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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2016 | OR | SB 1573 | Authorizes City Property Annexation without Voter Authorization | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| March 3, 2016 | RI | S 2081 | Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
| March 3, 2016 | MO | HB 1892 | Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring System | Bill Passed - House (87 - 66) |
| March 3, 2016 | AL | SB 13 | Prohibits Removal of Momuments on Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| March 2, 2016 | OR | SB 1547 | Prohibits the Use of Coal as an Energy Supply Source | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 2, 2016 | WY | SF 72 | Increases the Speed Limit on State Highways | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| March 2, 2016 | OR | HB 4037 | Establishes Solar Energy Incentives Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| March 2, 2016 | OR | HB 4143 | Prohibits Rent Increase in First Year of Tenancy | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9) |
| March 2, 2016 | RI | H 7228 | Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton | Bill Passed - House (69 - 4) |
| March 2, 2016 | MS | HB 938 | Expands Vaccination Exemptions | Bill Passed - House |
| March 2, 2016 | AZ | HB 2599 | Establishes Provisions that Prohibit Certain Organizations from Receiving State or Federal Funding | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| March 1, 2016 | OR | SB 1547 | Prohibits the Use of Coal as an Energy Supply Source | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| March 1, 2016 | WV | HB 4625 | Requires Greyhound Racing Funds to be Redirected to State Road Fund | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| March 1, 2016 | IA | SF 2188 | Authorizes Certain Psychologists to Prescribe Medication | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
| March 1, 2016 | RI | S 2103 | Requires Property Owners to Maintain Trees and Shrubs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| March 1, 2016 | KY | SB 89 | Authorizes Construction of Nuclear Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| March 1, 2016 | CO | HB 1231 | Limits Use of Automated Vehicle Identification Systems | Bill Passed - House (33 - 31) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | VA | HB 587 | Prohibits Removal of War Monuments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | GA | SB 6 | Establishes Driving Safety Cards for Certain Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | IA | SF 2222 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Dispense Over-the-Counter Birth Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | KY | SB 200 | Reduces Number of Horse Park Commission Members | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2403 | Limits Property Deed Recording Fee to $500 | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | GA | HB 951 | Establishes Tax Exemptions for Certain Purchases | Bill Passed - House (127 - 22) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | National | HR 2406 | Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 161) |
| Feb. 25, 2016 | IA | SF 2289 | Expands Criminal Offenses for Animal Mistreatment | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | KS | HB 2578 | Expands List of Medical Professionals Who Can Clear High School Athletes for Play After a Concussion | Bill Passed - House (70 - 53) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | KS | HB 2578 | Expands List of Medical Professionals Who Can Clear High School Athletes for Play After a Concussion | Bill Passed - House (70 - 53) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | MO | HB 1414 | Establishes Regulations for the Release of Certain Agricultural Data | Bill Passed - House (104 - 49) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | TN | HB 2129 | Requires Historical Commission Approval to Alter Monuments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 23) |
| Feb. 17, 2016 | TN | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| Feb. 17, 2016 | OR | HB 4122 | Requires Genetically Engineered Fish to Be Labeled | Bill Passed - House (32 - 27) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | SB 416 | Authorizes Individuals to Rent Out Rooms through Online Platform | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | OR | HB 4036 | Requires Electric Companies to Eliminate Coal Power | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | AZ | SB 1241 | Prohibits Photo Enforcement System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | VA | HB 1348 | Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | RI | H 7409 | Establishes Highway Truck Tolls | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | WI | AB 568 | Authorizes Landlords to Evict Tenants for Criminal Activity | Bill Passed - House (60 - 31) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | NJ | S 988 | Authorizes Qualified Wind Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | RI | H 7409 | Establishes Highway Truck Tolls | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | WI | AB 582 | Amends Shoreline Zoning and Property Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | CO | HB 1004 | Amends Climate Impact Plan | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | WI | AB 600 | Amends Shoreline Development Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Feb. 8, 2016 | VA | SB 646 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | NE | LB 176 | Authorizes Meatpackers to Own Swine | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | National | S 2012 | Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (43 - 54) |
| Feb. 4, 2016 | National | HR 766 | Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 169) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | SB 339 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | SB 80 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | VA | SB 117 | Prohibits Opening Car Door in Traffic Lane | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Feb. 2, 2016 | IN | SB 313 | Prohibits Abortion Based on Gender, Race, or Disability of Fetus | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 67 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in Housing Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | OH | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| Jan. 27, 2016 | NH | HB 630 | Authorizes Video Lottery Machine Licenses | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 129) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | NM | HB 99 | Requires Driver's Licenses to Comply with Federal Standards | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| Jan. 20, 2016 | NE | LB 18 | Requires a Meningitis Immunization Before Entering Seventh Grade | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (29 - 14) |
| Jan. 20, 2016 | MI | SB 207 | Authorizes Peace Officers to Conduct Roadside Saliva Drug Test | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Jan. 13, 2016 | SC | H 3440 | Requires Certain Safety Regulations to Operate a Moped | Bill Passed - House (67 - 41) |
| Jan. 12, 2016 | National | S 2232 | Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44) |
| Jan. 6, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181) |
| Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 8 | North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act | Bill Passed - House (249 - 174) |
| Nov. 17, 2015 | OH | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Nov. 10, 2015 | IL | HB 2482 | Specifies Determination of Need Score to Qualify for Assistance | Veto Override Failed - House (70 - 38) |
| Nov. 5, 2015 | National | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (363 - 64) |
| Nov. 5, 2015 | National | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
| Nov. 3, 2015 | National | H Amdt 747 | Increases Weight Limit for Commercial Trucks | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 236) |
| Oct. 27, 2015 | National | S 754 | Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21) |
| Oct. 27, 2015 | National | HR 597 | Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 118) |
| Oct. 23, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | OH | SB 214 | Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Oct. 8, 2015 | National | HR 538 | Native American Energy Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |