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
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Oct. 22, 2015 National S Amdt 2564 Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65)
Sept. 4, 2015 CA AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2015 CA SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2015 CA SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
July 1, 2015 OR SB 478 Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 25, 2015 RI H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
June 24, 2015 NH HB 550 Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
June 23, 2015 NC HB 148 Requires Auto Insurance for Moped Operators Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
June 11, 2015 RI H 5074 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
June 10, 2015 OR SB 454 Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
June 3, 2015 NC HB 405 Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 2, 2015 CA SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 1, 2015 CA SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
May 28, 2015 OR HB 2007 Prohibits Employers from Penalizing Employees for Discussing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
May 27, 2015 MI HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
May 18, 2015 NC HB 405 Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
May 12, 2015 National HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
May 12, 2015 DE SB 75 Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
May 5, 2015 KS SB 117 Requires Insurance Coverage for Transportation Network Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
May 1, 2015 HI HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
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 24, 2015 HI SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
April 23, 2015 FL SB 1298 Expands Insurance Requirements for Short-Term Rental Companies Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
April 15, 2015 OK HB 1614 Establishes Regulations for Transportation Network Company Services Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
April 15, 2015 NV SB 439 Establishes Regulations for Transportation Network Companies Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 7, 2015 IN HB 1432 Establishes E-Liquid Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
April 3, 2015 NV SB 193 Increases Minimum Wage and Amends Overtime Definition Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
April 2, 2015 IN SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16)
March 30, 2015 ND HB 1437 Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
March 26, 2015 National S Amdt 798 Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
March 24, 2015 IA SF 232 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 12, 2015 NH SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 12, 2015 OK SB 298 Requires Insurers to Check Policies after an Insured Individual's Death Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
March 10, 2015 WA SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 10, 2015 HI SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
March 10, 2015 WA SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 10, 2015 WA SB 5513 Reduces Minimum Age to Settle a Worker's Compensation Claim Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 4, 2015 MS HB 1127 Prohibits Contracting with Companies with Investments in Iran Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 2, 2015 UT SB 169 Prohibits Contact Lens Manufacturers from Fixing Prices Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 18, 2015 SD SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 9, 2015 CO SB 65 Prohibits Withdrawing Public Assistance Funds at Certain Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/17 S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
10/22 S Amdt 2564 Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65)
9/04 AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
8/27 SB 5 Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/27 SB 7 Increases Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
7/01 SB 478 Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/25 H 5364 Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
6/24 HB 550 Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
6/23 HB 148 Requires Auto Insurance for Moped Operators Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
6/11 H 5074 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
6/10 SB 454 Requires Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
6/03 HB 405 Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
6/02 SB 151 Increases Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/02 SB 140 Prohibits Smoking Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Indoor Areas Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/01 SB 3 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
5/28 HB 2007 Prohibits Employers from Penalizing Employees for Discussing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
5/27 HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
5/18 HB 405 Prohibits the Recording of Certain Employer Property Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
5/12 HR 1314 Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
5/12 SB 75 Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
5/05 SB 117 Requires Insurance Coverage for Transportation Network Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
5/01 HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
4/30 SB 1628 Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
4/27 SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/24 SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
4/23 SB 1298 Expands Insurance Requirements for Short-Term Rental Companies Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
4/15 HB 1614 Establishes Regulations for Transportation Network Company Services Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
4/15 SB 439 Establishes Regulations for Transportation Network Companies Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/07 HB 1432 Establishes E-Liquid Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
4/03 SB 193 Increases Minimum Wage and Amends Overtime Definition Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
4/02 SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16)
3/30 HB 1437 Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
3/26 S Amdt 798 Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Legislation to Allow Americans to Earn Paid Sick Time Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
3/24 SF 232 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/12 SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/12 SB 298 Requires Insurers to Check Policies after an Insured Individual's Death Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
3/10 SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/10 SB 1030 Prohibits Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Under 21 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 5)
3/10 SB 5899 Establishes Small Loans and Small Consumer Installment Loans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/10 SB 5513 Reduces Minimum Age to Settle a Worker's Compensation Claim Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/04 HB 1127 Prohibits Contracting with Companies with Investments in Iran Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/02 SB 169 Prohibits Contact Lens Manufacturers from Fixing Prices Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
2/24 SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/18 SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/09 SB 65 Prohibits Withdrawing Public Assistance Funds at Certain Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)

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