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 5, 2017 | WI | SB 76 | Reduces Regulations of High-Capacity Water Wells | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| April 3, 2017 | CA | SB 54 | Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 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 13 | Amends Provisions Regarding Payroll Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 295 | Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 518 | Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation | 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 21, 2017 | MS | SB 2710 | Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| March 21, 2017 | TX | SB 25 | Prohibits Wrongful Birth Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 15, 2017 | FL | SB 128 | Authorizes Immunity for Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 15, 2017 | TX | SB 6 | Requires Individuals to Use Bathrooms According to Gender on Birth Certificate | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 13, 2017 | NJ | A 3091 | Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 9, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| March 2, 2017 | MO | SB 43 | Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 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. 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 | SD | SB 149 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 17, 2017 | National | PN 44 | Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 16, 2017 | IA | HF 291 | Limits Collective Bargaining for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |