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 21, 2019 ME LD 1417 Expands Access to Head Start Programs "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11)
May 16, 2019 ME LD 820 Requires the State Medicaid Program to Cover Abortion Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 59)
May 14, 2019 ME LD 820 Requires the State Medicaid Program to Cover Abortion Services Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 2, 2019 TN HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 19)
May 2, 2019 TN HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
May 1, 2019 NY S 4573 Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
April 23, 2019 WA HB 1087 Establishes a Long-Term Care Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
April 18, 2019 MT HB 658 Amends State Medicaid Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 35)
April 16, 2019 WA HB 1087 Establishes a Long-Term Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 16, 2019 MT HB 658 Amends State Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 11, 2019 TN HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (68 - 21)
April 4, 2019 ID S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
April 2, 2019 ID S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 25, 2019 GA SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - House (104 - 67)
March 19, 2019 IA SF 538 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 14, 2019 IL SB 1596 Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims Bill Passed - House (70 - 40)
March 14, 2019 NH SB 228 Increases State Consumer Protections Related to Welfare Programs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 6, 2019 IL SB 1596 Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2019 NH HB 696 Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (219 - 156)
Feb. 26, 2019 GA SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3871 Amends Definition of 'Misconduct' for Unemployment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 21, 2018 NJ A 3871 Amends Definition of 'Misconduct' for Unemployment Purposes Bill Passed - House (60 - 25)
June 21, 2018 NJ A 4207 Establishes Medicaid Emergency Room Triage Reimbursement Fee for Low Acuity Emergency Room Encounters Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
June 21, 2018 NJ S 490 Prohibits Welfare "Family Caps" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
June 6, 2018 MI SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
May 9, 2018 MO HB 2171 Amends Eligibility Requirements for Blind Pension Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
May 1, 2018 PA HB 1659 Repeals SNAP Work Requirement Waivers Bill Passed - House (108 - 79)
April 19, 2018 MI SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
April 17, 2018 PA HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - House (115 - 80)
April 3, 2018 MO HB 1486 Establishes Work Requirements for SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (107 - 43)
March 15, 2018 MO HB 1443 Increases Penalties for Unauthorized Use of TANF or SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (100 - 46)
Feb. 20, 2018 WV HB 4001 Authorizes Work Requirement for Food Stamp Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
Feb. 15, 2018 NJ S 105 Amends Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
Jan. 29, 2018 VA SB 192 Authorizes State to Deduct Previous TANF Benefits from Lottery Winnings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
July 6, 2017 OR HB 3464 Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
June 20, 2017 OR HB 3464 Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
June 15, 2017 MI HB 4647 Establishes Teacher Pension Plan Bill Passed - House (55 - 52)
May 11, 2017 AL SB 200 Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
May 10, 2017 AZ HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
May 10, 2017 WI AB 242 Requires Drug Screening for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
April 27, 2017 IL SB 14 Establishes New Pension Guidelines Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 23, 2017 NJ A 4243 Requires "Whistleblower" Settlements to be Public Record Bill Passed - House (73 - 0)
March 16, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
Feb. 23, 2017 MO HB 288 Requires Term of Unemployment Benefits be Pegged to Unemployment Rate Bill Passed - House (100 - 56)
Feb. 23, 2017 AZ HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Sept. 27, 2016 National HR 954 CO-OP Consumer Protection Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (258 - 165)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/21 LD 1417 Expands Access to Head Start Programs "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11)
5/16 LD 820 Requires the State Medicaid Program to Cover Abortion Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 59)
5/14 LD 820 Requires the State Medicaid Program to Cover Abortion Services Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/02 HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 19)
5/02 HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
5/01 S 4573 Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
4/23 HB 1087 Establishes a Long-Term Care Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
4/18 HB 658 Amends State Medicaid Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 35)
4/16 HB 1087 Establishes a Long-Term Care Program Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/16 HB 658 Amends State Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/11 HB 1280 Amends State Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (68 - 21)
4/04 S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
4/02 S 1204 Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/25 SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - House (104 - 67)
3/19 SF 538 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/14 SB 1596 Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims Bill Passed - House (70 - 40)
3/14 SB 228 Increases State Consumer Protections Related to Welfare Programs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/06 SB 1596 Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 16)
2/27 HB 696 Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (219 - 156)
2/26 SB 106 Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
10/17 HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
6/25 A 3871 Amends Definition of 'Misconduct' for Unemployment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/21 A 3871 Amends Definition of 'Misconduct' for Unemployment Purposes Bill Passed - House (60 - 25)
6/21 A 4207 Establishes Medicaid Emergency Room Triage Reimbursement Fee for Low Acuity Emergency Room Encounters Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
6/21 S 490 Prohibits Welfare "Family Caps" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
6/06 SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
5/09 HB 2171 Amends Eligibility Requirements for Blind Pension Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
5/01 HB 1659 Repeals SNAP Work Requirement Waivers Bill Passed - House (108 - 79)
4/19 SB 897 Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
4/17 HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - House (115 - 80)
4/03 HB 1486 Establishes Work Requirements for SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (107 - 43)
3/15 HB 1443 Increases Penalties for Unauthorized Use of TANF or SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (100 - 46)
2/20 HB 4001 Authorizes Work Requirement for Food Stamp Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
2/15 S 105 Amends Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
1/29 SB 192 Authorizes State to Deduct Previous TANF Benefits from Lottery Winnings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
7/06 HB 3464 Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
6/20 HB 3464 Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
6/15 HB 4647 Establishes Teacher Pension Plan Bill Passed - House (55 - 52)
5/11 SB 200 Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
5/10 HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
5/10 AB 242 Requires Drug Screening for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
4/27 SB 14 Establishes New Pension Guidelines Bill Passed - House (63 - 45)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
3/27 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/23 A 4243 Requires "Whistleblower" Settlements to be Public Record Bill Passed - House (73 - 0)
3/16 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
2/23 HB 288 Requires Term of Unemployment Benefits be Pegged to Unemployment Rate Bill Passed - House (100 - 56)
2/23 HB 2372 Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
9/27 HR 954 CO-OP Consumer Protection Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (258 - 165)

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