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 24, 2017 MA H 3034 Limits the Use of Prison Labor Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
May 18, 2017 NV SB 176 Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (33 - 9)
May 16, 2017 NE LB 289 Authorizes Life Prison Terms for Sex Traffickers and Solicitors Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 15, 2017 AK HB 74 Authorizes REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (27 - 13)
May 12, 2017 NC S 257 Establishes State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
May 11, 2017 National PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
May 10, 2017 PA SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 9, 2017 CO SB 301 Amends Funds and Regulations for Renewable Energy Programs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 9, 2017 CO HB 1375 Requires School Districts to Develop a Plan to Equitably Distribute Funds Bill Passed - House (65 - 0)
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 25 Prohibits One-Punch Straight Ticket Voting Bill Passed - House (88 - 57)
May 5, 2017 IL SB 1933 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 4, 2017 AL HB 155 Establishes Budget for 2017-2018 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
May 4, 2017 CA AB 84 Authorizes Earlier Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
May 4, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
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 OH HB 49 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
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 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 MI HB 4177 Amends Guidelines for Party Labels on Ballots Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
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 - Senate (34 - 15)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
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 PA HB 671 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances Bill Passed - House (134 - 53)
April 25, 2017 MT SB 366 Establishes Real-ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
April 25, 2017 NY S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
April 25, 2017 NY S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
April 24, 2017 NE LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
April 21, 2017 MT SB 368 Increases the Individual Limit for Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
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 SF 516 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
April 13, 2017 AZ SB 1236 Establishes Regulations for Statewide Initiatives and Referendum Petitions Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
April 11, 2017 ME LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (115 - 30)
April 11, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
April 11, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 9, 2017 WV HB 2018 Reduces State Spending Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37)
April 9, 2017 NY A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
April 7, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
April 6, 2017 ME LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
April 6, 2017 KS HB 2052 Establishes State Budget for FY 2017 to FY 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 10)
April 6, 2017 CA SB 1 Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs Bill Passed - House (54 - 26)
April 6, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
April 6, 2017 WI AB 109 Authorizes Towns to Withdraw from County Zoning Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/24 H 3034 Limits the Use of Prison Labor Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
5/18 SB 176 Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (33 - 9)
5/16 LB 289 Authorizes Life Prison Terms for Sex Traffickers and Solicitors Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/15 HB 74 Authorizes REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (27 - 13)
5/12 S 257 Establishes State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative (82 - 14)
5/11 PN 42 Nomination of Robert Lighthizer to be a United States Trade Representative Cloture Invoked - Senate (81 - 15)
5/10 SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/09 SB 301 Amends Funds and Regulations for Renewable Energy Programs Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/09 HB 1375 Requires School Districts to Develop a Plan to Equitably Distribute Funds Bill Passed - House (65 - 0)
5/08 LB 259 Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3)
5/06 HB 25 Prohibits One-Punch Straight Ticket Voting Bill Passed - House (88 - 57)
5/05 SB 1933 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/04 HB 155 Establishes Budget for 2017-2018 Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
5/04 AB 84 Authorizes Earlier Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (52 - 20)
5/04 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
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 HB 49 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - House (58 - 37)
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)
5/02 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 HB 4177 Amends Guidelines for Party Labels on Ballots Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
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 - Senate (34 - 15)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - House (73 - 44)
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 HB 671 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances Bill Passed - House (134 - 53)
4/25 SB 366 Establishes Real-ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
4/25 S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
4/25 S 1229 Establishes Term Limits for Legislative Leadership Positions Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
4/24 LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
4/21 SB 368 Increases the Individual Limit for Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
4/20 HF 600 Prohibits Local Laws Regarding Minimum Wage or Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31)
4/20 SF 516 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
4/13 SB 1236 Establishes Regulations for Statewide Initiatives and Referendum Petitions Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
4/11 LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (115 - 30)
4/11 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
4/11 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 43)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/09 HB 2018 Reduces State Spending Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 37)
4/09 A 3009 Establishes State Fiscal Plan (53 - 4)
4/07 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
4/06 LD 306 Authorizes Issuance of REAL ID Compliant Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
4/06 HB 2052 Establishes State Budget for FY 2017 to FY 2021 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 10)
4/06 SB 1 Increases Gas and Vehicle Taxes to Pay for Road and Bridge Repairs Bill Passed - House (54 - 26)
4/06 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
4/06 AB 109 Authorizes Towns to Withdraw from County Zoning Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)

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