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 18, 2019 OR SB 250 Prohibits Health Benefit Plans from Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 10, 2019 NY A 6188 Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17)
April 10, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 8, 2019 AR HJR 1008 Establishes Stricter Requirements for Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
April 3, 2019 TX SB 17 Authorizes Protections for Lawyers that Deny Clients Based on Religious Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
March 29, 2019 GA HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
March 12, 2019 UT HB 57 Requires Search Warrants for Electronic Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 0)
March 11, 2019 IA SF 274 Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 7, 2019 SD SB 189 Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
March 6, 2019 MS HB 761 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2019 WA SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 758 Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Jan. 23, 2019 DE HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 576 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY S 1047 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
Dec. 6, 2018 OH SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Nov. 28, 2018 MI SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Sept. 5, 2018 MI HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Aug. 24, 2018 CA SB 820 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 6, 2018 CA AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
June 29, 2018 NC HB 1092 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
June 27, 2018 NC HB 913 Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
May 29, 2018 MI SB 872 Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
May 29, 2018 MI SB 871 Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
May 16, 2018 National S J Res 52 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Restoring Internet Freedom" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
May 2, 2018 NH HB 1319 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
May 2, 2018 IL SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
May 1, 2018 HI HB 1489 Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 0)
April 19, 2018 AZ HB 2563 Establishes Free Speech Policy for College Campuses Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13)
April 19, 2018 NH HB 587 Prohibits Providing Conversion Therapy to Minors "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
April 18, 2018 VT H 333 Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Bill Passed - Senate
April 18, 2018 ME LD 912 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 18, 2018 National S J Res 57 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 3686 Increases State Protections for Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 1827 Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
April 11, 2018 MO SJR 27 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 3, 2018 MD HB 447 Establishes Pretrial Services Program Grant Fund Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
March 26, 2018 NJ S 1036 Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 22, 2018 MD HB 532 Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 21, 2018 National HR 1865 Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
March 8, 2018 WA HB 3003 Amends Various Police 'Use of Force' Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
March 1, 2018 WA HB 2578 Establishes Source-of-Income Housing Non-Discrimination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2018 WA HB 1513 Authorizes Automatic Voter Pre-Registration for 16 and 17 Year Old Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 27, 2018 OR HB 4135 Authorizes Healthcare Providers to Make Decisions for End of Life Patients Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2018 NJ S 493 Authorizes Transgender Death Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1958 Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (Schumer Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1948 Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1955 Uniting and Securing America Act (Coons-McCain Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 15, 2018 National S Amdt 1959 Secure and Succeed Act (Grassley Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (39 - 60)
Jan. 19, 2018 WA SB 5766 Requires School Districts to Adopt Transgender Student Policies and Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Jan. 18, 2018 National S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
Jan. 3, 2018 NH HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
Nov. 7, 2017 WI AB 165 Authorizes Role in a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 19, 2017 NJ S 3067 Prohibits Transgender Discrimination in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 31, 2017 IL HB 1785 Authorizes Birth Certificate Changes for Transgender People Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
May 30, 2017 IL HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
May 11, 2017 AL SB 200 Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
May 9, 2017 AZ SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
April 27, 2017 TX HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 27, 2017 MI SB 163 Authorizes "Choose Life" License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 26, 2017 LA SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 24, 2017 NE LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
April 17, 2017 AZ SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 7, 2017 WA HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
April 3, 2017 NE LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
March 30, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 23, 2017 IA HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 23, 2017 VT S 96 Establishes Protections For Journalists Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
March 23, 2017 FL SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/18 SB 250 Prohibits Health Benefit Plans from Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/10 A 6188 Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17)
4/10 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/08 HJR 1008 Establishes Stricter Requirements for Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
4/03 SB 17 Authorizes Protections for Lawyers that Deny Clients Based on Religious Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
3/29 HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
3/12 HB 57 Requires Search Warrants for Electronic Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 0)
3/11 SF 274 Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/07 SB 189 Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
3/06 HB 761 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
2/26 SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/21 S 758 Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
1/23 HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
1/15 A 576 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4)
1/15 S 1047 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
12/06 SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
11/28 SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
10/17 SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
9/05 HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
8/24 SB 820 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
8/06 AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
6/29 HB 1092 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
6/27 HB 913 Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
6/25 A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
5/29 SB 872 Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
5/29 SB 871 Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
5/16 S J Res 52 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Restoring Internet Freedom" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
5/02 HB 1319 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
5/02 SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
5/01 HB 1489 Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 0)
4/19 HB 2563 Establishes Free Speech Policy for College Campuses Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13)
4/19 HB 587 Prohibits Providing Conversion Therapy to Minors "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
4/18 H 333 Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Bill Passed - Senate
4/18 LD 912 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/18 S J Res 57 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47)
4/12 A 3686 Increases State Protections for Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/12 A 1827 Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
4/11 SJR 27 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/03 HB 447 Establishes Pretrial Services Program Grant Fund Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
3/26 S 1036 Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/22 HB 532 Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/21 HR 1865 Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
3/08 HB 3003 Amends Various Police 'Use of Force' Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
3/01 HB 2578 Establishes Source-of-Income Housing Non-Discrimination Policy Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
2/28 HB 1513 Authorizes Automatic Voter Pre-Registration for 16 and 17 Year Old Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/27 HB 4135 Authorizes Healthcare Providers to Make Decisions for End of Life Patients Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
2/26 S 493 Authorizes Transgender Death Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
2/15 S Amdt 1958 Immigration Security and Opportunity Act (Schumer Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
2/15 S Amdt 1948 Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (Toomey Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45)
2/15 S Amdt 1955 Uniting and Securing America Act (Coons-McCain Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
2/15 S Amdt 1959 Secure and Succeed Act (Grassley Amendment) Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (39 - 60)
1/19 SB 5766 Requires School Districts to Adopt Transgender Student Policies and Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
1/18 S 139 FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
1/03 HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
11/07 AB 165 Authorizes Role in a Constitutional Convention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/19 S 3067 Prohibits Transgender Discrimination in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/31 HB 1785 Authorizes Birth Certificate Changes for Transgender People Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
5/30 HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
5/11 SB 200 Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
5/09 SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
4/27 HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/27 SB 163 Authorizes "Choose Life" License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/26 SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/24 LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
4/17 SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/07 HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
4/03 LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
3/30 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/23 HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/23 S 96 Establishes Protections For Journalists Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
3/23 SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)

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