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 9, 2019 | DE | SB 34 | Establishes a Per-Pill Tax on Prescription Opioid Painkillers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| April 5, 2019 | AR | SB 411 | Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| April 3, 2019 | AR | HB 1684 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 3, 2019 | IL | HB 2988 | Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| April 2, 2019 | GA | HB 324 | Authorizes Sale of Medical Marijuana Oil | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 20) |
| April 2, 2019 | IN | SB 198 | Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| April 2, 2019 | IA | SF 516 | Requires Employers to Verify Employee Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 2, 2019 | ID | S 1204 | Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 1, 2019 | IN | SB 201 | Authorizes Health Providers to Abstain from Participating in Abortion Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| April 1, 2019 | OR | HB 2975 | Reduces Oregon's "Kicker" Tax Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
| March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2006 | Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2006 | Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| March 31, 2019 | NY | S 1507 | Establishes a Healthcare Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| March 31, 2019 | NY | S 1505 | Amends Criminal Justice Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| March 29, 2019 | GA | HB 345 | Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1) |
| March 28, 2019 | ME | LD 181 | Authorizes State Funds for Free Health Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 28, 2019 | GA | HB 346 | Prohibits Retaliation By A Landlord Against A Tenant For Taking Certain Actions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| March 28, 2019 | KY | HB 11 | Prohibits Tobacco Products from Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 28, 2019 | MT | SB 65 | Amends DUI Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| March 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1786 | Prohibits License Suspension for Unpaid Parking Tickets | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| March 27, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1119 | Requires Law Enforcement Internal Investigations to Become Public | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 26, 2019 | GA | HB 83 | Requires Recess for Students in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| March 26, 2019 | IA | SF 523 | Expands Penalties for Fetal Homicide | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 25, 2019 | NJ | A 1504 | Authorizes Medical Aid in Dying | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| March 25, 2019 | NJ | S 1080 | Establishes Conditions for Restricted Usage of Suspended or Revoked Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| March 22, 2019 | GA | HB 481 | Prohibits Abortion After a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| March 21, 2019 | AL | SB 119 | Repeals Common Core | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| March 20, 2019 | AR | HB 1251 | Expands Procedures that Optometrists May Perform | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 20, 2019 | IA | SF 548 | Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 19, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
| March 19, 2019 | IA | SF 538 | Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 18, 2019 | ID | H 180 | Authorizes Syringe and Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| March 15, 2019 | NM | HB 100 | Amends the Columbus Day Holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| March 14, 2019 | NM | HB 89 | Requires Insurance Companies Provide Coverage for Contraceptives | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 14, 2019 | NJ | S 477 | Increases Statutes of Limitation for Sexual Abuse Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 14, 2019 | CO | SB 19-139 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| March 14, 2019 | NH | SB 311 | Amends Annulment Laws for Certain Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| March 13, 2019 | MS | HB 1352 | Amends Criminal Justice Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
| March 13, 2019 | WA | SB 5822 | Establishes a Work Group to Study Universal Health Care | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 13, 2019 | National | S J Res 7 | A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| March 12, 2019 | NM | HB 564 | Amends Probation and Parole Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| March 12, 2019 | UT | HB 57 | Requires Search Warrants for Electronic Information | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 0) |
| March 12, 2019 | OR | SB 664 | Requires School Districts to Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| March 8, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1148 | Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 8, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1148 | Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 7, 2019 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 6, 2019 | OK | SB 457 | Authorizes the Governor to Remove Heads of Certain State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
| March 6, 2019 | OK | SB 456 | Authorizes the Governor to Hire and set the Salary for the Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9) |
| March 6, 2019 | CO | SB 19-078 | Establishes Net Neutrality Rules | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1610 | Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14) |
| March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1610 | Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14) |
| March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1596 | Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 16) |
| March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1596 | Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 16) |
| March 5, 2019 | HI | SB 557 | Establishes Hawaii as a Sanctuary State | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
| March 5, 2019 | NM | SB 323 | Reduces Criminal Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 4, 2019 | SD | HB 1094 | Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | AZ | SB 1250 | Authorizes Protective Orders for Victims of Sexual Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WA | SB 5395 | Establishes K-12 Sexual Health Education Programs in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | GA | SB 106 | Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | NJ | S 692 | Prohibits the Department of Education from Establishing Maximum Salaries for Superintendents | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2019 | UT | HB 40 | Repeals the Misdemeanor Crime of Sodomy and Adultery | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 2) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 3381 | Authorizes Graduation Proficiency Tests to High School | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | IN | SB 12 | Authorizes Consideration of Bias in Sentencing | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 758 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | AZ | SB 1217 | Amends Eligibility For School Tuition Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | KS | SB 32 | Authorizes The Farm Bureau To Offer Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | ND | SB 2315 | Establishes Hunters Access Advisory Group | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | NH | SB 1 | Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10) |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | NH | SB 142 | Requires Public Schools Provide Menstrual Products | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | MI | SB 2 | Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | MI | SB 2 | Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | National | S 47 | Natural Resources Management Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
| Feb. 12, 2019 | OR | SB 608 | Prohibits No-Cause evictions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | National | S 1 | Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 23) |
| Feb. 4, 2019 | UT | SB 96 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 1, 2019 | WY | SF 57 | Establishes Deadline for Public Records Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2) |
| Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 15 | Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| Jan. 22, 2019 | CT | HB 5765 | Authorizes Interest-Free Loans for Federal Employees During Shutdown | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| Jan. 22, 2019 | NY | S 240 | Authorizes Comprehensive Abortion Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 24) |
| Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1250 | Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20) |
| Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1250 | Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20) |