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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
June 12, 2020 CO SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
June 12, 2020 MN SC 1 Repeals the Governor's Peacetime Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
June 12, 2020 MN SC 1 Repeals the Governor's Peacetime Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
June 10, 2020 NY S 2574 Establishes an Office of Special Investigation Under the Attorney General Bill Passed - House (97 - 47)
June 10, 2020 CA AB 2405 Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (64 - 5)
June 10, 2020 NY S 2574 Establishes an Office of Special Investigation Under the Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 17)
June 9, 2020 PA HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
June 5, 2020 CO SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
June 3, 2020 TN HB 1689 Prohibits Students From Participating in Sports That do Not Match Their Birth Sex Bill Passed - House (73 - 13)
June 2, 2020 CO HB 20-1153 Authorizes the State Employee's Union to Collectively Bargain with the State Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
May 28, 2020 OH HB 606 Establishes a COVID-19 Business Liability Shield Bill Passed - House (83 - 9)
May 28, 2020 PA HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - House (117 - 85)
May 21, 2020 National PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
May 20, 2020 OH HB 3 Amends Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
May 15, 2020 National H Res 965 Authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of Representatives and providing for official remote committee proceedings during a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (217 - 189)
May 14, 2020 MO HB 1414 Establishes a State Birth Certificate Program and Medicaid Health Coverage for Missouri's Homeless Youth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 4)
May 13, 2020 OK HB 2877 Increases the Role of Victim Impact Panels to Prevent Future OWI Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
May 12, 2020 SC H 3998 Establishes a State Housing Credit Equal to the Federal Low Income Housing Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 18)
May 12, 2020 OK HB 2760 Reduces the Annual Affordable Housing Tax Credits Offered by the State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
May 12, 2020 MO SB 569 Requires Forensic Testing of Rape Kits Upon Request of Victim Bill Passed - House (150 - 3)
May 12, 2020 MN HF 4602 Reduces the Number of Job Retainments for Verso in Duluth, Minnesota from 200 to 150 Bill Passed - House (114 - 18)
May 11, 2020 OK SB 1823 Establishes a Process to License Midwives Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
May 9, 2020 MN HF 4582 Expands Access to Temporary Assistance for Low Income Families Bill Passed - House (73 - 59)
May 7, 2020 OK HB 2760 Reduces the Annual Affordable Housing Tax Credits Offered by the State Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
May 5, 2020 OK SB 1073 Expands Oklahoma's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 30, 2020 MI SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
April 30, 2020 MI SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
April 24, 2020 MI SB 857 Limits Governor's Power for Declaring a State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
April 22, 2020 VA SB 34 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 41)
April 22, 2020 VA SB 34 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
April 22, 2020 VA SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44)
April 22, 2020 VA SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
April 15, 2020 PA SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
April 14, 2020 PA SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (107 - 95)
April 14, 2020 PA HB 2376 Authorizes Certain Retail Operations and Construction Sites to Reopen Bill Passed - House (112 - 90)
April 10, 2020 VT S 114 Establishes Emergency Judicial Response Standards during COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
March 18, 2020 MD SB 1006 Reduces the Amount of Time Child Support May be Suspended While Parent is Incarcerated Bill Passed - House (102 - 32)
March 18, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
March 17, 2020 KS SB 102 Expands Flexibility in Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 17, 2020 ID H 509 Prohibits Gender Change on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 16, 2020 ID H 500 Prohibits Transgender Female Students from Sports designated for Females Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 15, 2020 MD SB 684 Establishes a Prerelease Unit for Women Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 14, 2020 National HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - House (363 - 40)
March 13, 2020 FL HB 1259 Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
March 12, 2020 FL SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 12, 2020 UT HB 364 Requires an Ultrasound Procedure Prior to Abortion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
March 12, 2020 UT HB 494 Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
March 12, 2020 UT SB 174 Prohibits Abortion if Roe v Wade is Overturned by the Supreme Court Bill Passed - House (51 - 21)
March 12, 2020 NH HB 1251 Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on a Female Sports Team "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (184 - 131)
March 12, 2020 ME LD 2077 Establishes a Legislative Review for Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Bill Passed - House (91 - 47)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/12 SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
6/12 SC 1 Repeals the Governor's Peacetime Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
6/12 SC 1 Repeals the Governor's Peacetime Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
6/10 S 2574 Establishes an Office of Special Investigation Under the Attorney General Bill Passed - House (97 - 47)
6/10 AB 2405 Establishes a Right to Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (64 - 5)
6/10 S 2574 Establishes an Office of Special Investigation Under the Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 17)
6/09 HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
6/05 SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
6/03 HB 1689 Prohibits Students From Participating in Sports That do Not Match Their Birth Sex Bill Passed - House (73 - 13)
6/02 HB 20-1153 Authorizes the State Employee's Union to Collectively Bargain with the State Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
5/28 HB 606 Establishes a COVID-19 Business Liability Shield Bill Passed - House (83 - 9)
5/28 HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - House (117 - 85)
5/21 PN 1615 Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
5/20 HB 3 Amends Law Enforcement Response to Domestic Violence Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
5/15 H Res 965 Authorizing remote voting by proxy in the House of Representatives and providing for official remote committee proceedings during a public health emergency due to a novel coronavirus, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (217 - 189)
5/14 HB 1414 Establishes a State Birth Certificate Program and Medicaid Health Coverage for Missouri's Homeless Youth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 4)
5/13 HB 2877 Increases the Role of Victim Impact Panels to Prevent Future OWI Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
5/12 H 3998 Establishes a State Housing Credit Equal to the Federal Low Income Housing Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 18)
5/12 HB 2760 Reduces the Annual Affordable Housing Tax Credits Offered by the State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
5/12 SB 569 Requires Forensic Testing of Rape Kits Upon Request of Victim Bill Passed - House (150 - 3)
5/12 HF 4602 Reduces the Number of Job Retainments for Verso in Duluth, Minnesota from 200 to 150 Bill Passed - House (114 - 18)
5/11 SB 1823 Establishes a Process to License Midwives Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
5/09 HF 4582 Expands Access to Temporary Assistance for Low Income Families Bill Passed - House (73 - 59)
5/07 HB 2760 Reduces the Annual Affordable Housing Tax Credits Offered by the State Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
5/05 SB 1073 Expands Oklahoma's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/30 SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
4/30 SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
4/24 SB 857 Limits Governor's Power for Declaring a State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
4/22 SB 34 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 41)
4/22 SB 34 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
4/22 SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44)
4/22 SB 883 Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
4/15 SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
4/14 SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (107 - 95)
4/14 HB 2376 Authorizes Certain Retail Operations and Construction Sites to Reopen Bill Passed - House (112 - 90)
4/10 S 114 Establishes Emergency Judicial Response Standards during COVID-19 Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
3/18 SB 1006 Reduces the Amount of Time Child Support May be Suspended While Parent is Incarcerated Bill Passed - House (102 - 32)
3/18 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8)
3/17 SB 102 Expands Flexibility in Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/17 H 509 Prohibits Gender Change on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/16 H 500 Prohibits Transgender Female Students from Sports designated for Females Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/15 SB 684 Establishes a Prerelease Unit for Women Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/14 HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Bill Passed - House (363 - 40)
3/13 HB 1259 Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
3/12 SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/12 HB 364 Requires an Ultrasound Procedure Prior to Abortion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
3/12 HB 494 Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
3/12 SB 174 Prohibits Abortion if Roe v Wade is Overturned by the Supreme Court Bill Passed - House (51 - 21)
3/12 HB 1251 Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on a Female Sports Team "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (184 - 131)
3/12 LD 2077 Establishes a Legislative Review for Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Bill Passed - House (91 - 47)

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