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
April 24, 2025 TX HB 18 Establishes Certain Programs and Services Providing Health Care Services to Rural Counties Bill Passed - House (119 - 24)
April 24, 2025 TX HB 1481 Prohibits Personal Communication Devices from Being Used on School Premises Bill Passed - House (128 - 17)
April 24, 2025 TX SB 240 Requires Individuals to Use Bathrooms and Locker Rooms Based on Their Biological Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 24, 2025 TX SB 1257 Requires Health Benefit Plans That Provide Coverage for Gender Transition Procedures to Additionally Cover All Possible Adverse Consequences of the Procedure, Follow-Up Testing, and Any Procedures to Reverse the Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 23, 2025 TX SB 1786 Requires Community Colleges to Receive Funds When Their Students Transfer to Private Universities Bill Passed - House (139 - 7)
April 23, 2025 TX HB 1644 Authorizes Individuals to Possess and Purchase Fentanyl Test Strips Bill Passed - House (147 - 0)
April 23, 2025 TX SB 1870 Prohibits Cities from Putting Marijuana Decriminalization Initiatives on Local Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
April 17, 2025 TX SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - House (86 - 61)
April 17, 2025 TX HB 2 Appropriates $7.7 Billion for the State Education Budget Bill Passed - House (142 - 5)
April 16, 2025 TX HB 1393 Authorizes Permanent Daylight Savings Time with Federal Action Bill Passed - House (133 - 11)
April 16, 2025 TX SB 1596 Repeals Ban on Short-Barrel Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
April 16, 2025 TX HB 6 Authorizes K-12 Public Schools to Discipline Students with Out-of-School Suspensions Bill Passed - House (142 - 2)
April 16, 2025 TX SB 33 Prohibits Any State Funding From Going Toward Helping Women Get Out-of-State Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
April 15, 2025 TX SB 1758 Limits the Liability of Kiln Operators Whose Activities Cause Seismic Disturbances in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 11, 2025 TX SB 1 Appropriates Funding for the State General Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Bill Passed - House (118 - 26)
April 11, 2025 TX HB 500 Appropriates Supplemental Funding for the 2025-2026 State Budget Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
April 10, 2025 TX HB 1400 Establishes a Fund for Groundwater Research, Science, and Innovation Bill Passed - House (133 - 14)
April 10, 2025 TX SB 38 Authorizes Expedited Evictions by Removing Hearing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 10, 2025 TX SB 36 Establishes a Texas Homeland Security Division Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
April 9, 2025 TX SB 14 Establishes a State Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Bill Passed - House (97 - 51)
April 3, 2025 TX SB 29 Establishes Specialty Courts to Handle Business Disputes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
April 3, 2025 TX SB 27 Authorizes Teachers to Immediately Remove from Class a Student Who is Bullying Others or is Verbally Abusive Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
April 2, 2025 TX SB 942 Requires Retroactive Child Support from Conception Date Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 2, 2025 TX HB 13 Establishes the Texas Interoperability Council Bill Passed - House (129 - 18)
April 1, 2025 TX SB 8 Requires Local Law Enforcement Assist the Federal Government in Deportation Efforts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 1, 2025 TX SB 16 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 1, 2025 TX SB 965 Authorizes Teachers the Right to Pray While Working in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 1, 2025 TX HJR 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Would Ban the Legislature from Imposing a Tax on Financial Trades Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31)
March 31, 2025 TX SB 379 Limits SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 26, 2025 TX SB 112 Specifies Parental Bill of Rights Relating to Electronic Educational Records Concerning Their Child Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
March 26, 2025 TX SB 990 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Killing Children Aged 10-15 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 26, 2025 TX SB 24 Requires Public Schools in the State to Include Lessons on Communism and its Ideologies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 12 Authorizes Parents the Right to Prohibit Topics Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Being Taught to Their Children Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 412 Rescinds Exemptions for Educational, Medical, Psychological, and Psychiatric Professionals Who Commit Offenses Related to Material or Conduct that is Obscene or Harmful to Children Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 10 Requires the 10 Commandments be Displayed in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 3 Prohibits the Sale of THC in Hemp Products Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 19 Prohibits Texas Public Tax Funds from Being Used in Lobbying or Other Activities Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 18 Prohibits Funding Libraries in Texas that Support or Host Reading Hours with Drag Queens Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
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 TX SB 17 Increases Sanctions Against Foreign Entities from Purchasing Land in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
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 19, 2025 TX SB 13 Establishes Sanctions Within All Public Schools to Regulate the Books Available to Students and Ban Books that are Deemed Inappropriate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
March 19, 2025 TX SB 388 Requires 50% of New Energy Generating Capacity to be from a Dispatch Generator other than Battery Energy Storage Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 18, 2025 TX SB 11 Requires Schools to Provide Time for Students to Practice Prayer of Any Religion During School Hours Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
March 6, 2025 TX SB 703 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Indecent Assault from Working as Licensed Massage Therapists Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
March 6, 2025 TX SB 21 Establishes the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 6, 2025 TX SB 72 Establishes New Regulations for Rental Cars Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
