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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 12, 2021 | WI | AB 1 | Expands State Medicaid to Ensure Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations | (29 - 2) |
| Jan. 11, 2021 | IL | HB 2451 | Increases the Annual Cost of Living for Retired Firefighters | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 14) |
| Oct. 22, 2020 | LA | HB 43 | Establishes Guidelines for Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| Oct. 8, 2020 | MI | SB 1094 | Prohibits Nursing Homes from Admitting or Retaining Coronavirus Positive Individuals for Care | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| Sept. 24, 2020 | NJ | S 2712 | Establishes Minimum Direct Care Staff-to-Resident Ratios in Nursing Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 4476 | Establishes a Long-Term Care Emergency Operations Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 1263 | Prohibits Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Policy Arrangements | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | ACA 11 | Establishes the "Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| March 12, 2020 | UT | HB 494 | Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0) |
| May 23, 2019 | NH | HB 696 | Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10) |
| April 22, 2019 | NV | SB 224 | Authorizes Confidentiality Requirements for Public Employee Retirement Records | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| June 7, 2018 | MI | SB 787 | Authorizes Reduced Car Insurance Options for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
| April 10, 2014 | NE | LB 690 | Establishes the Aging Nebraskans Task Force | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
| April 8, 2014 | IL | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
| March 31, 2014 | NE | LB 690 | Establishes the Aging Nebraskans Task Force | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| March 31, 2014 | National | HR 4302 | Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| March 13, 2014 | NH | SB 364 | Increase Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| Dec. 3, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| April 18, 2013 | MT | HB 377 | Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| April 11, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | KY | SB 9 | Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | NJ | S 2241 | Prohibits Unauthorized Medical Provider Reimbursement Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| May 31, 2012 | IL | HB 1447 | Pension Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24) |
| May 10, 2012 | IL | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| May 3, 2012 | KS | HB 2333 | Amends State Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| May 3, 2012 | KS | King Amendment | Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20) |
| April 10, 2012 | WA | SB 6378 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| April 10, 2012 | AL | SB 388 | Amends State Employee Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | S 6735 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | National | S J Res 24 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79) |
| Dec. 13, 2011 | MI | HB 4701 | Amends the State Employee Retirement System | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | RI | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| Sept. 15, 2011 | MA | S 2018 | Massachusetts Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 9, 2011 | NJ | S 805 | Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| April 18, 2011 | AZ | SB 1609 | Public Workers' Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | S 3985 | Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| July 14, 2010 | MO | HB 1 | Public Retirement Systems | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5) |
| May 5, 2010 | IL | SB 3267 | Elder Financial Exploitation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9) |
| April 28, 2010 | MO | HB 2010 | 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10) |
| April 23, 2010 | CO | SB 190 | Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 20, 2010 | MO | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| April 14, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| March 24, 2010 | IL | SB 3267 | Elder Financial Exploitation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 3, 2010 | National | S Amdt 3353 | Payment to Social Security Recipients | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| March 1, 2010 | UT | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 1, 2010 | UT | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Oct. 21, 2009 | National | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 4111 | State Employee Wage Increases | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| June 2, 2009 | NC | SB 703 | Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 296 | Retirement Debt Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| March 16, 2009 | NJ | S 21 | Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 16, 2009 | NJ | S 2577 | Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 13, 2009 | WV | SB 238 | Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| July 9, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| May 29, 2008 | IL | SB 788 | Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | MS | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/12 | AB 1 | Expands State Medicaid to Ensure Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations | (29 - 2) |
| 1/11 | HB 2451 | Increases the Annual Cost of Living for Retired Firefighters | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 14) |
| 10/22 | HB 43 | Establishes Guidelines for Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| 10/08 | SB 1094 | Prohibits Nursing Homes from Admitting or Retaining Coronavirus Positive Individuals for Care | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| 9/24 | S 2712 | Establishes Minimum Direct Care Staff-to-Resident Ratios in Nursing Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 8/27 | A 4476 | Establishes a Long-Term Care Emergency Operations Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| 8/27 | A 1263 | Prohibits Stranger-Originated Life Insurance Policy Arrangements | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| 6/25 | ACA 11 | Establishes the "Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 3/12 | HB 494 | Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0) |
| 5/23 | HB 696 | Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10) |
| 4/22 | SB 224 | Authorizes Confidentiality Requirements for Public Employee Retirement Records | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 6/07 | SB 787 | Authorizes Reduced Car Insurance Options for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 6/26 | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 6/03 | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 5/27 | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
| 5/21 | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 4/10 | LB 690 | Establishes the Aging Nebraskans Task Force | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
| 4/08 | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
| 3/31 | LB 690 | Establishes the Aging Nebraskans Task Force | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 3/31 | HR 4302 | Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 3/13 | SB 364 | Increase Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| 12/03 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 4/18 | HB 377 | Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 4/11 | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/26 | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| 2/13 | SB 9 | Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 11/29 | S 2241 | Prohibits Unauthorized Medical Provider Reimbursement Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 5/31 | HB 1447 | Pension Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24) |
| 5/10 | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| 5/03 | HB 2333 | Amends State Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 5/03 | King Amendment | Amends the State Retirement System for New Public Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 4/10 | SB 6378 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 4/10 | SB 388 | Amends State Employee Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/14 | S 6735 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 12/14 | S J Res 24 | Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Udall Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (21 - 79) |
| 12/13 | HB 4701 | Amends the State Employee Retirement System | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 11/17 | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| 9/15 | S 2018 | Massachusetts Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 6/09 | HB 414 | Increasing Retirement Contributions for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/09 | S 805 | Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 5/31 | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| 4/18 | SB 1609 | Public Workers' Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 12/08 | S 3985 | Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 10/14 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 9/23 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 7/14 | HB 1 | Public Retirement Systems | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 5/05 | SB 3267 | Elder Financial Exploitation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (47 - 9) |
| 4/28 | HB 2010 | 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 4/23 | SB 190 | Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| 4/14 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 3/24 | SB 3267 | Elder Financial Exploitation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 3/03 | S Amdt 3353 | Payment to Social Security Recipients | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| 3/01 | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 3/01 | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| 2/01 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 10/21 | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 6/25 | A 4111 | State Employee Wage Increases | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 6/02 | SB 703 | Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| 5/28 | SB 296 | Retirement Debt Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 3/16 | S 21 | Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/16 | S 2577 | Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/13 | SB 238 | Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 8/20 | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| 7/09 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 5/29 | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 5/29 | SB 788 | Authorizing $16 Billion Increase in Bonds for State Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 3/19 | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 3/12 | HB 600 | State Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| 2/27 | SB 2998 | Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 1/17 | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |