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
Sept. 17, 2024 MI SB 911 Amends the State's School Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Sept. 17, 2024 National S 4445 A bill to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization. Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44)
Sept. 17, 2024 PA SB 170 Amends Criminal Statutes Governing the Duties of Probation Officers Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
Sept. 17, 2024 PA SB 169 Amends Juvenile Statutes in Pennsylvania Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Sept. 17, 2024 PA SB 173 Establishes a Safe Exchange Zone Program Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Sept. 9, 2024 NC HB 556 Prohibits Landlords from Refusing Tenants Based on their Lawful Source of Income and Clarifies Changes to Ordinances in North Carolina Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
Sept. 9, 2024 NC SB 166 Amends and Reforms Certain Regulations Surrounding Building Codes Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
Sept. 9, 2024 NC SB 166 Amends and Reforms Certain Regulations Surrounding Building Codes Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
Sept. 9, 2024 NC SB 445 Amends the Recording of Court-Filed Documents Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2024 CA SB 1037 Requires a Court to Modify Previous Housing and Zoning Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Aug. 31, 2024 CA SB 1103 Expands Certain Residential Tenant Protections to Commercial Property Tenants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 31, 2024 CA AB 1893 Amends the Housing Accountability Act Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
Aug. 31, 2024 CA AB 98 Requires Creations of a Truck Routing Plan for California Cities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Aug. 30, 2024 CA AB 1008 Extends Privacy Laws to AI Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Aug. 29, 2024 CA SB 1100 Limits Driver License Requirements in Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 29, 2024 CA SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Aug. 29, 2024 CA AB 1954 Amends Certain Sections of the Welfare and Institutions Code Relating to Sexually Violent Predators. Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 29, 2024 CA AB 1886 Extends Certain State Housing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA SB 1137 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of a Combination of Characteristics (Intersectionality) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA SB 940 Amends Certain Procedures Regarding Civil Disputes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA AB 2515 Prohibits PFAs in Menstrual Product Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA AB 2319 Establishes the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1825 Establishes the California Freedom to Read Act Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 2099 Increases Penalties for Crimes Against Reproductive Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1877 Requires a California Court to Seal Juvenile Records if a Person Has not Been Found Guilty of a Crime During that Time Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 2655 Establishes the Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act of 2024 Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1840 Expands the Home Purchase Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 1986 Requires List of Banned Book in Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 26, 2024 CA SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 20, 2024 CA AB 2435 Extends Healthcare Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Aug. 20, 2024 CA AB 2876 Requires Adoption of Media Literacy Standards for California Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 19, 2024 CA AB 1810 Requires that Individuals have Easy Access to Menstrual Products While Incarcertated Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 17, 2024 CA AB 2801 Increases Renter Protection Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Aug. 12, 2024 CA AB 1863 Amends the California Emergency Services Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
July 18, 2024 MA H 4653 Increases Oversight of the Massachusetts Healthcare Market Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 1150 Establishes the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 700 Appropriates Funding for Cell Phone Pouches in Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 24 Requires Automatic Return of Unclaimed Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 11, 2024 PA SB 24 Requires Automatic Return of Unclaimed Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 11, 2024 PA HB 2310 Amends the Fiscal Code in Emergency Response to COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
July 11, 2024 PA HB 663 Establishes New Guidelines for Students, Families, and School Districts During Residency Disputes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 11, 2024 MA H 4804 Authorizes Grant Programs to Strengthen Economic Leadership Within Various Sectors of Work Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
July 3, 2024 PA SB 1207 Authorizes School Districts to Prohibit Student Cell Phone Use During School Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
July 1, 2024 CA AB 2813 Authorizes Affordable Housing Measures Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
June 30, 2024 DE HB 212 Prohibits Increasing of Rent Rates in Manufactured Homes If Raised in Previous Year Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 0)
June 30, 2024 DE HB 342 Establishes a Voluntary Firearms Do-Not-Sell Registry Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
June 28, 2024 NJ A 4533 Amends Certain Sections of Law Concerning Financing Mechanisms for School Facilities Projects Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 2188 Requires DEP, DOH, Owners or Operators of Certain Public Community Water Systems to Take Certain Actions to Prevent and Control Cases of Legionnaires' Disease Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
June 28, 2024 NJ A 3772 Restructures Property Tax Process Regarding Foreclosures and Equity Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3368 Increases State Laws Protecting Residential Tenants from Lead-Based Paint Hazards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3368 Increases State Laws Protecting Residential Tenants from Lead-Based Paint Hazards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3006 Amends and Increases Penalties for Home Invasions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3006 Amends and Increases Penalties for Home Invasions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 226 Prohibits Usage by Certain Retailers of Shipping Boxes Greater than Two Times Volume of Product Being Shipped Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3452 Requires Health Insurance and Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Health Care Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3235 Establishes Regulations Regarding the Distribution and Sale of Hemp Products Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
June 28, 2024 NJ S 3407 Requires Payment of Prevailing Wage for Projects Financed Through Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
June 27, 2024 NC SB 332 Appropriates Funding to Implement State Teacher Raises Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 0)
June 27, 2024 OH SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
June 27, 2024 NC SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
June 27, 2024 NC SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
June 27, 2024 NC SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
June 27, 2024 CA SB 159 Amends Various State Healthcare Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
June 27, 2024 DE HB 70 Repeals the Death Penalty in Delaware Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
June 27, 2024 CA AB 2841 Authorizes Streamlining of Research and the Application Process for Marijuana and Psychedelics in California Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
June 27, 2024 PA SB 1260 Prohibits Any Boycott, Divestment, or Sanction (BDS) Efforts Against Israel Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
June 26, 2024 CA SB 153 Appropriates Funding for the State Education Omnibus Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
June 26, 2024 CA SB 164 Amends State Government Operating Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
June 26, 2024 OH SB 40 Establishes the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Into State Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
June 26, 2024 CA AB 160 Amends Medi-Cal Managed Care Organization Provider Tax Policies Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
June 26, 2024 DE HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 26, 2024 OH HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
June 26, 2024 OH HB 147 Amends Teacher Licensure Revocation and Hiring Practices Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
June 26, 2024 NC HB 385 Establishes Regulations For Matters Relating To Energy And Environment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/17 SB 911 Amends the State's School Retirement System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
9/17 S 4445 A bill to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization. Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44)
9/17 SB 170 Amends Criminal Statutes Governing the Duties of Probation Officers Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
9/17 SB 169 Amends Juvenile Statutes in Pennsylvania Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
9/17 SB 173 Establishes a Safe Exchange Zone Program Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
9/09 HB 556 Prohibits Landlords from Refusing Tenants Based on their Lawful Source of Income and Clarifies Changes to Ordinances in North Carolina Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
9/09 SB 166 Amends and Reforms Certain Regulations Surrounding Building Codes Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
9/09 SB 166 Amends and Reforms Certain Regulations Surrounding Building Codes Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
9/09 SB 445 Amends the Recording of Court-Filed Documents Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
8/31 SB 1037 Requires a Court to Modify Previous Housing and Zoning Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
8/31 SB 1103 Expands Certain Residential Tenant Protections to Commercial Property Tenants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/31 AB 1893 Amends the Housing Accountability Act Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
8/31 AB 98 Requires Creations of a Truck Routing Plan for California Cities Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
8/30 AB 1008 Extends Privacy Laws to AI Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
8/29 SB 1100 Limits Driver License Requirements in Employment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/29 SB 1348 Establishes Designation of Black-Serving Institutions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
8/29 AB 1954 Amends Certain Sections of the Welfare and Institutions Code Relating to Sexually Violent Predators. Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/29 AB 1886 Extends Certain State Housing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
8/28 SB 1137 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of a Combination of Characteristics (Intersectionality) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
8/28 SB 940 Amends Certain Procedures Regarding Civil Disputes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
8/28 AB 2515 Prohibits PFAs in Menstrual Product Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
8/28 AB 2319 Establishes the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
8/27 AB 1825 Establishes the California Freedom to Read Act Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/27 AB 2099 Increases Penalties for Crimes Against Reproductive Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/27 AB 1877 Requires a California Court to Seal Juvenile Records if a Person Has not Been Found Guilty of a Crime During that Time Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
8/27 AB 2655 Establishes the Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act of 2024 Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/27 AB 1840 Expands the Home Purchase Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
8/27 AB 1864 Expand Pesticide Regulations Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
8/27 AB 1986 Requires List of Banned Book in Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/26 SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/20 AB 2435 Extends Healthcare Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
8/20 AB 2876 Requires Adoption of Media Literacy Standards for California Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/19 AB 1810 Requires that Individuals have Easy Access to Menstrual Products While Incarcertated Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/17 AB 2801 Increases Renter Protection Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
8/12 AB 1863 Amends the California Emergency Services Act Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
7/18 H 4653 Increases Oversight of the Massachusetts Healthcare Market Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
7/11 SB 1150 Establishes the Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/11 SB 700 Appropriates Funding for Cell Phone Pouches in Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
7/11 SB 24 Requires Automatic Return of Unclaimed Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/11 SB 24 Requires Automatic Return of Unclaimed Property Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/11 HB 2310 Amends the Fiscal Code in Emergency Response to COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
7/11 HB 663 Establishes New Guidelines for Students, Families, and School Districts During Residency Disputes Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/11 H 4804 Authorizes Grant Programs to Strengthen Economic Leadership Within Various Sectors of Work Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
7/03 SB 1207 Authorizes School Districts to Prohibit Student Cell Phone Use During School Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
7/01 AB 2813 Authorizes Affordable Housing Measures Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
6/30 HB 212 Prohibits Increasing of Rent Rates in Manufactured Homes If Raised in Previous Year Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 0)
6/30 HB 342 Establishes a Voluntary Firearms Do-Not-Sell Registry Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
6/28 A 4533 Amends Certain Sections of Law Concerning Financing Mechanisms for School Facilities Projects Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
6/28 S 2188 Requires DEP, DOH, Owners or Operators of Certain Public Community Water Systems to Take Certain Actions to Prevent and Control Cases of Legionnaires' Disease Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
6/28 A 3772 Restructures Property Tax Process Regarding Foreclosures and Equity Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/28 S 3368 Increases State Laws Protecting Residential Tenants from Lead-Based Paint Hazards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/28 S 3368 Increases State Laws Protecting Residential Tenants from Lead-Based Paint Hazards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/28 S 3006 Amends and Increases Penalties for Home Invasions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
6/28 S 3006 Amends and Increases Penalties for Home Invasions Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
6/28 S 226 Prohibits Usage by Certain Retailers of Shipping Boxes Greater than Two Times Volume of Product Being Shipped Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/28 S 3452 Requires Health Insurance and Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Health Care Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/28 S 3235 Establishes Regulations Regarding the Distribution and Sale of Hemp Products Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
6/28 S 3407 Requires Payment of Prevailing Wage for Projects Financed Through Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
6/27 SB 332 Appropriates Funding to Implement State Teacher Raises Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 0)
6/27 SB 168 Amends Education Reform Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
6/27 SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
6/27 SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
6/27 SB 607 Establishes Various Regulations Over the North Carolina Railroad Charter Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
6/27 SB 159 Amends Various State Healthcare Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
6/27 HB 70 Repeals the Death Penalty in Delaware Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
6/27 AB 2841 Authorizes Streamlining of Research and the Application Process for Marijuana and Psychedelics in California Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
6/27 SB 1260 Prohibits Any Boycott, Divestment, or Sanction (BDS) Efforts Against Israel Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
6/26 SB 153 Appropriates Funding for the State Education Omnibus Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
6/26 SB 164 Amends State Government Operating Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
6/26 SB 40 Establishes the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Into State Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
6/26 AB 160 Amends Medi-Cal Managed Care Organization Provider Tax Policies Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
6/26 HB 311 Amends Post-Secondary Colleges and Universities to the Safe School Zone Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/26 HB 214 Requires Public Schools Adopt Policies On Expectations Related to Staff Member Professional Duties Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
6/26 HB 147 Amends Teacher Licensure Revocation and Hiring Practices Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
6/26 HB 385 Establishes Regulations For Matters Relating To Energy And Environment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)

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