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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2016 | National | S 304 | Conscience Protection Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
| July 7, 2016 | National | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
| June 23, 2016 | National | HR 2577 | Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 171) |
| June 2, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| June 1, 2016 | CA | SB 1033 | Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 26, 2016 | LA | HB 67 | Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (48 - 37) |
| May 26, 2016 | NJ | S 359 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 24, 2016 | OH | HB 110 | Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 24, 2016 | National | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
| May 24, 2016 | National | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
| May 18, 2016 | IL | SB 3011 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1400 | Amends Review Process for County Water Supply | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1268 | Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| April 28, 2016 | MA | S 2269 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| April 26, 2016 | MO | HB 1679 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives | Bill Passed - House (97 - 50) |
| April 25, 2016 | CA | SB 966 | Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| April 18, 2016 | LA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 14, 2016 | MO | HB 2069 | Prohibits Donation of Fetal Tissue | Bill Passed - House (120 - 34) |
| April 12, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| April 6, 2016 | TN | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
| March 31, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| March 31, 2016 | MO | HB 1786 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (95 - 56) |
| March 30, 2016 | MD | SB 323 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (97 - 39) |
| March 30, 2016 | AK | SB 1 | Prohibits Smoking in Public | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| March 23, 2016 | ME | LD 180 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 23, 2016 | MD | SB 1159 | Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| March 23, 2016 | ID | H 644 | Establishes Health Clinic Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (43 - 26) |
| March 15, 2016 | KY | HB 160 | Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 14, 2016 | KY | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 35) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 9, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - House (216 - 145) |
| March 9, 2016 | OK | HB 2962 | Requires Health Insurance Plans Cover Autism Treatment | Bill Passed - House (76 - 20) |
| March 9, 2016 | MD | SB 198 | Prohibits Certain Pesticides | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| March 8, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - House (44 - 7) |
| March 8, 2016 | OK | SB 1552 | Prohibits State from Issuing or Renewing Physician Licenses Following the Performance of an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7) |
| March 7, 2016 | IN | HB 1386 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 30) |
| March 7, 2016 | VA | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/13 | S 304 | Conscience Protection Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
| 7/07 | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
| 6/23 | HR 2577 | Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 171) |
| 6/02 | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 6/01 | SB 1033 | Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| 5/31 | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 5/31 | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/26 | HB 67 | Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (48 - 37) |
| 5/26 | S 359 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/24 | HB 110 | Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 5/24 | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
| 5/24 | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
| 5/18 | SB 3011 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 5/04 | SB 1400 | Amends Review Process for County Water Supply | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 5/04 | SB 1268 | Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 4/28 | S 2269 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| 4/26 | HB 1679 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives | Bill Passed - House (97 - 50) |
| 4/25 | SB 966 | Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 4/22 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/22 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/21 | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| 4/21 | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
| 4/20 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| 4/20 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| 4/18 | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 4/14 | HB 2069 | Prohibits Donation of Fetal Tissue | Bill Passed - House (120 - 34) |
| 4/12 | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| 4/06 | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
| 3/31 | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 3/31 | HB 1786 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (95 - 56) |
| 3/30 | SB 323 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (97 - 39) |
| 3/30 | SB 1 | Prohibits Smoking in Public | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 3/23 | LD 180 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 3/23 | SB 1159 | Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| 3/23 | H 644 | Establishes Health Clinic Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (43 - 26) |
| 3/15 | HB 160 | Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 3/14 | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 3/10 | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 3/10 | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 35) |
| 3/10 | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 3/10 | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 3/09 | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - House (216 - 145) |
| 3/09 | HB 2962 | Requires Health Insurance Plans Cover Autism Treatment | Bill Passed - House (76 - 20) |
| 3/09 | SB 198 | Prohibits Certain Pesticides | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| 3/08 | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - House (44 - 7) |
| 3/08 | SB 1552 | Prohibits State from Issuing or Renewing Physician Licenses Following the Performance of an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7) |
| 3/07 | HB 1386 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 30) |
| 3/07 | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 3/03 | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| 3/03 | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |