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 25, 2017 | NC | HB 13 | Establishes Maximum Class Size for Kindergarten Through Third Grade | (48 - 1) |
| April 25, 2017 | AZ | SB 1042 | Establishes New Requirements for Teacher Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| April 25, 2017 | NV | SB 122 | Provides Funding and Regulations Related to Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| April 24, 2017 | NC | S 68 | Establishes Bipartisan Elections and Ethics Board | Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| April 24, 2017 | TX | SB 260 | Amends Regulations Related to Immigration and Refugee Affairs | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| April 22, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 20, 2017 | MN | HF 600 | Prohibits Local Laws Regarding Minimum Wage or Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31) |
| April 20, 2017 | IA | HF 653 | Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| April 18, 2017 | ME | LD 12 | Establishes Protections for Living Organ Donors | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| April 13, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| April 13, 2017 | MO | HB 90 | Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| April 12, 2017 | WA | HB 1234 | Requires Coverage for 12-Month Refills of Contraceptive Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| April 12, 2017 | MO | SB 22 | Authorizes State to Buy Out Contaminated Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| April 12, 2017 | IA | SF 481 | Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 12, 2017 | CO | SB 192 | Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| April 11, 2017 | AZ | SB 1366 | Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 9, 2017 | NY | A 3009 | Establishes State Fiscal Plan | (53 - 4) |
| April 7, 2017 | MD | HB 631 | Prohibits Unwarranted Price Hikes on Generic Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 6, 2017 | IN | HB 1438 | Authorizes Counties or Municipalities to Approve Syringe Exchange Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| April 6, 2017 | CA | SB 1 | Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| April 5, 2017 | WI | SB 76 | Reduces Regulations of High-Capacity Water Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| April 4, 2017 | IN | HB 1384 | Expands Indiana's Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| April 4, 2017 | MN | HF 890 | Authorizes Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| April 4, 2017 | TX | SB 576 | Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 129 | Establishes Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| April 3, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| April 3, 2017 | MN | SF 800 | Establishes Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| March 31, 2017 | ND | HB 1329 | Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities | Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 37) |
| March 30, 2017 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes a Health Insurance Cost-Sharing Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 32) |
| March 30, 2017 | NC | HB 142 | Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| March 30, 2017 | NC | HB 142 | Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| March 30, 2017 | TX | SB 2 | Appropriates Funds for Private School Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| March 30, 2017 | TX | SB 3 | Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| March 29, 2017 | MS | HB 1090 | Authorizes Private Contractor to Audit Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 29, 2017 | AZ | SB 1367 | Requires Physicians to Attempt to Revive Viable Fetus After Abortion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 29, 2017 | KY | HB 128 | Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| March 28, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10) |
| March 28, 2017 | ND | HB 1310 | Amends Concealed Carry Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27) |
| March 28, 2017 | MN | SF 803 | Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15) |
| March 27, 2017 | TN | HB 173 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 518 | Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 295 | Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 25, 2017 | MT | SB 329 | Prohibits Abortion 20 Weeks After Fertilization | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| March 24, 2017 | MD | SB 1081 | Establishes Funds to Support Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 23, 2017 | National | PN 53 | Nomination of David Friedman to be Ambassador of the United States of America to Israel | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| March 23, 2017 | National | PN 53 | Nomination of David Friedman to be Ambassador of the United States of America to Israel | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
| March 23, 2017 | VT | S 96 | Establishes Protections For Journalists | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
| March 23, 2017 | FL | SB 436 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| March 22, 2017 | ID | H 274 | Establishes the Office of Administrator of Invasive Species Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| March 21, 2017 | MS | SB 2710 | Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| March 15, 2017 | KY | HB 520 | Authorizes Charter Schools to Operate in Kentucky | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 15, 2017 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes a Health Insurance Cost-Sharing Program | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
| March 15, 2017 | FL | SB 128 | Authorizes Immunity for Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 15, 2017 | NM | SB 252 | Enacts End of Life Options Act | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 22) |
| March 9, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| March 7, 2017 | MS | HB 1090 | Authorizes Private Contractor to Audit Medicaid | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 7, 2017 | KY | HB 14 | Classifies First-Responders as a Protected Class Under Hate Crimes Law | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| March 6, 2017 | KY | SB 17 | Authorizes Expression of Religious or Political Viewpoints in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| March 2, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| March 2, 2017 | MO | SB 43 | Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| March 2, 2017 | WA | SB 5223 | Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| March 1, 2017 | AZ | SB 1441 | Establishes Arbitration Process for Unexpected Medical Billing | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| Feb. 28, 2017 | IN | SB 423 | Prohibits Sanctuary Policies on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Feb. 27, 2017 | WV | SB 330 | Repeals Provisions from the Workplace Freedom Act | (23 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Feb. 24, 2017 | VT | S 79 | Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | AZ | SB 1367 | Requires Physicians to Attempt to Revive Viable Fetus After Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | AZ | SB 1350 | Revises Arizona Statutes Related to Terrorism | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | AZ | SB 1142 | Classifies Rioting as a Type of Racketeering | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 17, 2017 | UT | HB 11 | Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | NH | SB 66 | Authorizes Murder Charges for an Individual Who Causes the Death of a Fetus | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Feb. 13, 2017 | National | PN 26 | Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 13, 2017 | NJ | S 3006 | Prohibits Blocking Entry of Individuals from Certain Countries | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Feb. 10, 2017 | National | PN 33 | Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47) |