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 5, 2020 OK SB 1073 Expands Oklahoma's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 22, 2020 VA SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 11, 2020 WA SB 6478 Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 10, 2020 IN HB 1022 Expands the Definition of Panhandling Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 14)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2441 Increases Access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 26, 2020 UT SB 39 Increases Funding for Affordable Housing Development Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
Feb. 26, 2020 SD SB 96 Repeals the Lifetime Ban on Drug Felons Receiving TANF Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
Feb. 26, 2020 IA SF 2272 Establishes Computer Verification System for Public Assistance Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 13, 2020 VT S 23 Increases the State Minimum Wage Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2020 KY SB 30 Limits the Number of Companies that Oversee State's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Feb. 11, 2020 NE LB 329 Amends Eligibility Provisions for Transitional Childcare Assistance Subsidies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
June 17, 2019 OR HB 3076 Establishes Standards for Non-Profit Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
May 29, 2019 ME LD 1324 Establishes Committee for Universal Basic Income System "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 329 Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 2, 2019 ID S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 26, 2019 GA SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 6 Establishes Further Stipulations for Welfare Access Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Jan. 25, 2018 AL SB 92 Reduces Time Period of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
May 10, 2017 AZ HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 9, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 31, 2016 CA SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 25, 2016 AL HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2016 OR SB 1532 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Sept. 16, 2015 MO HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
June 25, 2015 RI H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/05 SB 1073 Expands Oklahoma's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/22 SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/11 SB 6478 Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/10 HB 1022 Expands the Definition of Panhandling Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 14)
3/05 HB 2441 Increases Access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/26 SB 39 Increases Funding for Affordable Housing Development Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
2/26 SB 96 Repeals the Lifetime Ban on Drug Felons Receiving TANF Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
2/26 SF 2272 Establishes Computer Verification System for Public Assistance Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/13 S 23 Increases the State Minimum Wage Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/12 SB 30 Limits the Number of Companies that Oversee State's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
2/11 LB 329 Amends Eligibility Provisions for Transitional Childcare Assistance Subsidies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
6/17 HB 3076 Establishes Standards for Non-Profit Hospitals Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
5/29 LD 1324 Establishes Committee for Universal Basic Income System "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
5/23 SB 329 Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/02 S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/26 SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
10/17 SB 6 Establishes Further Stipulations for Welfare Access Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
1/25 SB 92 Reduces Time Period of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
5/10 HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/09 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/31 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/25 HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/11 SB 1532 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
9/16 HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
6/25 H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)

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