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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2016 | CA | ACR 137 | Establishes May 26th as John Wayne Day | Resolution Failed - House (36 - 19) |
| April 28, 2016 | National | H J Res 88 | Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of Labor Relating to the Definition of the Term "Fiduciary" | Joint Resolution Passed - House (234 - 183) |
| April 25, 2016 | LA | HB 863 | Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations | Bill Failed - House (33 - 51) |
| April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 21, 2016 | IL | HB 696 | Repeals Property Tax in Non-Home Rule Communities | Bill Passed - House (71 - 31) |
| April 20, 2016 | LA | HB 337 | Prohibits Individuals Under 21 from Riding a Motorcycle Without a Helmet | Bill Failed - House (49 - 46) |
| April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
| April 18, 2016 | LA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 14, 2016 | National | HR 3340 | Financial Stability Oversight Council Reform Act | Bill Passed - House (239 - 179) |
| April 13, 2016 | NE | LB 824 | Amends Renewable Energy Development Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| April 12, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| April 11, 2016 | ME | LD 1600 | Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 8, 2016 | MD | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 52) |
| April 7, 2016 | National | S Amdt 3483 | Establishes Standards for Passenger Space on Airplanes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 54) |
| April 7, 2016 | MO | HB 2330 | Establishes Regulations for Ride Sharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (115 - 34) |
| April 7, 2016 | ME | LD 1600 | Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations | Bill Passed - House (77 - 73) |
| April 7, 2016 | TN | SB 1636 | Prohibits City Requirements for Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| April 6, 2016 | TN | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
| April 6, 2016 | MD | SB 921 | Increases Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| April 6, 2016 | MO | SB 623 | Increases Motor Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 5, 2016 | RI | S 2185 | Extends Renewable Energy Standard Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 5, 2016 | LA | HB 580 | Limits Time Frame for Real Estate Appraisal Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (45 - 47) |
| April 4, 2016 | TN | HB 1416 | Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| March 29, 2016 | LA | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| March 29, 2016 | CO | SB 157 | Requires Suspension of Clean Power Plan Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 24, 2016 | MS | SB 2162 | Establishes the Jackson Metropolitan Area Airport Authority | Bill Passed - House (74 - 46) |
| March 24, 2016 | NH | SB 551 | Authorizes a Casino in Salem | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13) |
| March 23, 2016 | ME | LD 180 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 23, 2016 | KS | SB 338 | Authorizes District Courts to Transfer Possession of Abandoned Properties | Bill Passed - House (79 - 44) |
| March 22, 2016 | KY | SB 245 | Authorizes State to Issue Real ID Compliant Identification Documents | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 22, 2016 | KY | HB 305 | Appropriates Funds for Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
| March 21, 2016 | MD | HB 1106 | Increases Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards | Bill Passed - House (92 - 43) |
| March 19, 2016 | MD | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Bill Passed - House (84 - 51) |
| March 17, 2016 | MD | SB 49 | Amends the State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| March 14, 2016 | KY | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 14, 2016 | NJ | S 1707 | Requires Increased Use of Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1127 | Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 32) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1127 | Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 10) |
| March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 115 | Amends Regulations Regarding Public Electricity | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 10, 2016 | UT | SB 115 | Amends Regulations Regarding Public Electricity | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| March 9, 2016 | SC | H 3579 | Appropriates Funds for Highways | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 9, 2016 | MA | H 4049 | Establishes Regulations for Ride-Sharing Companies | Bill Passed - House (139 - 16) |
| March 9, 2016 | FL | HB 4027 | Prohibits Traffic Infraction Detectors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 33) |
| March 8, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - House (44 - 7) |
| March 8, 2016 | OK | SB 1552 | Prohibits State from Issuing or Renewing Physician Licenses Following the Performance of an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7) |
| March 7, 2016 | VA | SB 117 | Prohibits Opening Car Door in Traffic Lane | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 4, 2016 | IN | SB 339 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| March 3, 2016 | WY | SF 72 | Increases the Speed Limit on State Highways | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 3, 2016 | IN | SB 333 | Appropriates Funds for Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (57 - 35) |