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 23, 2016 | ME | LD 180 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 338 | Authorizes District Courts to Transfer Possession of Abandoned Properties | Bill Passed - House (79 - 44) |
| March 22, 2016 | KY | SB 245 | Authorizes State to Issue Real ID Compliant Identification Documents | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 22, 2016 | KY | HB 305 | Appropriates Funds for Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
| March 21, 2016 | MD | HB 1106 | Increases Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards | Bill Passed - House (92 - 43) |
| March 19, 2016 | MD | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Bill Passed - House (84 - 51) |
| March 17, 2016 | MD | SB 49 | Amends the State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| March 14, 2016 | NJ | S 1707 | Requires Increased Use of Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 14, 2016 | KY | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1127 | Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 32) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1127 | Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 10) |
| March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 115 | Amends Regulations Regarding Public Electricity | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 115 | Amends Regulations Regarding Public Electricity | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| March 9, 2016 | SC | H 3579 | Appropriates Funds for Highways | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 9, 2016 | MA | H 4049 | Establishes Regulations for Ride-Sharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (139 - 16) |
| March 9, 2016 | FL | HB 4027 | Prohibits Traffic Infraction Detectors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 33) |
| March 8, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - House (44 - 7) |
| March 8, 2016 | OK | SB 1552 | Prohibits State from Issuing or Renewing Physician Licenses Following the Performance of an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7) |
| March 7, 2016 | VA | SB 117 | Prohibits Opening Car Door in Traffic Lane | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 4, 2016 | IN | SB 339 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| March 3, 2016 | WY | SF 72 | Increases the Speed Limit on State Highways | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 3, 2016 | IN | SB 333 | Appropriates Funds for Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (57 - 35) |
| March 3, 2016 | RI | S 2081 | Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton | Bill Passed - House (66 - 3) |
| March 3, 2016 | RI | H 7228 | Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
| March 3, 2016 | OR | SB 1573 | Authorizes City Property Annexation without Voter Authorization | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| March 3, 2016 | OR | SB 1533 | Authorizes Inclusionary Zoning | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| March 3, 2016 | MO | HB 1892 | Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring System | Bill Passed - House (87 - 66) |
| March 3, 2016 | RI | S 2081 | Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
| 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 | AZ | HB 2599 | Establishes Provisions that Prohibit Certain Organizations from Receiving State or Federal Funding | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| March 2, 2016 | MS | HB 938 | Expands Vaccination Exemptions | Bill Passed - House |
| March 1, 2016 | OR | SB 1547 | Prohibits the Use of Coal as an Energy Supply Source | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| March 1, 2016 | RI | S 2103 | Requires Property Owners to Maintain Trees and Shrubs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| 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 | 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) |