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
May 11, 2020 OK SB 1946 Exempts from Civil Liability Any Individual Who Potentially Exposes Another to COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
May 1, 2020 VT S 346 Establishes Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
April 30, 2020 MI SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
April 30, 2020 MN SF 3843 Amends Business Tax Policies and Establishes Recovery Aid to Small Businesses for Financial Relief Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
April 23, 2020 UT SB 3007 Establishes Immunity from COVID-19 Injury Litigation to Businesses after Reopening Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 22, 2020 VA HB 395 Increases the Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
April 15, 2020 KY HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
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)
March 28, 2020 AK SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
March 26, 2020 KY SB 150 Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0)
March 26, 2020 KY HB 415 Amends Shipping Laws for Distillers, Wineries, and Breweries Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 25, 2020 PA SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 25, 2020 PA HB 68 Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
March 22, 2020 AK HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
March 18, 2020 MS HB 1647 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Grant Administrative Leave with Pay In Case of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
March 18, 2020 NY S 8091 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 6)
March 17, 2020 KS SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
March 17, 2020 MD HB 732 Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 17, 2020 MD HB 14 Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 17, 2020 ID S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
March 16, 2020 KS SB 474 Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4)
March 16, 2020 MD HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 13, 2020 MD HB 932 Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
March 12, 2020 FL SB 810 Increases the Legal Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
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 NH HB 712 Establishes a System of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 12, 2020 MS SB 2522 Requires Employers to Pay Employees the Same Wage Regardless of Sex Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
March 11, 2020 FL HB 607 Authorizes Independent Nurse Practitioners to Open Primary Care Practices Without Doctor Supervision Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 10, 2020 CO HB 20-1080 Repeals State Residency Requirement for Medical Marijuana Business Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
March 9, 2020 WA SB 5323 Establishes Standards for the Use of Plastic Bags at Retail Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
March 9, 2020 MS SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 812 Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
March 6, 2020 UT HB 243 Requires Warning Labels on Pornography Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
March 5, 2020 NH SB 159 Increases Net Metering Capacity for Customer-Generators Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 1251 Authorizes Enrollee not to Pay Out-of-Network Amount Except Applicable Cost-sharing Requirement (40 - 0)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 5, 2020 NJ S 864 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
March 4, 2020 CO HB 20-1044 Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2020 CO HB 20-1048 Establishes the CROWN Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 25, 2020 SD SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 21, 2020 ID S 1318 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On Criminal History Background Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 20, 2020 NM HB 21 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2020 NM HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
Feb. 18, 2020 WA SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2020 VT S 23 Increases the State Minimum Wage Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2020 AZ SB 1160 Increases Cancer Coverage for Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
Feb. 11, 2020 VA SB 481 Requires Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2020 RI S 2147 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
Feb. 4, 2020 IN SB 342 Establishes Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Feb. 3, 2020 IN SB 438 Establishes Regulations for Pesticides Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Jan. 24, 2020 WA SB 6037 Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
Jan. 17, 2020 WA SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Jan. 16, 2020 GA HB 276 Establishes an Online Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
Jan. 14, 2020 TN HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
Jan. 8, 2020 NH SB 248 Increases the Age for Sales of Tobacco Products "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/11 SB 1946 Exempts from Civil Liability Any Individual Who Potentially Exposes Another to COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
5/01 S 346 Establishes Hazard Pay for Essential Workers Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
4/30 SB 858 Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
4/30 SF 3843 Amends Business Tax Policies and Establishes Recovery Aid to Small Businesses for Financial Relief Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
4/23 SB 3007 Establishes Immunity from COVID-19 Injury Litigation to Businesses after Reopening Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/22 HB 395 Increases the Minimum Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
4/15 HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
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)
3/28 SB 241 Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1)
3/26 SB 150 Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0)
3/26 HB 415 Amends Shipping Laws for Distillers, Wineries, and Breweries Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/25 SB 751 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/25 HB 68 Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
3/22 HB 308 Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
3/18 HB 1647 Authorizes Local Governments and School Districts to Grant Administrative Leave with Pay In Case of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
3/18 S 8091 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for Employees Affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 6)
3/17 SB 27 Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
3/17 HB 732 Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/17 HB 14 Prohibits Employers From Retaliating Against Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/17 S 1428 Appropriates Funds for the State Advanced Paid/Sick Administrative Leave Program Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
3/16 SB 474 Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4)
3/16 HB 123 Prohibits Employers from Asking About Wage History Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/13 HB 932 Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
3/12 SB 810 Increases the Legal Smoking Age to 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
3/12 SB 664 Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/12 HB 712 Establishes a System of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/12 SB 2522 Requires Employers to Pay Employees the Same Wage Regardless of Sex Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
3/11 HB 607 Authorizes Independent Nurse Practitioners to Open Primary Care Practices Without Doctor Supervision Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/10 HB 20-1080 Repeals State Residency Requirement for Medical Marijuana Business Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
3/09 SB 5323 Establishes Standards for the Use of Plastic Bags at Retail Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
3/09 SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
3/07 HB 812 Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
3/06 HB 243 Requires Warning Labels on Pornography Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
3/05 SB 159 Increases Net Metering Capacity for Customer-Generators Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
3/05 HB 1251 Authorizes Enrollee not to Pay Out-of-Network Amount Except Applicable Cost-sharing Requirement (40 - 0)
3/05 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/05 S 864 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
3/04 HB 20-1044 Amends the State Pension Plan for Firefighters and Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
2/28 HB 20-1048 Establishes the CROWN Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/25 SB 147 Prohibits Collective Bargaining by Certain University Employees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/21 S 1318 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On Criminal History Background Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/20 HB 21 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Harassment Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/19 HB 364 Expands Bargaining Rights of Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 17)
2/18 SB 6261 Expands Farm Labor Contractor System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/13 S 23 Increases the State Minimum Wage Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/12 SB 1160 Increases Cancer Coverage for Firefighters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
2/11 SB 481 Requires Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/05 S 2147 Increases the State Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
2/04 SB 342 Establishes Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant Workers Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
2/03 SB 438 Establishes Regulations for Pesticides Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
1/24 SB 6037 Requires Public Companies to have a Gender-Diverse Board of Directors Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
1/17 SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
1/16 HB 276 Establishes an Online Sales Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
1/14 HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
1/08 SB 248 Increases the Age for Sales of Tobacco Products "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)

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