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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 25, 2021 | PA | SB 426 | Increases Legislative Oversight of the Regulatory Review Process | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Jan. 3, 2023 | PA | SR 1 | Amends Senate Ethics Rules | Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
Dec. 14, 2011 | PA | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | RI | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | SD | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
Feb. 6, 2007 | SD | SJR 7 | Extension of Term Limits | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
March 5, 2014 | SD | HJR 1002 | Increases Legislative Term Limit Length | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
Feb. 12, 2014 | SD | SB 142 | Increases Salary for State Legislators | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15) |
Oct. 24, 2011 | SD | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 27, 2014 | TN | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
Jan. 19, 2012 | TN | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
Jan. 13, 2012 | TN | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
Jan. 13, 2012 | TN | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
Jan. 14, 2009 | TX | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
June 23, 2013 | TX | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
June 20, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
June 14, 2013 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
May 21, 2011 | TX | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
Jan. 11, 2023 | TX | SR 2 | Establishes Redistricting Rules of Procedure | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
June 22, 2011 | TX | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
March 11, 2009 | UT | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
Oct. 17, 2011 | UT | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
Oct. 4, 2011 | UT | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
Feb. 24, 2016 | UT | SJR 2 | Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
Jan. 27, 2012 | UT | HB 286 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
Feb. 26, 2024 | UT | SB 240 | Specifies Daily Calendars for State Elected Officials are No Longer Considered Public Government Records | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
April 11, 2011 | VA | HB 5001 | Legislative Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 6, 2012 | VA | HB 1228 | Increases Salary for State Legislators | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 31) |
Jan. 20, 2012 | VA | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
April 13, 2023 | VT | S 39 | Increases Compensation and Benefits for Members of the Vermont General Assembly | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
March 4, 2022 | WA | HB 1927 | Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
Feb. 23, 2018 | WA | SB 6617 | Exempts Legislators from Public Records Law | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | WA | EHCR 4409 | Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
Jan. 23, 2024 | WI | AB 415 | Establishes a 5-Member Advisory Commission to Examine State Legislative District Maps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
Feb. 11, 2014 | WI | AB 161 | Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
June 23, 2021 | WI | AB 369 | Amends Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
May 2, 2017 | WI | SB 15 | Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Jan. 3, 2023 | WI | SJR 1 | Establishes the 2023 Legislative Session Schedule | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
Jan. 29, 2013 | WI | SB 2 | Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
March 16, 2021 | WI | SJR 20 | Establishes February 2021 as Black History Month and Honors Black Legislators | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (11 - 20) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
July 19, 2011 | WI | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Aug. 5, 2011 | WV | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
Aug. 21, 2011 | WV | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
5/25 | SB 426 | Increases Legislative Oversight of the Regulatory Review Process | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
1/03 | SR 1 | Amends Senate Ethics Rules | Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
12/14 | SB 1249 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
2/01 | S 2178 | State Senate, State House, and Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
2/21 | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
2/06 | SJR 7 | Extension of Term Limits | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
2/09 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
3/05 | HJR 1002 | Increases Legislative Term Limit Length | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
2/12 | SB 142 | Increases Salary for State Legislators | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15) |
10/24 | HB 1001 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
3/27 | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
1/19 | SB 1514 | State Senate Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
1/13 | HB 1558 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
1/13 | HB 1555 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
1/14 | SR 14 | Majority Vote Requirement for Voter ID Bill Consideration | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
6/23 | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
6/20 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
6/14 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
5/21 | HB 150 | 2011-2012 Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
1/11 | SR 2 | Establishes Redistricting Rules of Procedure | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |
3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
6/06 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
6/22 | SB 22 | Establishing the Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
3/11 | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
10/17 | SB 3002 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 5) |
10/04 | HB 3001 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
2/24 | SJR 2 | Urges Congress to Repeal the 17th Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
1/27 | HB 286 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
2/26 | SB 240 | Specifies Daily Calendars for State Elected Officials are No Longer Considered Public Government Records | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
4/11 | HB 5001 | Legislative Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
3/06 | HB 1228 | Increases Salary for State Legislators | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 31) |
1/20 | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
4/13 | S 39 | Increases Compensation and Benefits for Members of the Vermont General Assembly | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
3/04 | HB 1927 | Requires Employer Flexibility for Part-Time Legislators | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
2/23 | SB 6617 | Exempts Legislators from Public Records Law | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
2/01 | EHCR 4409 | Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 4) |
2/15 | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
1/23 | AB 415 | Establishes a 5-Member Advisory Commission to Examine State Legislative District Maps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
2/11 | AB 161 | Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
6/23 | AB 369 | Amends Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
5/02 | SB 15 | Expands Legislature's Regulatory Review Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
1/03 | SJR 1 | Establishes the 2023 Legislative Session Schedule | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
1/29 | SB 2 | Limits the Secretary of State's Role in Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
3/16 | SJR 20 | Establishes February 2021 as Black History Month and Honors Black Legislators | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (11 - 20) |
12/05 | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
7/19 | SB 149 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
7/19 | SB 148 | Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
8/05 | SB 1008 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
8/21 | HB 201 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |