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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 1, 2022 | National | H Con Res 119 | Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (52 - 43) |
| June 1, 2022 | NY | S 8922 | Establishes Worker Protections for Warehouse Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 18) |
| May 11, 2022 | CO | SB 22-230 | Expands County Government Employees Right to Organize a Union and Engage in Collective Bargaining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 7, 2022 | MD | HB 172 | Authorizes Tax Deductions for Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| March 18, 2022 | MD | SB 275 | Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave Program | (31 - 15) |
| Oct. 25, 2021 | WI | SB 125 | Extends Tax Benefits to Provide Tuition Tax Breaks for Apprentices in Trade Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes New Rules Regarding Higher Education Labor Relations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Aug. 26, 2021 | CA | AB 616 | Authorizes "Card Check" for Farm Workers Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| July 20, 2021 | National | PN 126 | Nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| July 19, 2021 | ME | LD 151 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Bargain Collectively | (18 - 17) |
| June 18, 2021 | ME | LD 677 | Amends Law Regarding Public Sector Labor Relations | (20 - 13) |
| May 19, 2021 | ME | LD 52 | Authorizes Additional Educational Policies to be Subjects of Collective Bargaining Negotiations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| March 22, 2021 | National | PN 78-23 | Nomination of Martin Walsh as Secretary of Labor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| Feb. 22, 2021 | CA | SB 132 | Requires the University of California to Place all Construction Funds Into an Account With the State Controller | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Feb. 22, 2021 | WV | SB 11 | Prohibits Work Stoppages or Strikes by Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Feb. 11, 2021 | NH | SB 61 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining Agreements that Require Employees to Join a Labor Union | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11) |
| Jan. 11, 2021 | IL | HB 2275 | Repeals Section 4.5 of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 1494 | Establishes Benefits for Public Works Employees That Die on the Job | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 2, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1153 | Authorizes the State Employee's Union to Collectively Bargain with the State | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 5, 2020 | WA | HB 2614 | Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| Feb. 25, 2020 | SD | SB 147 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Feb. 19, 2020 | NM | HB 364 | Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | IL | SB 1784 | Amends Labor Union Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 9) |
| Sept. 26, 2019 | National | PN 1099 | Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor | (53 - 44) |
| Sept. 25, 2019 | National | PN 1099 | Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1291 | Requires Cannabis Businesses to Enter Into Labor Peace Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1451 | Requires Public Employers to Provide Bargaining Agents Access to Certain Member Information and Other Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1412 | Amends the Laws Governing the Collective Bargaining Rights of Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 6, 2019 | OR | HB 2016 | Establishes a Worker's Right to Participate in Labor Unions | (17 - 11) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 1620 | Exempts Certain Salary or Wage Increases From a Cap on Earnings when Calculating Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 253 | Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19) |
| April 12, 2019 | WA | HB 1575 | Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
| April 2, 2019 | ME | LD 278 | Prohibits Employers from Basing Wages on Employee's Salary History | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| March 10, 2019 | NM | HB 85 | Prohibits Local "Right to Work" Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19) |
| March 7, 2019 | IL | SB 1474 | Prohibits Local Right to Work Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | IL | SB 1 | Increases Minimum Wage to $15 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
| Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 15 | Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Nov. 28, 2018 | MI | SB 1175 | Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Nov. 27, 2018 | MI | SB 795 | Amends the Public School Employees Retirement Act of 1979. | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 23, 2018 | National | S Amdt 3967 | Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 3861 | Amends Unemployment Insurance Law | (23 - 14) |
| April 19, 2018 | IL | SB 2546 | Authorizes Graduate Research Assistant Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3686 | Increases State Protections for Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| April 2, 2018 | MD | HB 1243 | Authorizes Workers to Sue for Unpaid Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| March 26, 2018 | MD | SB 654 | Requires Extension of Union Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 1017 | Requires Equal Access to Collective Bargaining New Employee Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | SD | HB 1199 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining at Public Universities | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2018 | WA | SB 6199 | Authorizes Privatization of Home-Care Workforce | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| April 11, 2017 | TX | SB 75 | Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 30, 2017 | TX | SB 13 | Amends Provisions Regarding Payroll Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| Feb. 27, 2017 | WV | SB 330 | Repeals Provisions from the Workplace Freedom Act | (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | IA | HF 291 | Limits Collective Bargaining for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | WI | SB 3 | Prohibits Localities from Requiring Project Labor Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Jan. 26, 2017 | MO | SB 19 | Prohibits Mandatory Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2017 | NH | SB 11 | Prohibits Collective Bargaining Agreements That Require Employees to Join A Labor Union | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | HB 180 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 12, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 469 | Amends Labor Union Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| March 3, 2016 | IL | HB 580 | Requires Mediation of Expired State Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| March 1, 2016 | MO | HB 1891 | Prohibits the Collection of Union Dues without Written Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | CO | SB 70 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | WV | HB 4005 | Repeals Hourly Wage Requirements for Workers on Public Improvement Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | TN | SB 151 | Prohibits Automatic Deduction from Teachers' Paychecks for Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Aug. 19, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 548 | Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 30, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| May 12, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 7, 2015 | TX | SB 1968 | Prohibits Wage Deductions for State Employee Union Dues | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 6, 2015 | PA | SB 644 | Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| May 6, 2015 | PA | SB 645 | Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| April 15, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 26, 2015 | OK | HB 1749 | Prohibits Payroll Deductions for Public Employee Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 16) |
| March 3, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 25, 2015 | WI | SB 44 | Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | WV | SB 361 | Amends Prevailing Wage Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| March 27, 2014 | NJ | S 1869 | Extends Salary Limits for Public Safety Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | NH | SB 217 | Prohibits Employees from Being Required to Join a Labor Union | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| May 15, 2013 | MN | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32) |
| April 30, 2013 | DE | SB 21 | Requires the Governor to Appoint Labor Union Representatives to a State Benefits Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| April 29, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| April 9, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 2, 2013 | KS | HB 2069 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| March 20, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 14, 2013 | MO | SB 29 | Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 7, 2013 | AL | SB 41 | Amends Employment Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| Feb. 5, 2013 | CO | SB 25 | Authorizes Statewide Firefighter Labor Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |