Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
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)

arrow_upward