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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
April 4, 2017 IN HB 1384 Expands Indiana's Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
April 4, 2017 IA HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
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 TN SB 38 Amends Provisions for Campaign Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
April 3, 2017 NE LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
March 29, 2017 OH HB 26 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5)
March 28, 2017 NH SB 3 Establishes New Voter Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 295 Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 27, 2017 TN HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 23, 2017 IA HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 23, 2017 WA SB 5048 Establishes 2017-2019 Fiscal Biennium Operating Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
March 15, 2017 FL SB 128 Authorizes Immunity for Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
March 13, 2017 NJ S 3048 Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 13, 2017 OK SB 170 Repeals Automatic Income Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6)
March 8, 2017 AR HB 1047 Requires Voters to Provide Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 2, 2017 WA SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 28, 2017 IN SB 423 Prohibits Sanctuary Policies on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
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. 17, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 17, 2017 UT HB 11 Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
Feb. 16, 2017 National PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
Feb. 15, 2017 National H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
Feb. 13, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 10, 2017 National PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
Feb. 10, 2017 MD SJ 5 Authorizes State Attorney General to Sue Federal Government Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 8, 2017 National PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
Feb. 8, 2017 WI SB 3 Prohibits Localities from Requiring Project Labor Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
Feb. 7, 2017 National PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 3, 2017 National PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
Feb. 2, 2017 National H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
Feb. 1, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Jan. 30, 2017 National PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
4/04 HB 1384 Expands Indiana's Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
4/04 HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/04 SB 129 Establishes Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
4/03 SB 54 Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/03 SB 38 Amends Provisions for Campaign Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
4/03 LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
3/29 HB 26 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5)
3/28 SB 3 Establishes New Voter Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
3/27 HF 295 Prohibits Localities from Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/27 HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/23 HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/23 SB 5048 Establishes 2017-2019 Fiscal Biennium Operating Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
3/15 SB 128 Authorizes Immunity for Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
3/13 S 3048 Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/13 SB 170 Repeals Automatic Income Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6)
3/08 HB 1047 Requires Voters to Provide Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/02 SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/28 SB 423 Prohibits Sanctuary Policies on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
2/24 S 79 Prohibits the Disclosure of Personally Identifying Information Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
2/22 HB 2000 Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/17 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/17 HB 11 Removes Political Party Affiliation Requirements for Certain State Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
2/16 PN 44 Nomination of Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
2/15 H J Res 40 Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43)
2/13 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
2/10 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/10 PN 26 Nomination of Steven T. Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
2/10 SJ 5 Authorizes State Attorney General to Sue Federal Government Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
2/08 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/08 PN 33 Nomination of Thomas Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
2/08 SB 3 Prohibits Localities from Requiring Project Labor Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
2/07 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50)
2/07 PN 30 Nomination of Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
2/03 PN 37 Nomination of Elisabeth Prince DeVos to be Secretary of Education Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 48)
2/02 H J Res 38 Disapproving the Rule Submitted by the Department of the Interior Known as the Stream Protection Rule Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (54 - 45)
2/01 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
1/30 PN 25 Nomination of Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)

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