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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 18, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
| Dec. 18, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (316 - 113) |
| Dec. 17, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109) |
| Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Nov. 19, 2015 | National | HR 4038 | American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act | Bill Passed - House (289 - 137) |
| Nov. 17, 2015 | OH | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Nov. 10, 2015 | IL | HB 2482 | Specifies Determination of Need Score to Qualify for Assistance | Veto Override Failed - House (70 - 38) |
| Nov. 10, 2015 | IL | SB 570 | Requires Child Care Benefits for Eligible Individuals | Bill Failed - House (70 - 35) |
| Nov. 5, 2015 | National | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (363 - 64) |
| Nov. 5, 2015 | National | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
| Nov. 3, 2015 | AK | SB 3001 | Appropriates Funds for Liquid Natural Gas (AKLNG) Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| Oct. 29, 2015 | National | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| Oct. 28, 2015 | National | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (266 - 167) |
| Oct. 23, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Oct. 23, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | OH | SB 214 | Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Oct. 21, 2015 | National | HR 692 | Default Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 194) |
| Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 156) |
| Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
| Sept. 30, 2015 | National | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (277 - 151) |
| Sept. 30, 2015 | National | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| Sept. 29, 2015 | National | HR 3495 | Women's Public Health and Safety Act | Bill Passed - House (236 - 193) |
| Sept. 24, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
| Sept. 24, 2015 | WI | AB 310 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| Sept. 18, 2015 | National | HR 3134 | Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 187) |
| Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| Sept. 16, 2015 | AL | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| Sept. 16, 2015 | AL | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | AL | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| Sept. 9, 2015 | IL | HB 1 | Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11) |
| Sept. 9, 2015 | IL | SB 2046 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Public Health | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
| Aug. 6, 2015 | NC | HB 943 | Appropriate Funds for Infrastructure | Bill Passed - House (76 - 29) |
| July 30, 2015 | National | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| July 15, 2015 | National | HR 3038 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (312 - 119) |
| July 8, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| July 7, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
| July 1, 2015 | OR | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
| June 30, 2015 | PA | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| June 27, 2015 | PA | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - House (112 - 77) |
| June 26, 2015 | OH | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 33) |
| June 25, 2015 | OH | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 9) |
| June 25, 2015 | NJ | S 3100 | Requires State to Pay Pension Contributions on Quarterly Basis | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| June 23, 2015 | RI | H 5900 | Establishes Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| June 17, 2015 | ME | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| June 16, 2015 | OR | HB 2960 | Establishes Oregon Retirement Savings Board | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| June 16, 2015 | National | HR 2596 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
| June 16, 2015 | ME | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | Bill Passed - House (80 - 67) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/18 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
| 12/18 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (316 - 113) |
| 12/17 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109) |
| 12/03 | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 12/03 | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| 11/19 | HR 4038 | American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act | Bill Passed - House (289 - 137) |
| 11/17 | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| 11/10 | HB 2482 | Specifies Determination of Need Score to Qualify for Assistance | Veto Override Failed - House (70 - 38) |
| 11/10 | SB 570 | Requires Child Care Benefits for Eligible Individuals | Bill Failed - House (70 - 35) |
| 11/05 | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (363 - 64) |
| 11/05 | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
| 11/03 | SB 3001 | Appropriates Funds for Liquid Natural Gas (AKLNG) Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 10/29 | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
| 10/28 | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (266 - 167) |
| 10/23 | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| 10/23 | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
| 10/21 | SB 214 | Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 10/21 | HR 692 | Default Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 194) |
| 10/07 | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
| 10/01 | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 156) |
| 10/01 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
| 9/30 | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (277 - 151) |
| 9/30 | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
| 9/29 | HR 3495 | Women's Public Health and Safety Act | Bill Passed - House (236 - 193) |
| 9/24 | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
| 9/24 | AB 310 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| 9/18 | HR 3134 | Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 187) |
| 9/16 | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 9/16 | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21) |
| 9/16 | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 9/11 | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
| 9/09 | HB 1 | Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11) |
| 9/09 | SB 2046 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Public Health | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
| 8/06 | HB 943 | Appropriate Funds for Infrastructure | Bill Passed - House (76 - 29) |
| 7/30 | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
| 7/15 | HR 3038 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (312 - 119) |
| 7/08 | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 7/07 | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 7/03 | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
| 7/01 | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
| 6/30 | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 6/27 | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - House (112 - 77) |
| 6/26 | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 33) |
| 6/25 | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 6/25 | S 3100 | Requires State to Pay Pension Contributions on Quarterly Basis | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 6/23 | H 5900 | Establishes Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 6/17 | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HB 2960 | Establishes Oregon Retirement Savings Board | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 6/16 | HR 2596 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
| 6/16 | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | Bill Passed - House (80 - 67) |