March 5, 2025 TX SB 5 Establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
Feb. 26, 2025 TX SB 26 Increases Funding for Teacher Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Feb. 20, 2025 TX SJR 5 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Denial of Bail Under Limited Circumstances Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Feb. 19, 2025 TX SB 40 Amends Bail Bonds and Prohibits the Use of Public Tax Funds to Pay Bail Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
Feb. 19, 2025 TX SB 9 Amends Bail Programs and the Release of Defendants to Require Notification of Victims Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
Feb. 13, 2025 TX SB 4 Increases State Homestead Exemption on School District Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
Feb. 5, 2025 TX SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Nov. 14, 2023 TX SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (83 - 61)
Nov. 9, 2023 TX SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Nov. 9, 2023 TX SB 3 Appropriates $1.5 Billion for the Construction of a Border Wall Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Oct. 26, 2023 TX SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 1 Establishes a School Choice Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 7 Prohibits Private Employers from Requiring the COVID-19 Vaccine Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 11 Establishes a New State Crime for Illegally Entering Texas from a Foreign Nation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Oct. 12, 2023 TX SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 28, 2023 TX HB 5 Establishes Economic Incentives for Oil and Gas Companies Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 36)
May 28, 2023 TX SB 17 Repeals Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trainings and Initiatives at State Universities Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 61)
May 28, 2023 TX SB 1933 Increases Secretary of State Authority over Election Administration Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 58)
May 25, 2023 TX HB 33 Establishes the State of Texas as a Sanctuary State for Oil and Gas Companies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 34)
May 24, 2023 TX HB 1287 Amends SNAP Vehicle Asset Tests to Modernize Reporting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 24, 2023 TX HB 5 Establishes Economic Incentives for Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 24, 2023 TX HB 7 Authorizes the Creation of State Border Police Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
May 24, 2023 TX SB 833 Prohibits Insurance Companies from Charging Higher Rates Based on ESG Criteria Bill Passed - House (86 - 54)
May 23, 2023 TX SB 1070 Authorizes the State to Discontinue Participation in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
May 23, 2023 TX SB 1750 Authorizes the Removal of the County Election Administrator Position Bill Passed - House (81 - 62)
May 22, 2023 TX SB 1929 Requires Crypto Miners with an Energy Capacity of At Least 75 Megawatts Register with the Public Utilities Commission Bill Passed - House (140 - 5)
May 22, 2023 TX HB 33 Establishes the State of Texas as a Sanctuary State for Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
May 22, 2023 TX SB 477 Requires Election Workers Allow Disabled Voters to Skip the Line When They Vote in Person Bill Passed - House (109 - 25)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/24 HB 18 Establishes Certain Programs and Services Providing Health Care Services to Rural Counties Bill Passed - House (119 - 24)
4/24 HB 1481 Prohibits Personal Communication Devices from Being Used on School Premises Bill Passed - House (128 - 17)
4/24 SB 240 Requires Individuals to Use Bathrooms and Locker Rooms Based on Their Biological Sex at Birth Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/24 SB 1257 Requires Health Benefit Plans That Provide Coverage for Gender Transition Procedures to Additionally Cover All Possible Adverse Consequences of the Procedure, Follow-Up Testing, and Any Procedures to Reverse the Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/23 SB 1786 Requires Community Colleges to Receive Funds When Their Students Transfer to Private Universities Bill Passed - House (139 - 7)
4/23 HB 1644 Authorizes Individuals to Possess and Purchase Fentanyl Test Strips Bill Passed - House (147 - 0)
4/23 SB 1870 Prohibits Cities from Putting Marijuana Decriminalization Initiatives on Local Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
4/17 SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - House (86 - 61)
4/17 HB 2 Appropriates $7.7 Billion for the State Education Budget Bill Passed - House (142 - 5)
4/16 HB 1393 Authorizes Permanent Daylight Savings Time with Federal Action Bill Passed - House (133 - 11)
4/16 SB 1596 Repeals Ban on Short-Barrel Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
4/16 HB 6 Authorizes K-12 Public Schools to Discipline Students with Out-of-School Suspensions Bill Passed - House (142 - 2)
4/16 SB 33 Prohibits Any State Funding From Going Toward Helping Women Get Out-of-State Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
4/15 SB 1758 Limits the Liability of Kiln Operators Whose Activities Cause Seismic Disturbances in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/11 SB 1 Appropriates Funding for the State General Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Bill Passed - House (118 - 26)
4/11 HB 500 Appropriates Supplemental Funding for the 2025-2026 State Budget Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
4/10 HB 1400 Establishes a Fund for Groundwater Research, Science, and Innovation Bill Passed - House (133 - 14)
4/10 SB 38 Authorizes Expedited Evictions by Removing Hearing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/10 SB 36 Establishes a Texas Homeland Security Division Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
4/09 SB 14 Establishes a State Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Bill Passed - House (97 - 51)
4/03 SB 29 Establishes Specialty Courts to Handle Business Disputes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
4/03 SB 27 Authorizes Teachers to Immediately Remove from Class a Student Who is Bullying Others or is Verbally Abusive Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
4/02 SB 942 Requires Retroactive Child Support from Conception Date Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/02 HB 13 Establishes the Texas Interoperability Council Bill Passed - House (129 - 18)
