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
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 6, 2025 AL SB 79 Defines "Gender" to be Based on Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
Feb. 6, 2025 GA SB 1 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2025 IN SB 289 Prohibits Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programs in Schools and State Government Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 6, 2025 MS SB 2515 Prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
Feb. 5, 2025 PA HB 324 Authorizes Licensing of Poultry Technicians to be Done by the Secretary of Agriculture Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
Feb. 5, 2025 TX SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 5, 2025 WA SB 5181 Amends Parental Bill of Rights to be in Alignment with State Law Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
Feb. 4, 2025 SC S 62 Establishes a State Education Scholarship Trust Fund to Authorize Private School Tuition Payments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2025 IN SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Feb. 4, 2025 WY SF 69 Establishes Property Tax Exemption for Single Family Homes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA SB 982 Authorizes Casinos to be Owned and Operated in New Localities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 3, 2025 VA SB 1098 Prohibits Healthcare Professionals from Out of State Extradition for Providing Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Jan. 31, 2025 VA SB 970 Establishes Regulatory Bodies to Legalize the Cannabis Industry in Virginia Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
Jan. 30, 2025 NH SB 13 Prohibits the State from Recognizing Licenses Issued to Undocumented Immigrants in Other States "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 35)
Jan. 29, 2025 WY SF 62 Requires Students to Utilize Bathrooms Based on Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
Jan. 28, 2025 National PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 22)
Jan. 28, 2025 NY A 434 Requires Car Makers and Dealers Allow Domestic Violence Victims to Block Third-Party Access to Their Vehicle's Tracking or Control System Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
Jan. 28, 2025 NY A 519 Requires Residential Buildings with 3 or More Apartments to Install Clearly Audible Smoke Detectors Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
Jan. 28, 2025 NY A 432 Repeals References to an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" Brand While Maintaining Other Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
Jan. 28, 2025 IN SB 475 Prohibits Noncompete Agreements for Physicians Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
Jan. 27, 2025 National PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29)
Jan. 27, 2025 National PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Cloture Invoked - Senate (97 - 0)
Jan. 27, 2025 IN SB 143 Establishes an Educational Parental Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
Jan. 25, 2025 National PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 23)
Jan. 24, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 50)
Jan. 23, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
Jan. 23, 2025 SD SB 2 Increases Civil Penalties for Commercial Driver Violations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
Jan. 23, 2025 SD SB 40 Amends Department of Transportation Regulatory Authority Regarding Aeronautics Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
Jan. 22, 2025 NY A 417 Expands State Agriculture Law to Include Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 2)
Jan. 22, 2025 NY S 793 Requires that the New York State Council on the Arts Retains Powers During Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
Jan. 21, 2025 National PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 47)
Jan. 21, 2025 NY S 36 Authorizes Pharmacists to Print the Name of a Healthcare Practice on Prescription Labels for Mifepristone and Misoprostol Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
Jan. 21, 2025 NY S 929 Establishes the Health Information Privacy Act Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)
Jan. 14, 2025 NY A 596 Expands the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 1)
Jan. 14, 2025 NJ S 3695 Requires Each School District to Adopt Cell Phone and Social Media Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
Jan. 14, 2025 NJ A 1672 Extends and Expands the Senior Freeze Program to Include Disabled Railroad Workers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
Jan. 13, 2025 NY S 88 Amends Various New York Laws Relating to Elections and Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
Jan. 6, 2025 IL HB 587 Increases Renewable Energy State Storage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
Dec. 20, 2024 MI HB 5695 Increases Financial Support Available to Ground Ambulance Services Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
Dec. 19, 2024 MI HB 5451 Requires the Safe Firearm Storage Notice Created by MDHHS be Distributed Parents and Legal Guardians of Students Yearly Beginning October 1, 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 19, 2024 MI HB 5450 Requires that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Create a Notice in English, Spanish and Arabic Regarding the Safe Storage of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 18, 2024 National S 4367 Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (97 - 1)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Dec. 18, 2024 OH SB 95 Amends State Business Climate by Reducing Legal Actions and Increasing Access to Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/06 PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/06 SB 79 Defines "Gender" to be Based on Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
2/06 SB 1 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
2/06 SB 289 Prohibits Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programs in Schools and State Government Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/06 SB 2515 Prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/05 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
2/05 HB 324 Authorizes Licensing of Poultry Technicians to be Done by the Secretary of Agriculture Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
2/05 SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/05 SB 5181 Amends Parental Bill of Rights to be in Alignment with State Law Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/04 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
2/04 S 62 Establishes a State Education Scholarship Trust Fund to Authorize Private School Tuition Payments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/04 SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
2/04 SF 69 Establishes Property Tax Exemption for Single Family Homes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
2/04 SB 982 Authorizes Casinos to be Owned and Operated in New Localities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/03 SB 1098 Prohibits Healthcare Professionals from Out of State Extradition for Providing Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
1/31 SB 970 Establishes Regulatory Bodies to Legalize the Cannabis Industry in Virginia Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
1/30 PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
1/30 SB 13 Prohibits the State from Recognizing Licenses Issued to Undocumented Immigrants in Other States "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 8)
1/30 PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 35)
1/29 SF 62 Requires Students to Utilize Bathrooms Based on Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
1/28 PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 22)
1/28 A 434 Requires Car Makers and Dealers Allow Domestic Violence Victims to Block Third-Party Access to Their Vehicle's Tracking or Control System Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
1/28 A 519 Requires Residential Buildings with 3 or More Apartments to Install Clearly Audible Smoke Detectors Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
1/28 A 432 Repeals References to an "I Love NY Historic Small Business" Brand While Maintaining Other Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0)
1/28 SB 475 Prohibits Noncompete Agreements for Physicians Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
1/27 PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29)
1/27 PN 11-6 Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation Cloture Invoked - Senate (97 - 0)
1/27 SB 143 Establishes an Educational Parental Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
1/25 PN 11-1 Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 23)
1/24 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 50)
1/23 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
1/23 SB 2 Increases Civil Penalties for Commercial Driver Violations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
1/23 SB 40 Amends Department of Transportation Regulatory Authority Regarding Aeronautics Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
1/22 A 417 Expands State Agriculture Law to Include Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 2)
1/22 S 793 Requires that the New York State Council on the Arts Retains Powers During Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
1/21 PN 11-7 Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 47)
1/21 S 36 Authorizes Pharmacists to Print the Name of a Healthcare Practice on Prescription Labels for Mifepristone and Misoprostol Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
1/21 S 929 Establishes the Health Information Privacy Act Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 10)
1/14 A 596 Expands the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 1)
1/14 S 3695 Requires Each School District to Adopt Cell Phone and Social Media Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
1/14 A 1672 Extends and Expands the Senior Freeze Program to Include Disabled Railroad Workers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
1/13 S 88 Amends Various New York Laws Relating to Elections and Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
1/06 HB 587 Increases Renewable Energy State Storage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
12/20 HB 5695 Increases Financial Support Available to Ground Ambulance Services Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
12/19 HB 5451 Requires the Safe Firearm Storage Notice Created by MDHHS be Distributed Parents and Legal Guardians of Students Yearly Beginning October 1, 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/19 HB 5450 Requires that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Create a Notice in English, Spanish and Arabic Regarding the Safe Storage of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/18 S 4367 Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (97 - 1)
12/18 SB 63 Requires Individuals that Have Been Exposed to Asbestos to File Specific Types of Disclosures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
12/18 SB 95 Amends State Business Climate by Reducing Legal Actions and Increasing Access to Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)

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