Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2023 | DE | SB 172 | Prohibits Certain Unlawful Practices by Landlords | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| March 1, 2016 | RI | S 2103 | Requires Property Owners to Maintain Trees and Shrubs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| May 7, 2019 | PA | SB 453 | Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | SB 416 | Authorizes Individuals to Rent Out Rooms through Online Platform | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
| June 14, 2019 | NY | S 6458 | Increases State Rent Control Protections and Stabilization Rules | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
| Jan. 29, 2016 | VA | SB 67 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in Housing Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Sept. 17, 2015 | MA | S 1981 | Requires Foreclosure Title Clearing | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 330 | Establishes the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 19, 2015 | NY | S 3709 | Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 5 | Establishes the Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 1593 | Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 23, 2019 | NV | SB 256 | Establishes New Rights and Protections for Renters | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| Jan. 30, 2015 | WY | SF 56 | Appropriates Funds for Study of Public Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| April 25, 2019 | WA | SB 5998 | Establishes a Graduated Real Estate Excise Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| April 7, 2015 | TX | SB 267 | Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| April 18, 2018 | NE | LB 496 | Amends and Establishes Requirements for Redevelopment Projects Under the Community Development Law | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 8) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | WV | SB 837 | Establishes Certain Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | UT | SB 39 | Increases Funding for Affordable Housing Development | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | AZ | HB 2534 | Annexation of Land by Cities and Towns | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| March 19, 2020 | AZ | SB 1690 | Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| April 10, 2020 | VT | S 333 | Establishes a Temporary Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures during COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| May 14, 2020 | NJ | S 1055 | Prohibits Rent Controlled Units From Being Converted into Condominiums | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Feb. 2, 2024 | CO | SB 24-058 | Requires Landowners Post Warnings on Potential Dangers | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 968 | Requires Public Access Route to Martin's Beach | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2013 | MT | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 6, 2024 | AZ | SB 1415 | Requires Municipalities Allow Accessory Dwelling Units | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| June 29, 2020 | NJ | S 2485 | Authorizes Local Governments to Prohibit Evictions during COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1410 | Authorizes COVID-19 Eviction Relief Agreements Between Tenants and Landlords | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| June 22, 2020 | CA | SB 1138 | Requires Land Zoned for Shelters Meet Certain Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| June 25, 2020 | CA | SB 795 | Appropriates Funds for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| May 29, 2013 | CA | SB 391 | Establishes Real Estate Transaction Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| May 10, 2012 | MI | SB 1070 | Establishes a Tax Exemption for Eligible Personal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 10, 2012 | MI | SB 1069 | Personal Property Taxes: Credit for New Industrial Personal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 10, 2012 | MI | SB 1067 | Personal Property Taxes: Continuation of Existing Exemptions for Personal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Feb. 16, 2024 | HI | SB 2948 | Amends Zoning Rules for Residential Usage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0) |
| Feb. 15, 2024 | HI | SB 298 | Authorizes teh Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to Aquire any Real, Personal, or Mixed Property for Immediate or future Use | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0) |
| June 16, 2022 | NJ | SJR 70 | Authorizes Funding for Affordable Housing Out of Appropriations in the Build Back Better Act | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MT | SB 262 | Establishes Water Rights Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Dec. 13, 2022 | FL | SB 4-A | Expands Disaster Relief Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| Jan. 13, 2023 | SD | SB 41 | Establishes Housing Infrastructure Fund; Appropriates Monies Therefor | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2023 | AZ | SB 1184 | Repeals Rental Tax Across the State | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Feb. 2, 2023 | VA | SB 1141 | Expands Affordable Housing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| March 2, 2023 | GA | SB 132 | Prohibits Undocumented Individuals from Certain Land Ownership | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| March 2, 2023 | MT | SB 382 | Establishes the Montana Land Use Planning Act | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6) |
| Feb. 24, 2023 | MT | SB 245 | Amends municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed use development | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| March 30, 2023 | VT | S 100 | Expands Affordable Housing Access | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| May 23, 2024 | DE | SB 293 | Prohibits Income Discrimination in the Case of Housing Payments | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