4/01 SB 8 Requires Local Law Enforcement Assist the Federal Government in Deportation Efforts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/01 SB 16 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/01 SB 965 Authorizes Teachers the Right to Pray While Working in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/01 HJR 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Would Ban the Legislature from Imposing a Tax on Financial Trades Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31)
3/31 SB 379 Limits SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/26 SB 112 Specifies Parental Bill of Rights Relating to Electronic Educational Records Concerning Their Child Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
3/26 SB 990 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Killing Children Aged 10-15 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/26 SB 24 Requires Public Schools in the State to Include Lessons on Communism and its Ideologies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
3/19 SB 12 Authorizes Parents the Right to Prohibit Topics Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Being Taught to Their Children Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
3/19 SB 412 Rescinds Exemptions for Educational, Medical, Psychological, and Psychiatric Professionals Who Commit Offenses Related to Material or Conduct that is Obscene or Harmful to Children Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
3/19 SB 10 Requires the 10 Commandments be Displayed in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
3/19 SB 3 Prohibits the Sale of THC in Hemp Products Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/19 SB 19 Prohibits Texas Public Tax Funds from Being Used in Lobbying or Other Activities Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
3/19 SB 18 Prohibits Funding Libraries in Texas that Support or Host Reading Hours with Drag Queens Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
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 SB 17 Increases Sanctions Against Foreign Entities from Purchasing Land in Texas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
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)
3/19 SB 13 Establishes Sanctions Within All Public Schools to Regulate the Books Available to Students and Ban Books that are Deemed Inappropriate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
3/19 SB 388 Requires 50% of New Energy Generating Capacity to be from a Dispatch Generator other than Battery Energy Storage Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/18 SB 11 Requires Schools to Provide Time for Students to Practice Prayer of Any Religion During School Hours Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
3/06 SB 703 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Indecent Assault from Working as Licensed Massage Therapists Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
3/06 SB 21 Establishes the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/06 SB 72 Establishes New Regulations for Rental Cars Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
3/05 SB 5 Establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
2/26 SB 26 Increases Funding for Teacher Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
2/20 SJR 5 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the Denial of Bail Under Limited Circumstances Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
2/19 SB 40 Amends Bail Bonds and Prohibits the Use of Public Tax Funds to Pay Bail Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
2/19 SB 9 Amends Bail Programs and the Release of Defendants to Require Notification of Victims Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2)
2/13 SB 4 Increases State Homestead Exemption on School District Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
2/05 SB 2 Establishes Education Savings Accounts or School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
11/14 SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (83 - 61)
11/09 SB 4 Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
11/09 SB 3 Appropriates $1.5 Billion for the Construction of a Border Wall Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
10/26 SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
10/12 SB 1 Establishes a School Choice Voucher Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
10/12 SB 7 Prohibits Private Employers from Requiring the COVID-19 Vaccine Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
10/12 SB 11 Establishes a New State Crime for Illegally Entering Texas from a Foreign Nation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
10/12 SB 4 Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/28 HB 5 Establishes Economic Incentives for Oil and Gas Companies Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 36)
5/28 SB 17 Repeals Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trainings and Initiatives at State Universities Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 61)
5/28 SB 1933 Increases Secretary of State Authority over Election Administration Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 58)
5/25 HB 33 Establishes the State of Texas as a Sanctuary State for Oil and Gas Companies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 34)
5/24 HB 1287 Amends SNAP Vehicle Asset Tests to Modernize Reporting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/24 HB 5 Establishes Economic Incentives for Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/24 HB 7 Authorizes the Creation of State Border Police Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
5/24 SB 833 Prohibits Insurance Companies from Charging Higher Rates Based on ESG Criteria Bill Passed - House (86 - 54)
5/23 SB 1070 Authorizes the State to Discontinue Participation in the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Bill Passed - House (85 - 61)
5/23 SB 1750 Authorizes the Removal of the County Election Administrator Position Bill Passed - House (81 - 62)
5/22 SB 1929 Requires Crypto Miners with an Energy Capacity of At Least 75 Megawatts Register with the Public Utilities Commission Bill Passed - House (140 - 5)
5/22 HB 33 Establishes the State of Texas as a Sanctuary State for Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
5/22 SB 477 Requires Election Workers Allow Disabled Voters to Skip the Line When They Vote in Person Bill Passed - House (109 - 25)

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