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 5, 2023 | TX | SB 2015 | Establishes a 50% Dispatchable Energy Generation Goal for the ERCOT Grid | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 29, 2023 | TX | SB 15 | Requires Transgender Student Athletes Play Against Those of Their Biological Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| July 16, 2021 | TX | SB 3 | Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
| May 28, 2021 | TX | HB 547 | Authorizes Homeschooled Students to Participate in University Interscholastic League Activities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 63) |
| May 28, 2021 | TX | HB 4545 | Establishes Requirements for Accelerated Instruction for Students who Fail to Pass State Assessments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 41) |
| May 27, 2021 | TX | HB 4545 | Establishes Requirements for Accelerated Instruction for Students who Fail to Pass State Assessments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 26, 2021 | TX | HB 2497 | Requires Patriotic Texas History Materials be Distributed through the DMV | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| May 26, 2021 | TX | HB 2497 | Requires Patriotic Texas History Materials be Distributed through the DMV | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| May 26, 2021 | TX | HB 2497 | Requires Patriotic Texas History Materials be Distributed through the DMV | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 547 | Authorizes Homeschooled Students to Participate in University Interscholastic League Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 3979 | Prohibits the Teaching of "Critical Race Theory" in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 9 | Increases the Criminal Penalty for Knowingly Blocking an Emergency Vehicle or Hospital | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| May 18, 2021 | TX | SB 1311 | Prohibits Certain Treatments for Transgender Children | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 14, 2021 | TX | HB 3889 | Prohibits the State Education Agency from Requiring Fee Payment from Educational Disadvantaged Students if they Establish a Broadband Internet Access Plan for Public School Students | Bill Passed - House (104 - 39) |
| May 11, 2021 | TX | HB 3485 | Amends Law Regarding Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Passed - House (86 - 60) |
| May 11, 2021 | TX | HB 3979 | Prohibits the Teaching of "Critical Race Theory" in Schools | Bill Passed - House (79 - 65) |
| May 6, 2021 | TX | HB 9 | Increases the Criminal Penalty for Knowingly Blocking an Emergency Vehicle or Hospital | Bill Passed - House (90 - 55) |
| May 4, 2021 | TX | HB 17 | Prohibits Cities from Banning Natural Gas Hookups in New Buildings | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| May 3, 2021 | TX | HJR 2 | Establishes the State Utilities Reliability Fund and the State Utilities Reliability Revenue Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 21) |
| April 30, 2021 | TX | HB 19 | Limits Liability of Trucking Companies to Ensure Victim Compensation | Bill Passed - House (81 - 49) |
| April 15, 2021 | TX | SB 29 | Prohibits Transgender Student's from Playing on Sports Teams That do Not Match their Birth Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| April 8, 2021 | TX | SB 4 | Requires the National Anthem be Played at All Sporting Events | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2) |
| March 31, 2021 | TX | HB 17 | Prohibits Cities from Banning Natural Gas Hookups in New Buildings | Bill Passed - House (116 - 29) |
| March 30, 2021 | TX | SB 1173 | Establishes Preborn Nondiscrimination Act; Prohibits "Discriminatory" Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| March 25, 2021 | TX | SB 827 | Reduces the Price of Insulin Copayments and Caps the Cost at $50 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| March 15, 2021 | TX | SB 2142 | Authorizes Retroactively Correcting Prices to Compensate Customers after Blackouts | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 24, 2019 | TX | HB 3285 | Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18) |
| May 24, 2019 | TX | HB 1584 | Repeals Step Therapy or "Fail First" Protocols for Metastatic Stage 4 Cancer Patients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 24) |
| May 24, 2019 | TX | HB 1576 | Authorizes Medicaid Payments to Ride-Hailing Sites for Appointment Pickup | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (141 - 0) |
| May 24, 2019 | TX | AB 824 | Prohibits Pharmaceutical Companies from Using "Pay for Delay" Practices | Bill Passed - House |
| May 23, 2019 | TX | HB 448 | Requires Children Under 2 Ride in Rear-Facing Car Seats | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 38) |
| May 17, 2019 | TX | HB 1631 | Prohibits Use of Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| May 8, 2019 | TX | HB 1387 | Authorizes Law Enforcement Officers to Carry on School Property | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
| April 16, 2019 | TX | SB 1264 | Authorizes Arbitration Processes for Insurers to Stop "Surprise Billings" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| Aug. 11, 2017 | TX | HB 7 | Specifies Tree Removal Regulations Municipalities May Impose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| July 26, 2017 | TX | SB 3 | Amends Regulations of Public and Charter School Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| July 25, 2017 | TX | SB 2 | Appropriates Funds for Private School Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 11, 2017 | TX | HB 39 | Prohibits Vaccination of New Foster Children | Bill Passed - House (132 - 11) |
| May 6, 2017 | TX | HB 2466 | Expands Healthcare to Cover Postpartum Depression | Bill Passed - House (135 - 7) |
| May 1, 2017 | TX | SB 463 | Amends High-School Diploma Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| April 27, 2017 | TX | SB 457 | Appropriates Funds for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| March 30, 2017 | TX | SB 3 | Appropriates State Funds for Education in Non-Rural Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| March 30, 2017 | TX | SB 2 | Appropriates Funds for Private School Scholarships | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 25, 2015 | TX | SB 900 | Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
| April 30, 2015 | TX | SB 1628 | Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 27, 2015 | TX | SB 900 | Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| April 7, 2015 | TX | SB 267 | Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 10, 2013 | TX | HB 1340 | Authorizes Certain Children to Consent to Immunizations | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| May 2, 2013 | TX | HB 772 | Requires Individuals to Opt-Out of Immunization Registry | Bill Passed - House (99 - 47) |
| May 1, 2013 | TX | HB 489 | Expands Access to Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD | Bill Passed - House (120 - 21) |
| April 30, 2013 | TX | SB 1907 | Authorizes Firearms in Vehicles on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 22, 2013 | TX | SB 1247 | Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| April 18, 2013 | TX | SB 303 | Amends the End-of-Life Care Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| April 18, 2013 | TX | HB 63 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - House (97 - 45) |
| June 29, 2011 | TX | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Motion Rejected - House (96 - 26) |
| June 27, 2011 | TX | SB 29 | Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 29, 2011 | TX | HB 242 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 61) |
| May 25, 2011 | TX | S Amdt 3 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 20, 2011 | TX | H Amdt 53 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 66) |
| April 1, 2011 | TX | H Amdt 6 | Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61) |
| May 31, 2009 | TX | SB 956 | Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24) |
| May 31, 2009 | TX | HB 537 | Increase Required Age for Seatbelts | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 34) |
| May 26, 2009 | TX | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (123 - 20) |
| May 15, 2009 | TX | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| May 14, 2009 | TX | HB 1657 | Contractor Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (73 - 71) |
| April 20, 2009 | TX | HB 681 | Warning Signs Regarding Mercury Levels in Fish | Bill Passed - House (95 - 50) |
| April 15, 2009 | TX | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| April 14, 2009 | TX | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 31, 2009 | TX | SB 298 | Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 25, 2009 | TX | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| March 19, 2009 | TX | SB 188 | Authorizes Needle Exchange Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| May 26, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 28) |
| May 23, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 4, 2007 | TX | CSHB 10 | Tribal Casino Gaming | Bill Failed - House (66 - 66) |
| May 3, 2007 | TX | CSSB 920 | Ultrasound Required Prior to Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| May 1, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - House (121 - 10) |
| April 30, 2007 | TX | CSSB 987 | Complex Loan Counseling | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| April 27, 2007 | TX | CSSB 308 | Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| April 26, 2007 | TX | CSSB 785 | Abortion Reporting Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| April 4, 2007 | TX | HB 109 | Child Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - House (128 - 17) |
| March 29, 2007 | TX | F 64 | Pay Raise for Public School Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (90 - 56) |
| March 14, 2007 | TX | CSHB 1098 | Ban on HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (118 - 23) |
| March 14, 2007 | TX | CSHB 1098 | Ban on HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (118 - 23) |
| May 15, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| May 15, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 3 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 18) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| May 10, 2006 | TX | F 4 | Cigarette Tax Revenue Allocation Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 20) |
| May 9, 2006 | TX | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 9, 2006 | TX | CSHB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 8, 2006 | TX | HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 47) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 24, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (82 - 66) |
| April 24, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (82 - 66) |
| April 24, 2006 | TX | CSHB 4 | Motor Vehicle Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (80 - 67) |