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 12, 2021 | TX | SB 1114 | Requires Voter Registrars Cross-Reference Voter Rolls with the DMV to Remove Ineligible Voters | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| April 12, 2021 | TX | SB 1112 | Increases Penalties for Accepting Early Mail-In Ballots Without Verifying the Signature | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| April 1, 2021 | TX | SB 7 | Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 20, 2019 | TX | HB 2911 | Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 17, 2019 | TX | HB 1631 | Prohibits Use of Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| April 11, 2019 | TX | SB 2487 | Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| April 11, 2019 | TX | SB 2485 | Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| May 4, 2015 | TX | HB 40 | Specifies That The State Will Regulate Oil and Gas Operations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| June 23, 2013 | TX | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| June 23, 2013 | TX | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| June 14, 2013 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 14, 2013 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| May 26, 2013 | TX | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| June 27, 2011 | TX | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 15, 2011 | TX | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| May 9, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | TX | SJR 1 | Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | TX | SJR 1 | Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 14, 2009 | TX | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 14, 2009 | TX | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 1, 2009 | TX | SB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 11, 2009 | TX | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| Jan. 14, 2009 | TX | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 1, 2007 | TX | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 12, 2007 | TX | CSHB 1 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 12, 2006 | TX | CSHB 5 | Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| May 9, 2006 | TX | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | SB 1114 | Requires Voter Registrars Cross-Reference Voter Rolls with the DMV to Remove Ineligible Voters | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 4/12 | SB 1112 | Increases Penalties for Accepting Early Mail-In Ballots Without Verifying the Signature | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 4/01 | SB 7 | Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 5/20 | HB 2911 | Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 5/17 | HB 1631 | Prohibits Use of Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 4/11 | SB 2487 | Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses for Employee Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 4/11 | SB 2485 | Prohibits Local Governments from Imposing Regulations on Private Businesses Regarding Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 5/04 | HB 40 | Specifies That The State Will Regulate Oil and Gas Operations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 6/23 | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 6/23 | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 6/14 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/14 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 5/26 | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| 3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 6/27 | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/15 | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 5/09 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 2/23 | SJR 1 | Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 2/23 | SJR 1 | Urging Congress to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 1/26 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 5/11 | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 4/14 | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/14 | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/01 | SB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| 3/11 | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 1/14 | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 5/01 | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 4/12 | CSHB 1 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| 5/12 | CSHB 5 | Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| 5/10 | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| 5/10 | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 5/09 | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 5/02 | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 5/02 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |