 SB 654 Establishes an Environmental Science Review Board Bill Passed - House (59 - 49)
5/22 SB 652 Establishes 11-Member Stakeholder Committee to Review and Amend Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
5/22 S 204 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (250 - 169)
5/17 AB 1668 Requires Water-Use Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 26)
5/17 H 7419 Prohibits Advertising of Unhealthy Food and Beverages in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
5/17 SB 826 Establishes Licensing for Naturopaths Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/16 A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
5/16 A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
5/15 SB 881 Amends Certain Environmental Laws Regarding Mining and Water Pollution Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
5/15 HB 5901 Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System Bill Passed - House (69 - 39)
5/10 AB 1668 Requires Water-Use Targets Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/10 AB 1815 Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers Bill Passed - House (50 - 22)
5/10 AB 1815 Authorizes Loan Repayment Assistance for Medicaid Providers Bill Passed - House (50 - 22)
5/10 HR 3053 Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (340 - 72)
5/09 SB 18-272 Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training Bill Passed - House (53 - 12)
5/09 H 4479 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (147 - 4)
5/07 AB 2741 Limits Amount of Opioids that can be Prescribed to Minors Bill Passed - House (58 - 0)
5/07 SB 18-272 Establishes School Grants for Suicide-Prevention Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/03 SB 782 Amends Department of Natural Resources Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/03 SB 917 Authorizes State to Establish Coal Ash Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/02 HB 2932 Prohibits Individual from Receiving Medicaid Unless Working More than 20 hours a week Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 23)
5/02 HB 2932 Prohibits Individual from Receiving Medicaid Unless Working More than 20 hours a week Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 23)
5/02 HB 5460 Requires Raise for Home Care Employees Bill Passed - House (88 - 62)
5/02 S 2350 Prohibits Advertising Unhealthy Food in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
5/01 HB 2470 Amends Alcoholic Beverage Laws Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 28)
5/01 SB 325 Authorizes Department of Health to Close Clinics that Falsify Records Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
4/27 HB 5245 Requires Nurses to Complete Sexual Assault Response Training Bill Passed - House (101 - 0)
4/25 SB 2332 Increases Minimum Purchase Age for Tobacco Products Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
4/25 HR 3144 To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (225 - 189)
4/24 SB 793 Amends Drug Possession Sentences Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20)
4/23 HB 2381 Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
4/19 SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
4/19 HB 2155 Authorizes State to Regulate Powdered Alcohol Bill Passed - House (117 - 30)
4/19 HB 2381 Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' Bill Passed - House (63 - 15)
4/18 LB 117 Authorizes Terminally Ill Individuals to Access Non-FDA Approved Experimental Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
4/17 SB 2133 Prohibits Criminal Sentencing Based on Sterilization Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
4/17 HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - House (115 - 80)
4/16 SB 936 Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees Bill Passed - House (101 - 92)
4/12 A 839 Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration in New Jersey Waters Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 1)
4/12 PN 1426 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (53 - 45)
4/12 S 2313 Establishes Zero-Emissions Certificate Program for Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
4/12 S 1878 Establishes a State Health Reinsurance Plan Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)

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