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 22, 2020 VA SB 971 Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
April 16, 2020 AR HB 1096 Appropriates Funds for the 2021 Fiscal Year Budget Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
April 15, 2020 WI AB 1038 Establishes Various Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 28, 2020 AK SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
March 27, 2020 AR SB 2 Establishes a COVID-19 Emergency Fund Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
March 25, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
March 25, 2020 PA SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 25, 2020 PA HB 1232 Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 25, 2020 NE LB 1198 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Response Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
March 24, 2020 AK HB 106 Extends School Bond Debt Reimbursement Moratorium for 5 years Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
March 23, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
March 22, 2020 National HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
March 22, 2020 AK HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
March 19, 2020 FL H 5001 Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0)
March 19, 2020 AZ HB 2902 Appropriates Funds Related to Education Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 19, 2020 AZ SB 1690 Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
March 19, 2020 AZ SB 1690 Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
March 19, 2020 AZ SB 1694 Amends State Unemployment Laws Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
March 18, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
March 17, 2020 KS SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
March 17, 2020 SC H 4014 Appropriates Funds for the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
March 17, 2020 MD SB 1028 Establishes Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Legislature More Power Over State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
March 17, 2020 ID S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
March 16, 2020 CA SB 117 Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 16, 2020 CA SB 89 Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 16, 2020 IA SF 2408 Appropriates Funds, Expands Power of Governor, and Waives School Time Requirements in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 0)
March 13, 2020 MD HB 932 Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
March 12, 2020 WA SB 6168 Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
March 12, 2020 GA HB 792 Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1)
March 12, 2020 WA HB 2965 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
March 12, 2020 UT HB 494 Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
March 12, 2020 AL HB 186 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
March 9, 2020 WY SF 1 Establishes Biennium Budget for Fiscal Years 2020-2022 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13)
March 9, 2020 WA SB 6088 Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
March 7, 2020 WV SB 150 Establishes the Budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year (33 - 1)
March 5, 2020 National HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
March 3, 2020 HI SB 75 Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0)
March 2, 2020 NY S 7919 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 4)
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. 17, 2020 VA HB 386 Prohibits State Funding for Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 11, 2020 MS SB 2257 Authorizes State Auditor to Examine Tax Returns of Public Assistance Beneficiaries Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Jan. 23, 2020 IN HB 1007 Appropriates Funds from State Surplus Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
Dec. 19, 2019 National HR 1158 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 11)
Dec. 19, 2019 National HR 1865 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 23)
Nov. 21, 2019 National HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 20)
Nov. 5, 2019 WI SJR 59 Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Increase State Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Oct. 31, 2019 NC SB 354 Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
Oct. 31, 2019 National HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
Oct. 30, 2019 NC HB 398 Appropriates State Funding for a Cybersecurity Development Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Oct. 24, 2019 NC HB 231 Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Oct. 24, 2019 NC HB 377 Increases State Teacher Pay Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
Sept. 26, 2019 National HR 4378 Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
Sept. 24, 2019 MI SB 149 Establishes a Transportation Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
Sept. 24, 2019 MI HB 4231 Appropriates $2.2 Billion for the State Corrections Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
Sept. 19, 2019 MI HB 4242 Establishes K-12 Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Aug. 1, 2019 National HR 3877 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
July 23, 2019 National HR 1327 Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
July 8, 2019 CA AB 1054 Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
June 30, 2019 OR HB 2005 Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
June 27, 2019 NC HB 966 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15)
June 26, 2019 National HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8)
June 26, 2019 WI AB 56 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
June 26, 2019 PA HB 33 Repeals a General Assistance Program for Adults with Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
June 25, 2019 DE HB 225 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
June 20, 2019 ME LD 1836 Establishes Ballot Measure for Infrastructure Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 19, 2019 ME LD 459 Defines Homelessness in Laws Governing Emergency General Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 14, 2019 ME LD 1001 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
June 6, 2019 NH HB 1 Appropriates $12.9 Billion to State Agencies "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
June 6, 2019 NH HB 2 Appropriates Funds for Various Community Development Initiatives "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
June 4, 2019 CT HB 7424 Authorizes State Budget for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
June 1, 2019 IL SB 262 Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
