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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2018 | ME | LD 1584 | Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 20, 2018 | RI | H 7200 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
| June 19, 2018 | NC | SB 486 | Amends Various Election Laws | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| June 19, 2018 | RI | S 2612 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
| June 15, 2018 | RI | H 7200 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (61 - 12) |
| June 14, 2018 | NY | S 2412 | Establishes A Commission Of Prosecutorial Conduct | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 12) |
| June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 496 | Amends Placement of Candidates on Official Election Ballots Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 30) |
| June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 659 | Specifies Method of Vacancy Filling for US Senators | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 39) |
| June 13, 2018 | PA | SB 22 | Establishes 11-Member Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| June 13, 2018 | NC | HB 1055 | Amends Pension Benefit Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 34) |
| June 7, 2018 | MA | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 21 | Amends Certain Charter School Enrollment Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 0) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
| May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SJRCA 4 | Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
| May 17, 2018 | LA | HB 265 | Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| May 17, 2018 | LA | SB 31 | Prohibits Convicted Felons From Obtaining Public Office | Bill Passed - House (70 - 24) |
| May 17, 2018 | RI | H 8042 | Requires Publicizing Financial Records of Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (61 - 7) |
| May 16, 2018 | LA | HB 265 | Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 14, 2018 | MN | HF 2802 | Requires Municipalities That Contract Public Treatment Works to Comply with New State Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 26) |
| May 14, 2018 | MO | HJR 79 | Amends Constitution to Include Right-to-Work Provision | Bill Passed - House (93 - 54) |
| May 11, 2018 | MO | HJR 100 | Prohibits Counting Non-Citizens for Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 34) |
| May 11, 2018 | MO | HJR 100 | Prohibits Counting Non-Citizens for Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 34) |
| May 10, 2018 | National | HR 3053 | Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (340 - 72) |
| May 9, 2018 | National | HR 2152 | Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 197) |
| May 8, 2018 | MO | SB 743 | Amends Open Records Laws | Bill Passed - House (85 - 59) |
| May 5, 2018 | CT | HB 5421 | Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 2, 2018 | KS | HB 2539 | Amends Gubernatorial Qualifications | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 52) |
| May 2, 2018 | NH | HB 1264 | Amends Residency Definiton | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 2213 | Requires State Agencies to Adhere to Federal Regulations as of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 2213 | Requires State Agencies to Adhere to Federal Regulations as of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
| April 27, 2018 | OK | SB 1600 | Amends General Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
| April 27, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1403 | Expands Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| April 26, 2018 | OK | HB 3036 | Authorizes the Governor power to appoint the State Commissioner of Health | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11) |
| April 26, 2018 | OK | HB 3036 | Authorizes the Governor power to appoint the State Commissioner of Health | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 11) |
| April 26, 2018 | CT | HB 5421 | Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - House (77 - 73) |
| April 25, 2018 | TN | HB 2315 | Prohibits Sanctuary Policies | Bill Passed - House (64 - 23) |
| April 19, 2018 | AZ | HB 2563 | Establishes Free Speech Policy for College Campuses | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 18, 2018 | NE | LB 496 | Amends and Establishes Requirements for Redevelopment Projects Under the Community Development Law | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 1229 | Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Members, Judges, Prosecutors, and Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 2014 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| April 12, 2018 | MI | SB 741 | Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 2014 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations | Bill Passed - House (50 - 23) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 1229 | Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Members, Judges, Prosecutors, and Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| April 10, 2018 | CO | SB 18-043 | Specifies Rules of Nominee Rejections | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| April 7, 2018 | MD | HB 993 | Requires Risk Management in the Investment of System Assets | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 44) |
| April 5, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1322 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| April 5, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| March 29, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1322 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| March 28, 2018 | AL | HB 317 | Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| March 28, 2018 | MD | HB 829 | Establishes No-Excuse Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 28, 2018 | MD | SB 1048 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| March 26, 2018 | SD | SB 76 | Amends Voter Registration | Veto Override Passed - House (56 - 7) |
| March 23, 2018 | National | HR 1625 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
| March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 22, 2018 | National | HR 1625 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 167) |
| March 21, 2018 | MD | SB 646 | Establishes a Maryland Estate Tax | Bill Passed - House (90 - 49) |
| March 16, 2018 | MD | SB 1048 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| March 15, 2018 | MI | HB 5669 | Authorizes Additional Forms of Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
| March 13, 2018 | PA | HB 153 | Decreases Size of State Legislature | Bill Passed - House (101 - 84) |
| March 13, 2018 | PA | HB 153 | Decreases Size of State Legislature | Bill Passed - House (101 - 84) |
| March 9, 2018 | WV | HB 4006 | Repeals Department of Education and Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| March 8, 2018 | WA | HB 3003 | Amends Various Police 'Use of Force' Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |