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
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 29, 2015 NY A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
Feb. 23, 2015 IN HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
May 4, 2015 NY A 7257 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (97 - 43)
Feb. 23, 2015 MO SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 20, 2015 MT HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Feb. 18, 2015 SD SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
May 6, 2015 PA SB 645 Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
May 6, 2015 PA SB 644 Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
May 7, 2015 TX SB 1968 Prohibits Wage Deductions for State Employee Union Dues Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
Feb. 4, 2015 MO HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
May 12, 2015 TX SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 17, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
May 13, 2015 WI AB 191 Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
May 13, 2015 WI AB 177 Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
May 13, 2015 WI AB 192 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
May 15, 2015 National HR 1735 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 Bill Passed - House (269 - 151)
Feb. 3, 2015 VA SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
May 18, 2015 ID H 1 Amends Foreign Child Support Order Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
May 19, 2015 IL HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (68 - 43)
May 19, 2015 CT HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - House (78 - 70)
May 20, 2015 CT SB 1090 Expands Tribal Gaming Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 12, 2015 NM HB 32 Limits Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Jan. 14, 2015 National HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
Feb. 12, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
June 1, 2015 CA SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 1, 2015 CA AB 718 Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
Feb. 12, 2015 MO HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
June 2, 2015 RI H 5074 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (59 - 13)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Feb. 10, 2015 WY SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Oct. 8, 2015 National HR 538 Native American Energy Act Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
June 23, 2015 RI H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
June 25, 2015 OR SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Nov. 17, 2015 National HR 511 Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (249 - 177)
Feb. 10, 2015 KY HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
Feb. 10, 2015 SD HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
March 10, 2015 HI HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (41 - 10)
March 10, 2015 AZ HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
July 23, 2015 National HR 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act Bill Passed - House (241 - 179)
March 11, 2015 MO HB 187 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (111 - 41)
March 11, 2015 NH HB 658 Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (149 - 146)
March 11, 2015 OK SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/23 SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/29 A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
2/23 HB 1019 Repeals Common Construction Wage Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
5/04 A 7257 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (97 - 43)
2/23 SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/20 HB 200 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
2/18 SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
5/06 SB 645 Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
5/06 SB 644 Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
5/07 SB 1968 Prohibits Wage Deductions for State Employee Union Dues Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
2/04 HB 150 Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (112 - 47)
5/12 SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/17 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
5/13 AB 191 Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
5/13 AB 177 Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
5/13 AB 192 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
5/15 HR 1735 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 Bill Passed - House (269 - 151)
2/03 SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
5/18 H 1 Amends Foreign Child Support Order Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
5/19 HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (68 - 43)
5/19 HB 6844 Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition Bill Passed - House (78 - 70)
5/20 SB 1090 Expands Tribal Gaming Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/12 HB 32 Limits Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
1/14 HR 240 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (236 - 191)
2/12 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
6/01 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/01 AB 718 Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
2/12 HB 116 Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations Bill Passed - House (91 - 64)
6/02 SB 4 Expands Health Care Coverage to Certain Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
6/02 H 5074 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (59 - 13)
6/03 SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/03 SB 548 Authorizes Child Care Workers to Form Unions Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
2/11 SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
2/10 SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
10/08 HR 538 Native American Energy Act Bill Passed - House (254 - 173)
6/23 H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
6/25 SB 932 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
11/17 HR 511 Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (249 - 177)
2/10 HB 2 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
2/10 HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
3/10 HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (41 - 10)
3/10 HB 2368 Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress Bill Passed - House (36 - 24)
7/23 HR 3009 Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act Bill Passed - House (241 - 179)
3/11 HB 187 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid Bill Passed - House (111 - 41)
3/11 HB 658 Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - House (149 - 146)
3/11 SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)

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