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 11, 2019 National PN 503 Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior (56 - 41)
April 11, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 11, 2019 TX SB 2485 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
April 11, 2019 TX SB 2487 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 11, 2019 CA SB 78 Requires Citizens Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 10, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
April 9, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 9, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 5, 2019 AR SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
April 3, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
April 3, 2019 IL HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
March 29, 2019 ND HB 1381 Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
March 26, 2019 ID H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 22, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 15, 2019 NM HB 100 Amends the Columbus Day Holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 14, 2019 National H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 14, 2019 NH SB 311 Amends Annulment Laws for Certain Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
March 13, 2019 WA SB 5822 Establishes a Work Group to Study Universal Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 12, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
March 12, 2019 IA SF 237 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 12, 2019 NC SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 12, 2019 WA SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 9, 2019 WV SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 7, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 7, 2019 GA SB 131 Expands State Control over the Atlanta Airport Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22)
March 6, 2019 OK SB 1001 Prohibits Cities from Banning Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
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 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 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 5, 2019 HI SB 557 Establishes Hawaii as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
March 4, 2019 SD HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 4, 2019 SD HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2019 VT S 54 Authorizes the Sale and Regulation of Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Feb. 25, 2019 IN SB 553 Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2019 National PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice (54 - 45)
Feb. 14, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2019 National PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
Feb. 7, 2019 AZ SB 1091 Increases State Rainy-Day Fund by 10 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 6, 2019 AR SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
Feb. 1, 2019 WY SF 57 Establishes Deadline for Public Records Requests Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
Feb. 1, 2019 WY SF 57 Establishes Deadline for Public Records Requests Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
Jan. 31, 2019 NJ S 1073 Authorizes Local Government Units to Establish Storm Water Utilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Jan. 30, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
Jan. 9, 2019 IL SB 3531 Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Positions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 PN 503 Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior (56 - 41)
4/11 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/11 SB 2485 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/11 SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
4/11 SB 2487 Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/11 SB 78 Requires Citizens Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
4/10 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/10 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
4/09 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/09 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/05 SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
4/03 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/03 HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
3/29 HB 1381 Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/28 SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
3/26 H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/22 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/15 HB 100 Amends the Columbus Day Holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/14 H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/14 SB 311 Amends Annulment Laws for Certain Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
3/13 SB 5822 Establishes a Work Group to Study Universal Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/12 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
3/12 SF 237 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/12 SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/12 SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/09 SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/07 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/07 SB 131 Expands State Control over the Atlanta Airport Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22)
3/06 SB 1001 Prohibits Cities from Banning Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
3/06 SB 457 Authorizes the Governor to Remove Heads of Certain State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
3/06 SB 457 Authorizes the Governor to Remove Heads of Certain State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
3/06 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)
3/06 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)
3/05 SB 557 Establishes Hawaii as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
3/05 SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
3/04 HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/04 HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
2/28 S 54 Authorizes the Sale and Regulation of Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
2/25 SB 553 Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/21 S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/14 PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice (54 - 45)
2/14 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/12 PN 17 Nomination of William Pelham Barr to be Attorney General of the Department of Justice Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 44)
2/07 SB 1091 Increases State Rainy-Day Fund by 10 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/06 SB 211 Reduces Top Individual Income Tax Rate to 5.9 Percent Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
2/01 SF 57 Establishes Deadline for Public Records Requests Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
2/01 SF 57 Establishes Deadline for Public Records Requests Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
1/31 S 1073 Authorizes Local Government Units to Establish Storm Water Utilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
1/30 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/29 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
1/15 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
1/14 A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
1/09 SB 3531 Increases Salary For Certain State Cabinet Positions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 21)

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