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
April 11, 2017 WA HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 7, 2017 KS SB 70 Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
April 5, 2017 WI SB 76 Reduces Regulations of High-Capacity Water Wells Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
April 3, 2017 MD HB 1 Requires Certain Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 30, 2017 NC HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 30, 2017 NC HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 295 Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 23, 2017 ID H 139 Reduces the Number of Training Hours Required for Cosmetologists Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
March 21, 2017 IA SF 489 Authorizes the Sale of Consumer Fireworks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
March 2, 2017 MO SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 1, 2017 AZ SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
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. 2, 2017 WY SF 153 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in the Workplace Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Feb. 2, 2017 KS SB 30 Establishes Tax Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Jan. 19, 2017 NH SB 11 Prohibits Collective Bargaining Agreements That Require Employees to Join A Labor Union Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
Sept. 14, 2016 MO HB 1870 Reauthorizes Small Business Tax Deductions Veto Override Failed - Senate (18 - 12)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA SB 1241 Amends Current Provisions of Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 22, 2016 CA AB 1843 Prohibits Employers from Asking Applicants to Disclose Criminal History Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 22, 2016 CA AB 1066 Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 15, 2016 CA AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 HB 1493 Regulates Commercial Use of Biometric Data Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/07 SB 70 Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
4/05 SB 76 Reduces Regulations of High-Capacity Water Wells Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
4/03 HB 1 Requires Certain Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/30 HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/30 HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/27 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/27 HF 295 Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/23 H 139 Reduces the Number of Training Hours Required for Cosmetologists Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
3/21 SF 489 Authorizes the Sale of Consumer Fireworks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
3/02 SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/01 SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/27 SB 330 Repeals Provisions from the Workplace Freedom Act (23 - 11)
2/16 HF 291 Limits Collective Bargaining for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
2/02 SF 153 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in the Workplace Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
2/02 SB 30 Establishes Tax Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
1/19 SB 11 Prohibits Collective Bargaining Agreements That Require Employees to Join A Labor Union Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
9/14 HB 1870 Reauthorizes Small Business Tax Deductions Veto Override Failed - Senate (18 - 12)
8/31 SB 1241 Amends Current Provisions of Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/31 SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/31 SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/22 AB 1843 Prohibits Employers from Asking Applicants to Disclose Criminal History Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/22 AB 1066 Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/15 AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
7/07 S 764 Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30)
6/17 S 2864 Establishes Regulations for Rideshare Companies Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
5/25 HB 180 Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/25 HB 180 Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/25 SB 331 Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/05 HB 1252 Authorizes Employers to Pay Wages Biweekly Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12)
5/04 SB 152 Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
5/04 SB 152 Prohibits Local Hiring Requirement in Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
5/04 SB 1400 Amends Review Process for County Water Supply Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
4/20 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/13 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
4/12 HB 2501 Authorizes Extension for Water Permits Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
4/12 SB 254 Expands Equal Pay Protections Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/08 SB 1112 Establishes Tax Credit for Certain Aerospace Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/07 HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
4/07 S Amdt 3483 Establishes Standards for Passenger Space on Airplanes Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 54)
4/06 SCR 46 Prohibits a Wage Range Increase for Personal Care Attendants Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
3/31 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/31 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/30 SB 1 Prohibits Smoking in Public Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
3/23 SB 125 Amends Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Board of Directors Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
3/17 LB 83 Prohibits Wage Discrimination in Small Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
3/17 SB 297 Repeals State Coal Mine Inspections Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
3/15 H 372 Prohibits Local Limitation on Use of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/15 SB 239 Amends Regulations for High Capacity Wells Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)

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