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
March 25, 2025 KS SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
March 25, 2025 National PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 44)
March 25, 2025 KS HCR 5004 Amends Constitutional Citizenship Requirement for Voting Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-3 Nomination of James Bishop to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
March 25, 2025 National PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 25)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
March 25, 2025 National PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
March 25, 2025 IA SF 507 Prohibits and Repeals County and City Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 25, 2025 OK SB 991 Requires the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism be Adopted into State Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
March 25, 2025 OR SB 1038 Establishes Year Round Standard Time in Oregon if California and Washington Also Agree Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 24, 2025 National PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (62 - 30)
March 24, 2025 National PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 31)
March 24, 2025 NJ S 3850 Authorizes County Boards of Elections to Extend the Distance Within Which Electioneering is Prohibited Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
March 24, 2025 WV SB 579 Prohibits Municipalities Participating in the Home Rule Program from Establishing Nondiscrimination Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 24, 2025 NJ S 2947 Prohibits Monetary Compensation for Mail-in Ballot Messengers or Bearers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2304 Requires Local Governments to Report Certain Local Economic Development Incentive Program Information to the Kansas Department of Commerce Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2206 Amends and Renames it the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2109 Exempts Public Utilities from Civil Liability to the Attachment, Access, Operation, Maintenance or Removal of Law Enforcement Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
March 20, 2025 KS HB 2217 Extends Scope of the Inspector General to Audit and Investigate State Assistance Programs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 20, 2025 NC SB 50 Establishes State Constitutional Concealed Carry Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 18)
March 19, 2025 KS HB 2020 Requires a Quarterly Report Listing the Names, Addresses and Registration Numbers of Certain Non-Citizens Who Have Been Issued a Driver's License Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 19, 2025 KS HB 2291 Establishes a Regulatory Relief Division within the Attorney General's Office Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 19, 2025 KS HB 2101 Prohibits Municipalities from Adopting and Implementing a Guaranteed Income Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
March 19, 2025 NM HB 2 Appropriates Funds for the 2025-2026 State General Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 19, 2025 AK SSCR 1 Repeals Executive Order for the Establishment of Agricultural Department Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
March 19, 2025 OH SB 2 Increases Energy Generation and Improves State Electric Grid Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 35 Reduces the Limit on Projects the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Can Work on During a Year Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
March 19, 2025 IA SF 513 Prohibits Courts from Ordering Parties Involved in a Dissolution of a Marriage to Pay a Post-Secondary Education Subsidy for Dependents Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 15 Authorizes a Fee on Residential Lots in Certain Municipalities and Gives Clearance for Smaller Homes to be Built on Smaller Lots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
March 18, 2025 WI AB 94 Authorizes the Collective Bargaining Contract Between the State of Wisconsin, the Division of Personnel Management, and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
March 18, 2025 OK SB 1027 Limits Petitions for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
March 18, 2025 OK SB 1027 Limits Petitions for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
March 17, 2025 KS SB 105 Establishes Requirements for Filling Vacant Senate Seats Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
March 17, 2025 KS SB 105 Establishes Requirements for Filling Vacant Senate Seats Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
March 17, 2025 KS SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 17, 2025 KS SB 5 Prohibits Use of Funds Provided by Congress for Elections and Election-Related Activities Unless Approved by the Legislature Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 17, 2025 OR HB 2010 Appropriates Federal Funding for Expansion of Oregon's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
March 14, 2025 National PN 12-16 Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 40)
March 14, 2025 CO HB 25-1093 Extends and Expands the State's Prohibition on Anti-Growth Laws in Urban Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 14, 2025 CO HB 25-1093 Extends and Expands the State's Prohibition on Anti-Growth Laws in Urban Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 14, 2025 National HR 1968 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 46)
March 14, 2025 National PN 12-16 Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 39)
March 14, 2025 National PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 32)
March 14, 2025 National PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Cloture Invoked - Senate (64 - 33)
March 13, 2025 KY SB 4 Establishes Regulations on the State's Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
March 13, 2025 National PN 13-12 Nomination of William Pulte to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/25 SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/25 PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
