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. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 8 | North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act | Bill Passed - House (249 - 174) |
| 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. 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 | National | H Amdt 747 | Increases Weight Limit for Commercial Trucks | Amendment Rejected - House (187 - 236) |
| Oct. 27, 2015 | National | S 754 | Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21) |
| Oct. 27, 2015 | National | HR 597 | Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (313 - 118) |
| 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. 8, 2015 | National | HR 538 | Native American Energy Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 25, 2015 | National | HR 348 | Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 170) |
| Sept. 24, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
| Sept. 17, 2015 | MA | S 1981 | Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 15 | Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 9, 2015 | CA | AB 15 | Authorizes A Physician to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - House (44 - 35) |
| 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 29, 2015 | National | HR 1994 | VA Accountability Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 170) |
| July 28, 2015 | WI | SB 209 | Appropriates Funds for New Sports and Entertainment Arena | Bill Passed - House (52 - 34) |
| July 22, 2015 | National | HR 1734 | Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulations Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (258 - 166) |
| July 21, 2015 | NC | SB 22 | Requires Approval to Remove Certain Historical Monuments | Bill Passed - House (70 - 39) |
| July 21, 2015 | NC | HB 169 | Repeals Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Certain Counties | Bill Passed - House (72 - 35) |
| July 15, 2015 | WI | SB 209 | Appropriates Funds for New Sports and Entertainment Arena | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| July 15, 2015 | National | HR 3038 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (312 - 119) |
| July 9, 2015 | SC | S 897 | Requires Removal of Confederate Flag from Capitol Grounds | Bill Passed - House (94 - 20) |
| July 2, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| June 30, 2015 | OR | HB 3414 | Limits Driving in the Left Lane | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (28 - 30) |
| June 30, 2015 | WA | SB 5987 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| June 30, 2015 | DE | SB 59 | Authorizes an Undocumented Immigrant to Apply For and Obtain Valid Driving Privileges | Bill Passed - House (22 - 15) |
| June 30, 2015 | OR | SB 895 | Requires Schools to Report Immunization Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| June 29, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 25, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| June 23, 2015 | NC | HB 148 | Requires Auto Insurance for Moped Operators | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8) |
| June 23, 2015 | NC | HB 148 | Requires Auto Insurance for Moped Operators | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8) |
| June 23, 2015 | RI | S 997 | Establishes a Toll for Large Commercial Trucks | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| June 18, 2015 | National | HR 160 | Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (280 - 140) |
| June 16, 2015 | National | HR 2596 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (247 - 178) |
| June 12, 2015 | MN | SF 5 | 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29) |
| June 12, 2015 | FL | HB 23-A | Establishes Recovery Care Services | Bill Passed - House (78 - 21) |
| June 12, 2015 | FL | HB 31-A | Repeals Certain Requirements for Hospital Construction | Bill Passed - House (72 - 28) |
| June 11, 2015 | National | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Bill Passed - House (278 - 149) |
| June 11, 2015 | NJ | A 3981 | Establishes Alternative Property Tax Payments for Casinos | Bill Passed - House (52 - 20) |
| June 4, 2015 | CA | SB 128 | Authorizes Prescription of "Aid-in-Dying Drugs" | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 350 | Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 185 | Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 32 | Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 2, 2015 | CT | HB 6949 | Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 1, 2015 | National | HR 1335 | Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act | Bill Passed - House (225 - 152) |
| May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| May 25, 2015 | TX | SB 900 | Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
| May 21, 2015 | CT | HB 6965 | Requires Certain Hospitals and Universities to Pay Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (82 - 60) |
| May 21, 2015 | CT | HB 6965 | Requires Certain Hospitals and Universities to Pay Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (82 - 60) |
| May 20, 2015 | National | HR 880 | American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 145) |
| May 20, 2015 | National | HR 1806 | America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 205) |
| May 20, 2015 | CT | SB 1090 | Expands Tribal Gaming Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| May 19, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (68 - 43) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 15, 2015 | National | H Amdt 226 | Limits Use of Funds to Implement New START Treaty | Amendment Adopted - House (235 - 182) |
| May 15, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (269 - 151) |
| May 14, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 13, 2015 | LA | HB 564 | Establishes 5-Year Vehicle Inspection Certificate | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| May 12, 2015 | MI | HB 4038 | Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| May 11, 2015 | CA | AB 202 | Requires Professional Sports Teams to Classify Cheerleaders Employees | Bill Passed - House (56 - 23) |
| May 10, 2015 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| May 7, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| May 7, 2015 | CT | HB 6949 | Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (86 - 56) |
| May 5, 2015 | KS | SB 117 | Requires Insurance Coverage for Transportation Network Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 25) |
| May 5, 2015 | KS | SB 117 | Requires Insurance Coverage for Transportation Network Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |