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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2017 | CA | SB 100 | Increases the State Renewable Energy Target | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 30, 2017 | CA | SB 328 | Amends School Start Time | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 30, 2017 | CA | SB 328 | Amends School Start Time | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 26, 2017 | NJ | S 359 | Raises Minimum Age for Purchasing Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 24, 2017 | ME | LD 347 | Authorizes the Prescription of Lethal Doses of Drugs to Terminally Ill Patients | |
| May 24, 2017 | PA | HB 271 | Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| May 24, 2017 | OH | HB 132 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| May 24, 2017 | National | HR 953 | Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 165) |
| May 24, 2017 | OH | HB 132 | Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| May 23, 2017 | ME | LD 347 | Authorizes the Prescription of Lethal Doses of Drugs to Terminally Ill Patients | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 85) |
| May 22, 2017 | NJ | A 3532 | Establishes Fantasy Sports Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
| May 18, 2017 | DE | SB 24 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana to Treat Anxiety | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0) |
| May 17, 2017 | RI | H 5457A | Requires Parents to Take Course in Driver's Education | Bill Passed - House (59 - 11) |
| May 17, 2017 | RI | H 5457A | Requires Parents to Take Course in Driver's Education | Bill Passed - House (59 - 11) |
| May 17, 2017 | IL | SB 1 | Specifies School Funding Reallocation | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| May 17, 2017 | NY | A 516 | Expands Cigarette Legislation to Apply to Electronic Cigarette | Bill Passed - House (92 - 36) |
| May 17, 2017 | IL | SB 7 | Establishes Gambling Industry Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| May 16, 2017 | DE | SB 24 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana to Treat Anxiety | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 1) |
| May 16, 2017 | NE | LB 289 | Authorizes Life Prison Terms for Sex Traffickers and Solicitors | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| May 16, 2017 | LA | SB 111 | Requires Identification from Parents for Minors to Obtain an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 15, 2017 | MN | SF 1937 | Authorizes the Construction and Repair of Statewide Oil Pipelines | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 30) |
| May 15, 2017 | AK | HB 132 | Authorizes Operation of Ridesharing Services | Bill Passed - House (35 - 5) |
| May 15, 2017 | LA | HB 71 | Prohibits Removal of Public Military Memorials | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| May 11, 2017 | RI | S 112A | Expands Renewable Energy Growth Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| May 11, 2017 | TX | HB 39 | Prohibits Vaccination of New Foster Children | Bill Passed - House (132 - 11) |
| May 10, 2017 | SC | H 3864 | Amends Restrictions on Children's Car Seats | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 24) |
| May 10, 2017 | IL | HB 40 | Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 22) |
| May 10, 2017 | IL | SB 1351 | Establishes Laws Governing Student Loan Servicers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| May 9, 2017 | AZ | SB 1384 | Prohibits Censorship of Student Media | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 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 | FL | HB 7069 | Establishes New Eligibility Criteria for Teacher Scholarships | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 8, 2017 | AZ | SB 1384 | Prohibits Censorship of Student Media | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| May 6, 2017 | TX | HB 2466 | Expands Healthcare to Cover Postpartum Depression | Bill Passed - House (135 - 7) |
| May 5, 2017 | FL | HB 989 | Authorizes Residents to Challenge School Textbooks | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 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 | VT | S 16 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Bill Passed - House (130 - 16) |
| May 2, 2017 | MI | HB 4215 | Amends Regulations of Unattended Running Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (77 - 30) |
| 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) |
| May 1, 2017 | OR | HB 2597 | Increases Penalties for Distracted Driving | Bill Passed - House (46 - 13) |
| May 1, 2017 | TX | SB 463 | Amends High-School Diploma Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| April 28, 2017 | FL | HB 425 | Prohibits City and County Governments from Regulating Short-Term Rental Homes | Bill Passed - House (63 - 56) |
| April 27, 2017 | IN | SB 309 | Amends Payback Rate for Excess Solar Energy | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| April 27, 2017 | AL | SB 60 | Prohibits Alteration or Removal of Historic Markers | Bill Passed - House (72 - 29) |
| April 27, 2017 | NC | HB 330 | Limits Liability for Motorists Involved in Accidents with Protesters | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 27, 2017 | MI | SB 163 | Authorizes "Choose Life" License Plates | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 27, 2017 | TX | SB 457 | Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| April 27, 2017 | MO | HB 608 | Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Residential Dwelling Rentals | Bill Passed - House (90 - 49) |
| April 26, 2017 | IL | HB 2977 | Requires Public Schools to Provide Cursive Writing Courses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 25, 2017 | HI | HB 1418 | Amends Building Code Exemptions to Comply with Federal Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 0) |
| April 25, 2017 | NC | HB 13 | Establishes Maximum Class Size for Kindergarten Through Third Grade | (48 - 1) |
| April 25, 2017 | MT | SB 366 | Establishes Real-ID Compliance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 17) |
| April 25, 2017 | PA | HB 97 | Prohibits Failing Students from Continuing Online Charter School | Bill Passed - House (108 - 84) |
| April 25, 2017 | NV | SB 122 | Provides Funding and Regulations Related to Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| April 25, 2017 | AZ | SB 1042 | Establishes New Requirements for Teacher Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 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) |
| April 22, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 22, 2017 | MT | HB 473 | Increases Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuels | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 43) |
| April 22, 2017 | IA | HF 524 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 11) |
| April 21, 2017 | NV | SB 226 | Increases Insurance Requirements of Ridesharing Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| April 20, 2017 | WA | SB 5289 | Prohibits Cell-Phone Use on Highways | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| April 20, 2017 | IA | HF 653 | Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| April 20, 2017 | FL | HB 743 | Prohibits Anabolic Steroids in Greyhounds | Bill Passed - House (84 - 32) |
| April 20, 2017 | FL | HB 989 | Authorizes Parents to Object to Instructional Material | Bill Passed - House (94 - 25) |
| April 19, 2017 | IN | HB 1133 | Prohibits Local Governments from Regulating Short-Term Rentals | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (50 - 46) |
| April 19, 2017 | MT | HB 193 | Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to Approve Cost-Tracking Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 19, 2017 | IA | HF 653 | Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| April 19, 2017 | WA | HB 2200 | Strengthens Privacy of Internet Users | Bill Passed - House (87 - 10) |
| April 18, 2017 | ME | LD 12 | Establishes Protections for Living Organ Donors | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| April 13, 2017 | ME | LD 12 | Establishes Protections for Living Organ Donors | Veto Override Passed - House (146 - 0) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | SB 299 | Requires Public Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 13, 2017 | MT | HB 473 | Increases Taxes on Gasoline and Diesel Fuels | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 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) |