3/25 PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25)
3/25 PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 44)
3/25 HCR 5004 Amends Constitutional Citizenship Requirement for Voting Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
3/25 PN 12-3 Nomination of James Bishop to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 47)
3/25 PN 13-8 Nomination of Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (73 - 25)
3/25 PN 12-2 Nomination of Jayanta Bhattacharya to be Director of the National Institutes of Health Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 46)
3/25 PN 12-28 Nomination of Martin Makary to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs in the Department of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 44)
3/25 SF 507 Prohibits and Repeals County and City Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/25 SB 991 Requires the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism be Adopted into State Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
3/25 SB 1038 Establishes Year Round Standard Time in Oregon if California and Washington Also Agree Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/24 PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (62 - 30)
3/24 PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Nomination Confirmed - Senate (60 - 31)
3/24 S 3850 Authorizes County Boards of Elections to Extend the Distance Within Which Electioneering is Prohibited Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
3/24 SB 579 Prohibits Municipalities Participating in the Home Rule Program from Establishing Nondiscrimination Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/24 S 2947 Prohibits Monetary Compensation for Mail-in Ballot Messengers or Bearers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
3/20 HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
3/20 HB 2304 Requires Local Governments to Report Certain Local Economic Development Incentive Program Information to the Kansas Department of Commerce Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
3/20 HB 2206 Amends and Renames it the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/20 HB 2060 Reduces Ethics Laws Related to Travel Expense Transparency for State Politicians Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
3/20 HB 2109 Exempts Public Utilities from Civil Liability to the Attachment, Access, Operation, Maintenance or Removal of Law Enforcement Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
3/20 HB 2217 Extends Scope of the Inspector General to Audit and Investigate State Assistance Programs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/20 SB 50 Establishes State Constitutional Concealed Carry Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 18)
3/19 HB 2020 Requires a Quarterly Report Listing the Names, Addresses and Registration Numbers of Certain Non-Citizens Who Have Been Issued a Driver's License Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/19 HB 2291 Establishes a Regulatory Relief Division within the Attorney General's Office Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/19 HB 2101 Prohibits Municipalities from Adopting and Implementing a Guaranteed Income Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
3/19 HB 2 Appropriates Funds for the 2025-2026 State General Budget Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/19 SSCR 1 Repeals Executive Order for the Establishment of Agricultural Department Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
3/19 SB 2 Increases Energy Generation and Improves State Electric Grid Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/19 SB 35 Reduces the Limit on Projects the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Can Work on During a Year Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
3/19 SF 513 Prohibits Courts from Ordering Parties Involved in a Dissolution of a Marriage to Pay a Post-Secondary Education Subsidy for Dependents Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
3/19 SB 15 Authorizes a Fee on Residential Lots in Certain Municipalities and Gives Clearance for Smaller Homes to be Built on Smaller Lots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
3/18 AB 94 Authorizes the Collective Bargaining Contract Between the State of Wisconsin, the Division of Personnel Management, and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
3/18 SB 1027 Limits Petitions for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
3/18 SB 1027 Limits Petitions for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
3/17 SB 105 Establishes Requirements for Filling Vacant Senate Seats Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
3/17 SB 105 Establishes Requirements for Filling Vacant Senate Seats Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
3/17 SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/17 SB 5 Prohibits Use of Funds Provided by Congress for Elections and Election-Related Activities Unless Approved by the Legislature Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/17 HB 2010 Appropriates Federal Funding for Expansion of Oregon's Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
3/14 PN 12-16 Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 40)
3/14 HB 25-1093 Extends and Expands the State's Prohibition on Anti-Growth Laws in Urban Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/14 HB 25-1093 Extends and Expands the State's Prohibition on Anti-Growth Laws in Urban Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/14 HR 1968 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 46)
3/14 PN 12-16 Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 39)
3/14 PN 12-25 Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 32)
3/14 PN 12-36 Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy Cloture Invoked - Senate (64 - 33)
3/13 SB 4 Establishes Regulations on the State's Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
3/13 PN 13-12 Nomination of William Pulte to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)

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