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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2020 | PA | HB 196 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| July 15, 2020 | PA | HB 196 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| July 15, 2020 | PA | SB 14 | Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 10, 2020 | PA | HB 2502 | Requires Department of State to Publish Presidential Primary Report | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 10, 2020 | PA | HB 2502 | Requires Department of State to Publish Presidential Primary Report | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 10, 2020 | PA | SB 1125 | Authorizes School Districts to Extend Time Needed to Pay Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 9, 2020 | PA | HR 836 | Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 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) |
| Oct. 29, 2019 | PA | SB 421 | Establishes Mail-In Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | SB 48 | Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| June 13, 2018 | PA | SB 22 | Establishes 11-Member Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| June 30, 2017 | PA | HB 218 | Establishes a Budget for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| May 10, 2017 | PA | SB 560 | Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| April 14, 2015 | PA | SB 333 | Prohibits Local Paid Leave Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 2354 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| June 29, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| June 19, 2012 | PA | HB 1307 | Authorizes State Control of Financially Distressed Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| June 5, 2012 | PA | SB 1310 | Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| March 7, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | PA | SB 1151 | Fiscal Emergency Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| Nov. 17, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |