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. 13, 2019 MI SB 2 Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Feb. 13, 2019 KY SB 100 Requires Net Metering for Solar Power Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2019 OR SB 608 Prohibits No-Cause evictions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 7, 2019 MS SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2019 National S 1 Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2019 UT SB 96 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 101 Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
Jan. 22, 2019 NY S 240 Authorizes Comprehensive Abortion Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 24)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)
Dec. 18, 2018 MI HB 5634 Repeals Ban on Tinted Windshields Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Dec. 12, 2018 National S J Res 64 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating to "Returns by Exempt Organizations and Returns by Certain Non-Exempt Organizations" Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
Dec. 11, 2018 National HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 13)
Dec. 11, 2018 National PN 1803 Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury (55 - 44)
Dec. 10, 2018 National PN 1803 Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
Dec. 6, 2018 National PN 2170 Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (50 - 49)
Dec. 4, 2018 WI SB 883 Appropriates Funds from the Department of Transportation for State Road Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Nov. 29, 2018 National PN 2170 Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
Oct. 29, 2018 NJ S 678 Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA HB 1822 Establishes Certification Process for Schools to Become Certified Suicide Prevention Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (49 - None)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Oct. 15, 2018 PA SB 1095 Authorizes Alternatives to Graduate for Keystone Test Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Sept. 26, 2018 PA SB 1098 Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
Sept. 25, 2018 PA SB 521 Requires CPR Training in High Schools Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Sept. 17, 2018 National HR 6 Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
Sept. 17, 2018 National S 2554 Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2)
Aug. 27, 2018 MS SB 2001 Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
Aug. 21, 2018 CA SB 1192 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Aug. 1, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
July 18, 2018 UT HB 2001 Amends Jurisdictional Boundaries of Utah Inland Port Authority Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
July 17, 2018 National PN 1391 Nomination of James Blew to Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development for the Department of Education (50 - 49)
July 12, 2018 MA S 2595 Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
July 10, 2018 OH HB 123 Amends Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
July 1, 2018 NJ A 4061 Establishes Surcharge on Prearranged Rides Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 1, 2018 NJ S 822 Requires Employers and Landlords to Hold Liability Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
July 1, 2018 NJ S 1612 Requires Minimum Nurse Aide-to-Resident Ratio Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 28, 2018 DE HB 425 Prohibits Pharmaceutical "Gag Clauses" Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
June 28, 2018 National HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11)
June 27, 2018 NC HB 374 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
June 26, 2018 NC SB 711 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 4249 Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 542 Requires Schools Maintain a Supply of Opioid Antidotes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 22, 2018 PA HB 1448 Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
June 22, 2018 PA HB 864 Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29)
June 22, 2018 PA HB 864 Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29)
June 22, 2018 PA HB 2468 Requires Court Order for Eminent Domain on Conserved Lands Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
June 21, 2018 NJ S 1074 Requires Public Access to Beaches Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
June 20, 2018 ME LD 1584 Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 18, 2018 National HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/13 SB 2 Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
2/13 SB 100 Requires Net Metering for Solar Power Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/12 SB 608 Prohibits No-Cause evictions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/07 SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/05 S 1 Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 23)
2/04 SB 96 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
1/29 S 101 Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
1/22 S 240 Authorizes Comprehensive Abortion Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 24)
1/14 S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)
12/18 HB 5634 Repeals Ban on Tinted Windshields Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
12/12 S J Res 64 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating to "Returns by Exempt Organizations and Returns by Certain Non-Exempt Organizations" Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 49)
12/11 HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 13)
12/11 PN 1803 Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury (55 - 44)
12/10 PN 1803 Nomination of Justin George Muzinich to be Deputy Director of the Department of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
12/06 PN 2170 Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (50 - 49)
12/04 SB 883 Appropriates Funds from the Department of Transportation for State Road Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
11/29 PN 2170 Nomination of Kathleen Laura Kraninger to be the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
10/29 S 678 Prohibits Disposal of Fracking Waste Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
10/17 HB 1822 Establishes Certification Process for Schools to Become Certified Suicide Prevention Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (49 - None)
10/17 HB 2138 Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
10/15 SB 1095 Authorizes Alternatives to Graduate for Keystone Test Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
9/26 SB 1098 Establishes School Bus Safety Grant Program Fund Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
9/25 SB 521 Requires CPR Training in High Schools Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
9/17 HR 6 Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
9/17 S 2554 Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2)
8/27 SB 2001 Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
8/21 SB 1192 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
8/01 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 10)
7/18 HB 2001 Amends Jurisdictional Boundaries of Utah Inland Port Authority Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
7/17 PN 1391 Nomination of James Blew to Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development for the Department of Education (50 - 49)
7/12 S 2595 Establishes Commission to Study Lead in Drinking Water at Schools Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
7/10 HB 123 Amends Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
7/01 A 4061 Establishes Surcharge on Prearranged Rides Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/01 S 822 Requires Employers and Landlords to Hold Liability Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
7/01 S 1612 Requires Minimum Nurse Aide-to-Resident Ratio Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/28 HB 425 Prohibits Pharmaceutical "Gag Clauses" Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
6/28 HR 2 Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 11)
6/27 HB 374 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
6/26 SB 711 Limits Nuisance Damages Against Livestock Farmers Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
6/25 A 4249 Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/25 A 542 Requires Schools Maintain a Supply of Opioid Antidotes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/22 HB 1448 Requires Lead Testing in School Water Systems Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 4)
6/22 HB 864 Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29)
6/22 HB 864 Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29)
6/22 HB 2468 Requires Court Order for Eminent Domain on Conserved Lands Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
6/21 S 1074 Requires Public Access to Beaches Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
6/20 LD 1584 Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/18 HR 5515 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 10)

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