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
March 12, 2015 ID S 1108 Authorizes Testing Autonomous Driven Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 10, 2015 UT HB 79 Amends Safety Belt Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
March 10, 2015 WA SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 9, 2015 WA SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 6, 2015 WY SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
March 3, 2015 SD HB 1030 Requires Motorists to Maintain Safe Distance When Passing Cyclists Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 2, 2015 WA SB 5987 Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
March 2, 2015 NM SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 24, 2015 CO SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2015 CO SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2015 NM SB 53 Authorizes Mandatory Outpatient Treatment for Certain Individuals with Mental Disorders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2015 IN SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1167 Prohibits the Use of Photo Radar and Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2015 NV AB 125 Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
Feb. 17, 2015 ID S 1011 Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2015 NC SB 20 Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2015 WY SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Feb. 5, 2015 SD SB 57 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 30, 2015 WY SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Jan. 23, 2015 WY SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
Dec. 19, 2014 MI HB 5477 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
Dec. 16, 2014 MI HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 11, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI SB 1130 Amends Public Health Code to Include Hepatitis C Virus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Dec. 2, 2014 MI SB 1150 Reduces Maximum Weight Limit of a Vehicle Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22)
Nov. 19, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Nov. 13, 2014 MI HB 5477 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Oct. 14, 2014 PA HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Sept. 24, 2014 PA SB 1182 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
Sept. 23, 2014 PA HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Sept. 18, 2014 National H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
Sept. 18, 2014 National H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 21, 2014 CA SB 968 Authorizes Public Access Route to Martins Beach Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
July 31, 2014 National HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (81 - 13)
July 30, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
July 29, 2014 National HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014  Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3584 Transportation Empowerment Act Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3583 Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31)
July 28, 2014 NC HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
July 9, 2014 National PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
July 8, 2014 PA HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/12 S 1108 Authorizes Testing Autonomous Driven Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/10 HB 79 Amends Safety Belt Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
3/10 SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/09 SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/06 SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
3/03 HB 1030 Requires Motorists to Maintain Safe Distance When Passing Cyclists Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/02 SB 5987 Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
3/02 SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
2/26 SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/24 SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/24 SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/24 SB 53 Authorizes Mandatory Outpatient Treatment for Certain Individuals with Mental Disorders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11)
2/24 SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
2/24 SF 257 Increases Fuel Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
2/23 SB 1167 Prohibits the Use of Photo Radar and Red Light Cameras Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15)
2/20 AB 125 Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
2/17 S 1011 Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
2/12 SB 20 Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/11 SF 145 Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
2/05 SB 57 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/30 SF 56 Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
1/23 SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
12/19 HB 5477 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
12/16 HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/11 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
12/03 SB 1130 Amends Public Health Code to Include Hepatitis C Virus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
12/02 SB 1150 Reduces Maximum Weight Limit of a Vehicle Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22)
11/19 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
11/13 HB 5477 Increases Gasoline and Diesel Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
10/14 HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
9/24 SB 1182 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
9/23 HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
9/18 H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
9/18 H J Res 124 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
8/29 SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
8/29 SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
8/27 AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
8/27 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/21 SB 968 Authorizes Public Access Route to Martins Beach Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
7/31 HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 (81 - 13)
7/30 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
7/29 HR 5021 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014  Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18)
7/29 S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
7/29 S Amdt 3584 Transportation Empowerment Act Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69)
7/29 S Amdt 3583 Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31)
7/28 HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
7/09 PN 1736 Nomination of Julian Castro to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 26)
7/08 HB 1177 Authorizes Cigarette and Hotel Taxes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 5)

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