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 7, 2016 | National | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
| June 17, 2016 | RI | S 2864 | Establishes Regulations for Rideshare Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | HB 180 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | HB 180 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 25, 2016 | OH | SB 331 | Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| May 5, 2016 | NH | HB 1252 | Authorizes Employers to Pay Wages Biweekly | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 4, 2016 | OH | SB 152 | Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1400 | Amends Review Process for County Water Supply | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| April 20, 2016 | NE | LB 947 | Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 947 | Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| April 12, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| April 12, 2016 | LA | SB 254 | Expands Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 8, 2016 | MD | SB 1112 | Establishes Tax Credit for Certain Aerospace Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 7, 2016 | National | S Amdt 3483 | Establishes Standards for Passenger Space on Airplanes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 54) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 31, 2016 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 30, 2016 | AK | SB 1 | Prohibits Smoking in Public | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| March 23, 2016 | AK | SB 125 | Amends Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board of Directors | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
| March 17, 2016 | NE | LB 83 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination in Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 17, 2016 | KY | SB 297 | Repeals State Coal Mine Inspections | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| March 15, 2016 | ID | H 372 | Prohibits Local Limitation on Use of Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| March 15, 2016 | WI | SB 239 | Amends Regulations for High Capacity Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| March 14, 2016 | KY | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| March 10, 2016 | AZ | HB 2131 | Prohibits Local Governments from Taxing Disposable Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 9, 2016 | UT | HB 251 | Prohibits Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| March 3, 2016 | MO | SB 919 | Authorizes Breweries to Lease Coolers to Stores | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| March 2, 2016 | IA | SF 2252 | Requires Accommodations for Employees During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | TN | SB 2094 | Limits Liquor Retailers to 2 Stores | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | AL | HB 174 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Wage or Employee Benefits Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | SD | SB 159 | Authorizes Education Tax Credit for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | CO | SB 70 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | TN | SB 1621 | Prohibits Local-Hire Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | SB 416 | Authorizes Individuals to Rent Out Rooms through Online Platform | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | OR | SB 1532 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | OR | SB 1532 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 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) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | UT | SB 59 | Requires Employers Provide Certain Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 12 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Employment Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | MO | SCR 46 | Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| Jan. 25, 2016 | VA | SB 335 | Prohibits State Employers From Inquiring about an Applicant's Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | WV | SB 1 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Union Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Nov. 17, 2015 | National | S J Res 23 | A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Oct. 22, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2564 | Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65) |
| Sept. 4, 2015 | CA | AB 888 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 27, 2015 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| July 1, 2015 | OR | SB 478 | Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| June 25, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| June 25, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| June 24, 2015 | NH | HB 550 | Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 11, 2015 | OR | HB 3025 | Prohibits Asking Job Applicants' Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| June 11, 2015 | MI | HB 4052 | Amends Government Regulation of Employment Conditions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| June 11, 2015 | RI | H 5074 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| June 11, 2015 | RI | H 5074 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| June 10, 2015 | OR | SB 454 | Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| June 10, 2015 | OR | SB 454 | Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| June 3, 2015 | NC | HB 405 | Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property | Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| June 3, 2015 | NC | HB 405 | Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property | Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 151 | Increases Smoking Age | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 140 | Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 588 | Authorizes Labor Commissioner to Enforce the Payment of Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 3 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 28, 2015 | OR | HB 2007 | Prohibits Employers from Penalizing Employees for Discussing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| May 28, 2015 | OR | HB 2007 | Prohibits Employers from Penalizing Employees for Discussing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |