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. 8, 2025 CA AB 831 Prohibits the Facilitation or Usage of Online Sweepstakes Games that Utilize a Dual-Currency System Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
Sept. 4, 2025 National S 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (83 - 13)
Sept. 2, 2025 National S 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (84 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2025 TX HB 23 Establishes Property Tax Exemptions for Nonprofit Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 18, 2025 TX SB 5 (2nd Special Session) Appropriates Supplemental Funds for Disaster Relief and Preparedness Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
Aug. 12, 2025 PA HB 257 Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Aug. 12, 2025 PA HB 257 Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Aug. 12, 2025 TX SB 1 (Special Session) Requires Youth Camps Located in 100-Year Floodplains to Develop and Carry Out Flood Evacuation Plans During Flood Warnings Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
Aug. 12, 2025 TX SB 3 (Special Session) Appropriates $200 Million to Cover the Projected 25% Non-Federal Matching Funds for FEMA Reimbursement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
Aug. 12, 2025 TX SB 16 (Special Session) Appropriates Funding for the State Judicial Omnibus Package Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
Aug. 12, 2025 PA SB 160 Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Aug. 6, 2025 TX SB 9 (Special Session) Reduces State Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
July 31, 2025 MA H 4307 Appropriates Funds for Municipal Road and Bridge Improvement Projects Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
July 30, 2025 TX SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
July 29, 2025 NC HB 87 Authorizes the State to Participate in the One Big Beautiful Bill's Educational Choice Incentive Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
July 17, 2025 CA SB 119 Appropriates Funding for the Public Social Services Trailer Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
July 17, 2025 CA SB 119 Appropriates Funding for the Public Social Services Trailer Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
July 17, 2025 CA AB 104 Requires Changes to the Budget by Adding, Removing, or Updating Funding for Certain Programs. Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
July 17, 2025 CA AB 104 Requires Changes to the Budget by Adding, Removing, or Updating Funding for Certain Programs. Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
July 17, 2025 CA AB 138 Authorizes Agreements Entered Into by the State and Certain State Employee Bargaining Units Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
July 3, 2025 CA AB 1138 Expands California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
July 3, 2025 CA AB 377 Amends the High-Speed Rail Authority's Business plan to focus on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
July 2, 2025 WI SB 45 Appropriates Funds for Public Education, Infrastructure, Property Tax Relief, and State Government Services for 2026-27 Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
July 1, 2025 National HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 4467 Authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expand Sums to Make Loans for Environmental Infrastructure Projects in Fiscal Year 2026 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 862 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Information about Potholes and Pothole Repair Projects in its Annual Roadway Pavement System Report Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 30, 2025 MA H 4240 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
June 30, 2025 NJ A 5688 Establishes a New Hotel Tax to Fund Municipal Fire Departments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
June 30, 2025 DE HB 91 Appropriates $3.2 million for All Public Schools to Offer Free Breakfast, Regardless of a Student's Income Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
June 30, 2025 NJ A 5857 Authorizes State Treasurer to Sell as Surplus Property Certain Land and Improvements in City of Trenton and Township of Lawrence in Mercer County Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 30, 2025 CA SB 129 Appropriates $584 Million from the General Fund to Supplement the State's Appropriation to the Public Employees' Retirement Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 4618 Amends Requirements and Availability of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 2026 Appropriates $58 Billion in State Funds and $31 Billion in Federal Funds for the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 30, 2025 NJ S 3910 Establishes The New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 28, 2025 National HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 49)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 128 Appropriates Funding for the State Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 120 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 124 Establishes Regulations Relating to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Public Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 141 Amends Funding for the California Cannabis Tax Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 1)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 132 Amends Certain State Tax Codes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 127 Appropriates Funds for Climate Change Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 103 Amends the 2022-2024 State Budgets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 27, 2025 CA SB 103 Amends the 2022-2024 State Budgets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 134 Appropriates Funding for the State Public Safety Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 121 Appropriates Funding for the State Omnibus Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 118 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 137 Amends Various California State Laws Relating to Consumer Protections and Privacy Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 143 Appropriates Funding for the State Developmental Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 27, 2025 CA AB 118 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/08 AB 831 Prohibits the Facilitation or Usage of Online Sweepstakes Games that Utilize a Dual-Currency System Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
9/04 S 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Motion Agreed - Senate (83 - 13)
9/02 S 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (84 - 14)
8/26 HB 23 Establishes Property Tax Exemptions for Nonprofit Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
8/21 SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
8/18 SB 5 (2nd Special Session) Appropriates Supplemental Funds for Disaster Relief and Preparedness Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
8/12 HB 257 Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
8/12 HB 257 Establishes Regulations for Public Transportation Authorities and Appropriates or Transfers Funds From the Interactive Gaming Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
8/12 SB 1 (Special Session) Requires Youth Camps Located in 100-Year Floodplains to Develop and Carry Out Flood Evacuation Plans During Flood Warnings Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
8/12 SB 3 (Special Session) Appropriates $200 Million to Cover the Projected 25% Non-Federal Matching Funds for FEMA Reimbursement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
8/12 SB 16 (Special Session) Appropriates Funding for the State Judicial Omnibus Package Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
8/12 SB 160 Appropriates Funds for the General Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
8/06 SB 9 (Special Session) Reduces State Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3)
7/31 H 4307 Appropriates Funds for Municipal Road and Bridge Improvement Projects Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
7/30 SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
7/29 HB 87 Authorizes the State to Participate in the One Big Beautiful Bill's Educational Choice Incentive Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
7/17 SB 119 Appropriates Funding for the Public Social Services Trailer Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
7/17 SB 119 Appropriates Funding for the Public Social Services Trailer Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
7/17 AB 104 Requires Changes to the Budget by Adding, Removing, or Updating Funding for Certain Programs. Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
7/17 AB 104 Requires Changes to the Budget by Adding, Removing, or Updating Funding for Certain Programs. Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
7/17 AB 138 Authorizes Agreements Entered Into by the State and Certain State Employee Bargaining Units Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
7/03 AB 1138 Expands California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
7/03 AB 377 Amends the High-Speed Rail Authority's Business plan to focus on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
7/02 SB 45 Appropriates Funds for Public Education, Infrastructure, Property Tax Relief, and State Government Services for 2026-27 Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
7/01 HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
6/30 S 4467 Authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to Expand Sums to Make Loans for Environmental Infrastructure Projects in Fiscal Year 2026 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/30 S 862 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Information about Potholes and Pothole Repair Projects in its Annual Roadway Pavement System Report Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/30 H 4240 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 2)
6/30 A 5688 Establishes a New Hotel Tax to Fund Municipal Fire Departments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
6/30 HB 91 Appropriates $3.2 million for All Public Schools to Offer Free Breakfast, Regardless of a Student's Income Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
6/30 A 5857 Authorizes State Treasurer to Sell as Surplus Property Certain Land and Improvements in City of Trenton and Township of Lawrence in Mercer County Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/30 SB 129 Appropriates $584 Million from the General Fund to Supplement the State's Appropriation to the Public Employees' Retirement Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
6/30 S 4618 Amends Requirements and Availability of the Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
6/30 S 2026 Appropriates $58 Billion in State Funds and $31 Billion in Federal Funds for the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/30 S 3910 Establishes The New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/28 HR 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 49)
6/27 SB 128 Appropriates Funding for the State Transportation Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
6/27 SB 120 Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/27 SB 124 Establishes Regulations Relating to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Public Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
6/27 SB 141 Amends Funding for the California Cannabis Tax Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 1)
6/27 SB 132 Amends Certain State Tax Codes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
6/27 SB 127 Appropriates Funds for Climate Change Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/27 SB 103 Amends the 2022-2024 State Budgets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/27 SB 103 Amends the 2022-2024 State Budgets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/27 AB 134 Appropriates Funding for the State Public Safety Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/27 AB 121 Appropriates Funding for the State Omnibus Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
6/27 AB 118 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/27 AB 137 Amends Various California State Laws Relating to Consumer Protections and Privacy Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/27 AB 143 Appropriates Funding for the State Developmental Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/27 AB 118 Appropriates Funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3)

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