May 31, 2019 AL HB 77 Expands Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 29, 2019 ME LD 1324 Establishes Committee for Universal Basic Income System "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
May 27, 2019 AZ HB 2749 Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/22 SB 971 Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
4/16 HB 1096 Appropriates Funds for the 2021 Fiscal Year Budget Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
4/15 AB 1038 Establishes Various Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/28 SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
3/27 SB 2 Establishes a COVID-19 Emergency Fund Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
3/25 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0)
3/25 SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/25 HB 1232 Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/25 LB 1198 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Response Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
3/24 HB 106 Extends School Bond Debt Reimbursement Moratorium for 5 years Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
3/23 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 46)
3/22 HR 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 47)
3/22 HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
3/19 H 5001 Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0)
3/19 HB 2902 Appropriates Funds Related to Education Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/19 SB 1690 Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
3/19 SB 1690 Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
3/19 SB 1694 Amends State Unemployment Laws Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
3/18 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
3/17 SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
3/17 H 4014 Appropriates Funds for the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0)
3/17 SB 1028 Establishes Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Legislature More Power Over State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
3/17 S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
3/16 SB 117 Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/16 SB 89 Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/16 SF 2408 Appropriates Funds, Expands Power of Governor, and Waives School Time Requirements in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 0)
3/13 HB 932 Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
3/12 SB 6168 Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
3/12 HB 792 Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1)
3/12 HB 2965 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
3/12 HB 494 Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
3/12 HB 186 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
3/09 SF 1 Establishes Biennium Budget for Fiscal Years 2020-2022 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13)
3/09 SB 6088 Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
3/07 SB 150 Establishes the Budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year (33 - 1)
3/05 HR 6074 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 1)
3/03 SB 75 Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0)
3/02 S 7919 Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 4)
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)
2/17 HB 386 Prohibits State Funding for Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/11 SB 2257 Authorizes State Auditor to Examine Tax Returns of Public Assistance Beneficiaries Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
1/23 HB 1007 Appropriates Funds from State Surplus Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
12/19 HR 1158 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 11)
12/19 HR 1865 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 23)
11/21 HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (74 - 20)
11/05 SJR 59 Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Increase State Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
10/31 SB 354 Increases Pay for Public School Teachers and Personnel Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21)
10/31 HR 3055 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 9)
10/30 HB 398 Appropriates State Funding for a Cybersecurity Development Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
10/24 HB 231 Authorizes Pay Raises for UNC Systems and Community College Employees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
10/24 HB 377 Increases State Teacher Pay Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
9/26 HR 4378 Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
9/24 SB 149 Establishes a Transportation Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
9/24 HB 4231 Appropriates $2.2 Billion for the State Corrections Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
9/19 HB 4242 Establishes K-12 Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
8/01 HR 3877 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 28)
7/23 HR 1327 Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
7/08 AB 1054 Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
6/30 HB 2005 Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
6/27 HB 966 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15)
6/26 HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8)
6/26 AB 56 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
6/26 HB 33 Repeals a General Assistance Program for Adults with Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
6/25 HB 225 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
6/20 LD 1836 Establishes Ballot Measure for Infrastructure Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/19 LD 459 Defines Homelessness in Laws Governing Emergency General Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/14 LD 1001 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
6/06 HB 1 Appropriates $12.9 Billion to State Agencies "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
6/06 HB 2 Appropriates Funds for Various Community Development Initiatives "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
6/04 HB 7424 Authorizes State Budget for Fiscal Years 2019-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
6/01 SB 262 Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
5/31 HB 77 Expands Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/29 LD 1324 Establishes Committee for Universal Basic Income System "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
5/27 HB 2749 Appropriates Funds for K-12 Education for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)

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