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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 21, 2020 | PA | HB 1822 | Extends Workplace Protections Related to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (105 - 97) |
| April 21, 2020 | PA | HB 2388 | Establishes Exemption Waivers for Business Closures Due to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (113 - 89) |
| 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) |
| April 14, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
| April 14, 2020 | PA | HB 2376 | Authorizes Certain Retail Operations and Construction Sites to Reopen | Bill Passed - House (112 - 90) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 68 | Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | HB 1477 | Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts | Bill Passed - House (193 - 4) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - House (135 - 49) |
| Sept. 25, 2019 | PA | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6) |
| May 7, 2019 | PA | SB 453 | Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1840 | Amends Worker's Compensation Law | Bill Passed - House (115 - 80) |
| June 13, 2018 | PA | HB 1810 | Requires Data Information Sharing for Hosting Platforms | Bill Passed - House (177 - 14) |
| April 16, 2018 | PA | SB 936 | Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees | Bill Passed - House (101 - 92) |
| April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 456 | Establishes Regulations for Tattoo Industry | Bill Passed - House (173 - 17) |
| Oct. 25, 2017 | PA | SB 936 | Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 21, 2015 | PA | HB 874 | Repeals Exemptions for Harassment during Labor Disputes | Bill Passed - House (109 - 84) |
| April 14, 2015 | PA | SB 333 | Prohibits Local Paid Leave Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | PA | HB 466 | Authorizes Private Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (114 - 87) |
| Jan. 13, 2014 | PA | HB 1741 | Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes | Bill Passed - House (102 - 98) |
| May 6, 2013 | PA | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| March 21, 2013 | PA | HB 790 | Requires the State to Privatize Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (105 - 90) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| Nov. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 439 | Hiring Undocumented Workers | Bill Passed - House (122 - 74) |
| May 11, 2011 | PA | SB 612 | Guidelines for Teacher Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | PA | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - House (163 - 31) |
| June 3, 2009 | PA | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| June 16, 2008 | PA | SB 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 10, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| May 7, 2008 | PA | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| March 17, 2008 | PA | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| June 28, 2007 | PA | HB 1631 | Funding for Local County Projects | Bill Passed - House (121 - 77) |
| June 26, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 20, 2007 | PA | HB 1202 | Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act | Bill Passed - House (138 - 60) |
| June 20, 2007 | PA | HB 1200 | Alternative Energy Incentives | Bill Passed - House (128 - 70) |
| June 30, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| June 30, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | HB 243 | Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (180 - 13) |
| June 27, 2006 | PA | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| April 5, 2006 | PA | HB 257 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (146 - 50) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/21 | HB 1822 | Extends Workplace Protections Related to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (105 - 97) |
| 4/21 | HB 2388 | Establishes Exemption Waivers for Business Closures Due to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (113 - 89) |
| 4/15 | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 4/14 | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
| 4/14 | HB 2376 | Authorizes Certain Retail Operations and Construction Sites to Reopen | Bill Passed - House (112 - 90) |
| 3/25 | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| 3/25 | HB 68 | Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| 12/18 | HB 1477 | Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts | Bill Passed - House (193 - 4) |
| 11/21 | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - House (135 - 49) |
| 9/25 | SB 473 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6) |
| 5/07 | SB 453 | Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 6/22 | HB 1840 | Amends Worker's Compensation Law | Bill Passed - House (115 - 80) |
| 6/13 | HB 1810 | Requires Data Information Sharing for Hosting Platforms | Bill Passed - House (177 - 14) |
| 4/16 | SB 936 | Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees | Bill Passed - House (101 - 92) |
| 4/11 | HB 456 | Establishes Regulations for Tattoo Industry | Bill Passed - House (173 - 17) |
| 10/25 | SB 936 | Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 4/21 | HB 874 | Repeals Exemptions for Harassment during Labor Disputes | Bill Passed - House (109 - 84) |
| 4/14 | SB 333 | Prohibits Local Paid Leave Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 2/26 | HB 466 | Authorizes Private Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (114 - 87) |
| 1/13 | HB 1741 | Requires a School Board to Provide Public Notice Prior to Certain Votes | Bill Passed - House (102 - 98) |
| 5/06 | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| 3/21 | HB 790 | Requires the State to Privatize Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (105 - 90) |
| 10/17 | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| 10/17 | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| 11/15 | HB 439 | Hiring Undocumented Workers | Bill Passed - House (122 - 74) |
| 5/11 | SB 612 | Guidelines for Teacher Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 6/24 | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - House (163 - 31) |
| 6/03 | SB 81 | Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 6/16 | SB 1388 | Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/16 | SB 1385 | Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 6/16 | SB 1387 | Business Property Tax Deduction | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 6/10 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| 5/07 | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 3/17 | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| 7/16 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36) |
| 7/16 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (141 - 62) |
| 6/28 | HB 1631 | Funding for Local County Projects | Bill Passed - House (121 - 77) |
| 6/26 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/25 | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 6/20 | HB 1202 | Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act | Bill Passed - House (138 - 60) |
| 6/20 | HB 1200 | Alternative Energy Incentives | Bill Passed - House (128 - 70) |
| 6/30 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| 6/30 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| 6/28 | HB 243 | Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Program | Bill Passed - House (180 - 13) |
| 6/27 | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 4/05 | HB 257 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (146 - 50) |