| March 7, 2023 | HI | SB 924 | Repeals the Mortgage Interest Tax Deductions on Second Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| May 17, 2023 | DE | SB 99 | Prohibits Municipalities from Requiring Landlords Evict Tenants Based on Their Involvement in the Justice System | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
| May 18, 2023 | DE | SB 103 | Requires All New Home Construction Have Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| March 8, 2023 | FL | SB 102 | Appropriates $711 Million for State Affordable Housing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| April 10, 2023 | OR | SB 326 | Requires Owner of Property Where the Manufacture of Marijuana Takes Place to Clean Up Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| April 17, 2024 | IL | SB 1087 | Requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to Create a Public Health Awareness Campaign on Mold Exposure | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 0) |
| April 20, 2023 | NV | SB 371 | Authorizes Counties and Cities to Enact Affordable Housing Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| April 20, 2023 | NV | SB 263 | Authorizes Affordable Housing Grants to Women Veterans and Survivors of Domestic Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
| March 5, 2024 | OK | SB 1854 | Prohibits Unauthorized Camping on State-Owned Land | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 6) |
| Feb. 12, 2024 | VA | SB 422 | Prohibits Landlords from Requiring Various Extra Fees from Tenants | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| March 6, 2024 | AZ | SB 1506 | Requires Cities to Allow More Residential Development on Commercially Zoned Land | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| March 28, 2023 | OR | SB 644 | Amends Requirements Relating to Wildfire Hazard Mitigation and Accessory Dwelling Units on Land Zoned for Rural Residential Use | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| June 14, 2023 | RI | S 912 | Authorizes Residential Eviction Court Files to be Sealed | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| April 25, 2011 | NV | SB 368 | Prohibits Discrimination in Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| April 17, 2023 | CO | SB 23-184 | Prohibits Landlords from Rejecting a Tenant on Income Grounds | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Jan. 23, 2015 | WY | SF 14 | Amends Property Forfeiture Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3) |
| May 28, 2014 | CA | SB 1319 | Expands Prevention and Response Programs for Oil Spills | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| June 15, 2023 | RI | S 1037 | Amends the Low and Moderate Income Housing Act | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| June 15, 2023 | RI | S 1035 | Authorizes the Reuse of Commercial Structures Into High Density Residential Developments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| June 15, 2023 | RI | S 311 | Prohibits Rental Application Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| June 2, 2023 | CT | SB 1147 | Authorizes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protections to Amend Environmental Justice Permit Processes | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
| May 4, 2010 | IL | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2024 | KS | SB 162 | Establishes New Procedures for the Removal of Nuisances in Unincorporated Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
| May 31, 2023 | CA | SB 584 | Establishes a 15% Tax on Short-Term Rentals Including Airbnbs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Jan. 25, 2012 | NH | Amdt 367s | Restricting Eminent Domain Petitions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
| May 3, 2010 | CO | HB 1141 | Requirement for Mortgage Companies to have License and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | OR | SB 1552 | Requirements for Lenders Seeking Foreclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | UT | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 6, 2006 | MD | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| May 10, 2012 | DE | SB 205 | Requires Manufactured Home Community Owners to Explain Rent Increases | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | OR | SB 1564 | Amends Requirements for Foreclosures | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | IN | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | GA | SB 83 | Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14) |
| Jan. 26, 2009 | MT | SB 131 | Wildland-Urban Interface | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| May 10, 2012 | MI | SB 1072 | Personal Property Taxes: Credit for Loss of Personal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| June 21, 2007 | NJ | S 3000 | 2007-2008 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| April 23, 2010 | CO | SB 190 | Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 4, 2011 | FL | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Feb. 6, 2012 | NY | S 6087-A | Authorizes the Use of School Property for Religious Meetings and Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 7) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | MT | SB 254 | Eminent Domain Over Federal Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| June 25, 2012 | NJ | S 1566 | Authorizes the Conversion of Foreclosed Homes into Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| June 9, 2011 | NJ | S 805 | Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 1161 | Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | IN | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Sept. 17, 1996 | National | S Amdt 5353 | Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50) |
| May 7, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4719 | Optional Wind Damage Insurance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 19 | Referendum on Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20) |
| Oct. 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2253 | Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| July 13, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3821 | Estate Tax Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |