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
June 3, 2025 CA SB 379 Requires the State Department of State Hospitals to Ensure Department Vendors Consider Public Safety in the Placement of a Conditionally Released Sexually Violent Predator Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 3, 2025 CA SB 720 Amends the Way Red Light Cameras are Regulated and Tickets are Issued Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
June 3, 2025 CA SB 262 Expands the Definition of Prohousing Local Policies to Include Safe Parking Programs, Safe Camping Programs, and Noncongregate Shelter Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
June 3, 2025 CA SB 791 Authorizes Vehicle Dealer to Charge up to $260 for Document Processing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
June 3, 2025 RI S 938 Establishes Green Crab Harvesting Rules and Commercial License Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
June 2, 2025 ME LD 186 Authorizes the Maine Public Utilities Commission to Establish Time-of-Use Pricing for Standard-Offer Service "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
June 2, 2025 ME LD 870 Amends Membership of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
June 2, 2025 LA HB 519 Prohibits Holding a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
June 2, 2025 NJ A 3035 Prohibits Vehicles From Being Parked in Electric Vehicle Charging Spaces if They are Not Being Charged Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 2, 2025 NJ A 2390 Specifies that Grant Preferences Given to Municipalities that Meet Housing Requirements Do Not Apply to Municipalities Seeking to Meet Those Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 2, 2025 NJ A 2390 Specifies that Grant Preferences Given to Municipalities that Meet Housing Requirements Do Not Apply to Municipalities Seeking to Meet Those Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 463 Requires Health Insurers and Medicaid to Respond Quickly to Prior Authorization Requests Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 416 Prohibits Public Schools and Libraries from Restricting Access to Materials Based on Content Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 540 Amends Various Laws Relating to Affordable Housing in Nevada Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 499 Requires Voter Photo Identification and Reforms to Mail Voting and Voter Registration Systems Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 404 Authorizes Satellite Taprooms and Out-of-State Alcohol Shipping Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
June 2, 2025 ME LD 1768 Appropriates the Tax Received from Buyers of Mobile Home Parks Entirely to the Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 11)
June 2, 2025 National PN 17 Nomination of Michael Duffey to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 45)
June 2, 2025 CA SB 437 Requires the California State University to Explore Options to Determine How to Confirm an Individual's Status as a Descendant of Enslaved Persons and Establish a Process for Confirming Eligibility for Reparative Claims Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 2, 2025 NV SB 495 Expands Procedures for Health Care Provider Credentialing And Prior Authorization, and Expands the Gold Card Exemption Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
June 2, 2025 CT SB 4 Authorizes Bonds to Pay for Public Benefits Charges Currently Included on Customers' Electric Bills Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
June 2, 2025 CA SB 497 Prohibits Information Sharing Regarding Individuals Seeking Gender-Affirming Care or With Controlled Substance History Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 2, 2025 NJ S 4377 Authorizes New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expend Sums to Make Loans for Financing Transportation Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
June 2, 2025 NJ S 4377 Authorizes New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expend Sums to Make Loans for Financing Transportation Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
June 2, 2025 CA SB 436 Requires Landlords to Give Tenants 14 days to Pay Any Late Rent they Owe Before Facing Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/03 SB 379 Requires the State Department of State Hospitals to Ensure Department Vendors Consider Public Safety in the Placement of a Conditionally Released Sexually Violent Predator Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/03 SB 720 Amends the Way Red Light Cameras are Regulated and Tickets are Issued Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
6/03 SB 262 Expands the Definition of Prohousing Local Policies to Include Safe Parking Programs, Safe Camping Programs, and Noncongregate Shelter Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
6/03 SB 791 Authorizes Vehicle Dealer to Charge up to $260 for Document Processing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
6/03 S 938 Establishes Green Crab Harvesting Rules and Commercial License Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
6/02 LD 186 Authorizes the Maine Public Utilities Commission to Establish Time-of-Use Pricing for Standard-Offer Service "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
6/02 LD 870 Amends Membership of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
6/02 HB 519 Prohibits Holding a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
6/02 A 3035 Prohibits Vehicles From Being Parked in Electric Vehicle Charging Spaces if They are Not Being Charged Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/02 A 2390 Specifies that Grant Preferences Given to Municipalities that Meet Housing Requirements Do Not Apply to Municipalities Seeking to Meet Those Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/02 A 2390 Specifies that Grant Preferences Given to Municipalities that Meet Housing Requirements Do Not Apply to Municipalities Seeking to Meet Those Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/02 AB 463 Requires Health Insurers and Medicaid to Respond Quickly to Prior Authorization Requests Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
6/02 AB 416 Prohibits Public Schools and Libraries from Restricting Access to Materials Based on Content Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
6/02 AB 540 Amends Various Laws Relating to Affordable Housing in Nevada Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/02 AB 499 Requires Voter Photo Identification and Reforms to Mail Voting and Voter Registration Systems Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
6/02 AB 404 Authorizes Satellite Taprooms and Out-of-State Alcohol Shipping Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
6/02 LD 1768 Appropriates the Tax Received from Buyers of Mobile Home Parks Entirely to the Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 11)
6/02 PN 17 Nomination of Michael Duffey to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 45)
6/02 SB 437 Requires the California State University to Explore Options to Determine How to Confirm an Individual's Status as a Descendant of Enslaved Persons and Establish a Process for Confirming Eligibility for Reparative Claims Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/02 SB 495 Expands Procedures for Health Care Provider Credentialing And Prior Authorization, and Expands the Gold Card Exemption Program Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
6/02 SB 4 Authorizes Bonds to Pay for Public Benefits Charges Currently Included on Customers' Electric Bills Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
6/02 SB 497 Prohibits Information Sharing Regarding Individuals Seeking Gender-Affirming Care or With Controlled Substance History Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/02 S 4377 Authorizes New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expend Sums to Make Loans for Financing Transportation Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
6/02 S 4377 Authorizes New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expend Sums to Make Loans for Financing Transportation Infrastructure Projects Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
6/02 SB 436 Requires Landlords to Give Tenants 14 days to Pay Any Late Rent they Owe Before Facing Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)

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