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
May 10, 2017 PA SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 9, 2017 DE SB 5 Authorizes Abortions Before the Point of Viability Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7)
May 8, 2017 MO SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - House (98 - 30)
May 8, 2017 NE LB 259 Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3)
May 6, 2017 TX HB 2466 Expands Healthcare to Cover Postpartum Depression Bill Passed - House (135 - 7)
May 4, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
May 3, 2017 VT H 196 Requires a Statewide Payroll Tax to Fund a Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Bill Passed - House (88 - 58)
May 2, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
May 2, 2017 National HR 1180 Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
May 2, 2017 NE LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
May 2, 2017 WI SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 2, 2017 WI SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 1, 2017 National PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
April 27, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
April 27, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
April 27, 2017 TX SB 4 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (94 - 53)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
April 26, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
April 26, 2017 National PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
April 26, 2017 IL HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - House (91 - 24)
April 25, 2017 NY S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
April 25, 2017 NV SB 122 Provides Funding and Regulations Related to Family Planning Services Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 25, 2017 NV AB 249 Requires Insurance Coverage for 12-Month Refills of Contraceptive Drugs Bill Passed - House (40 - 2)
April 25, 2017 IL HB 40 Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (62 - 55)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/10 SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/09 SB 5 Authorizes Abortions Before the Point of Viability Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7)
5/08 SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - House (98 - 30)
5/08 LB 259 Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3)
5/06 HB 2466 Expands Healthcare to Cover Postpartum Depression Bill Passed - House (135 - 7)
5/04 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
5/03 H 196 Requires a Statewide Payroll Tax to Fund a Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Bill Passed - House (88 - 58)
5/02 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (61 - 37)
5/02 HR 1180 Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (229 - 197)
5/02 LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
5/02 SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/02 SB 15 Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/01 PN 47 Nomination of Jay Clayton to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 36)
4/27 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
4/27 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 38)
4/27 SB 4 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (94 - 53)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
4/26 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
4/26 PN 88 Nomination of Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39)
4/26 HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - House (91 - 24)
4/25 S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
4/25 SB 122 Provides Funding and Regulations Related to Family Planning Services Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/25 AB 249 Requires Insurance Coverage for 12-Month Refills of Contraceptive Drugs Bill Passed - House (40 - 2)
4/25 HB 40 Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (62 - 55)

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