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
Dec. 13, 2023 OH HB 68 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Nov. 20, 2023 CO HB 23B-1001 Appropriates $30 Million in Emergency Rental Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Nov. 19, 2023 CO HB 23B-1002 Expands Access to the State's Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Nov. 9, 2023 TX SB 3 Appropriates $1.5 Billion for the Construction of a Border Wall Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Nov. 9, 2023 TX SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Nov. 8, 2023 MI SB 382 Requires State Departments Take Reasonable Steps to Help Michigan Residents with Limited English Proficiency Access to State Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Nov. 7, 2023 WI SJR 71 Prohibits Non-Citizens from Voting in Any State Primary or General Election Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
Nov. 7, 2023 IL SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
Oct. 25, 2023 ND HB 1549 Amends Requirements to Receive Income Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31)
Oct. 18, 2023 MI SB 351 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in Public Places Against Breastfeeding or Breast Pumping Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Oct. 17, 2023 WI AB 146 Prohibits Local Governments from Using Any Public Funding for Guaranteed Income Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Oct. 17, 2023 WI AB 465 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 11 Establishes a New State Crime for Illegally Entering Texas from a Foreign Nation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Oct. 11, 2023 MI SB 207 Prohibits Source of Income Discrimination for Rental Units Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Oct. 11, 2023 MI SB 205 Prohibits Landlords from Discriminating Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Oct. 5, 2023 MI SB 441 Amends Reporting Requirements for the Commercial Fishing Industry Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Sept. 27, 2023 MI SB 511 Establishes New Funds for the State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA SB 407 Requires the Department of Social Services Amend the Foster Care Vetting Process to Ensure LGBTQ+ Youth are Not Placed in Hostile Homes. Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA SB 525 Increases the Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers to $25 an Hour Starting in 2025 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA SB 43 Authorizes First Responders to Place Individuals Experiencing Homelessness With Severe Mental Illnesses into Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Sept. 12, 2023 CA SB 447 Authorizes State and Public University Employees to Resume Travel to Previously Restricted States Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
Sept. 12, 2023 CA AB 12 Prohibits Landlords from Charging a Tenant More Than One Month's Rent for a Security Deposit Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Sept. 12, 2023 CA AB 1 Authorizes Unionization of Legislative Staff Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/13 HB 68 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
11/20 HB 23B-1001 Appropriates $30 Million in Emergency Rental Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
11/19 HB 23B-1002 Expands Access to the State's Earned Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
11/09 SB 3 Appropriates $1.5 Billion for the Construction of a Border Wall Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
11/09 SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
11/08 SB 382 Requires State Departments Take Reasonable Steps to Help Michigan Residents with Limited English Proficiency Access to State Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
11/07 SJR 71 Prohibits Non-Citizens from Voting in Any State Primary or General Election Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
11/07 SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
10/25 HB 1549 Amends Requirements to Receive Income Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31)
10/18 SB 351 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in Public Places Against Breastfeeding or Breast Pumping Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
10/17 AB 146 Prohibits Local Governments from Using Any Public Funding for Guaranteed Income Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
10/17 AB 465 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
10/12 SB 11 Establishes a New State Crime for Illegally Entering Texas from a Foreign Nation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
10/12 SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
10/11 SB 207 Prohibits Source of Income Discrimination for Rental Units Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
10/11 SB 205 Prohibits Landlords from Discriminating Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
10/05 SB 441 Amends Reporting Requirements for the Commercial Fishing Industry Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
9/27 SB 511 Establishes New Funds for the State Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/14 SB 407 Requires the Department of Social Services Amend the Foster Care Vetting Process to Ensure LGBTQ+ Youth are Not Placed in Hostile Homes. Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
9/14 SB 525 Increases the Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers to $25 an Hour Starting in 2025 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
9/14 SB 43 Authorizes First Responders to Place Individuals Experiencing Homelessness With Severe Mental Illnesses into Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
9/14 AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
9/12 SB 447 Authorizes State and Public University Employees to Resume Travel to Previously Restricted States Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
9/12 AB 12 Prohibits Landlords from Charging a Tenant More Than One Month's Rent for a Security Deposit Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
9/12 AB 1 Authorizes Unionization of Legislative Staff Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)

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