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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 20, 2016 | NJ | A 2451 | Authorizes Physicians to Prescribe Aid-in-Dying Drugs | Bill Passed - House (41 - 29) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 1671 | Prohibits Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Communications with Healthcare Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 26) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | AB 1671 | Prohibits Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Communications with Healthcare Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | WI | AB 310 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Feb. 9, 2016 | WI | AB 600 | Amends Shoreline Development Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
Feb. 26, 2016 | ID | H 331 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (42 - 24) |
March 23, 2016 | ID | H 644 | Establishes Health Clinic Grant Program | Bill Passed - House (43 - 26) |
March 7, 2016 | VA | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 35) |
May 24, 2016 | OH | HB 110 | Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
Feb. 26, 2016 | MS | HB 1116 | Increases Identification Requirements for Medicaid | Bill Passed - House (76 - 40) |
Feb. 2, 2016 | IN | HB 1247 | Establishes State Park Liquor Permit | Bill Passed - House (58 - 38) |
March 7, 2016 | IN | HB 1386 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 30) |
March 1, 2016 | IN | HB 1386 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for State Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
March 15, 2016 | KY | HB 160 | Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 26, 2016 | MO | HB 1679 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives | Bill Passed - House (97 - 50) |
March 31, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
March 9, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - House (216 - 145) |
March 31, 2016 | MO | HB 1786 | Prohibits Powdered Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (95 - 56) |
March 3, 2016 | MO | HB 1892 | Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring System | Bill Passed - House (87 - 66) |
April 14, 2016 | MO | HB 2069 | Prohibits Donation of Fetal Tissue | Bill Passed - House (120 - 34) |
April 12, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
March 8, 2016 | HI | HB 2501 | Authorizes Extension for Water Permits | Bill Passed - House (44 - 7) |
Feb. 23, 2016 | KS | HB 2578 | Expands List of Medical Professionals Who Can Clear High School Athletes for Play After a Concussion | Bill Passed - House (70 - 53) |
March 2, 2016 | AZ | HB 2599 | Establishes Provisions that Prohibit Certain Organizations from Receiving State or Federal Funding | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
Jan. 27, 2016 | OH | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
March 9, 2016 | OK | HB 2962 | Requires Health Insurance Plans Cover Autism Treatment | Bill Passed - House (76 - 20) |
April 21, 2016 | IL | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
April 21, 2016 | IL | HB 5576 | Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control | Bill Passed - House (61 - 52) |
May 26, 2016 | LA | HB 67 | Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (48 - 37) |
March 2, 2016 | MS | HB 938 | Expands Vaccination Exemptions | Bill Passed - House |
April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
April 20, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - House (56 - 42) |
Jan. 12, 2016 | National | HR 1644 | Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 188) |
Feb. 12, 2016 | National | HR 2017 | Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (266 - 144) |
June 23, 2016 | National | HR 2577 | Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 | Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 171) |
Feb. 2, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186) |
Feb. 2, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Veto Override Failed - House (241 - 186) |
Jan. 6, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181) |
Jan. 6, 2016 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 181) |
Sept. 28, 2016 | National | HR 5325 | Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (342 - 85) |
Sept. 28, 2016 | National | HR 5325 | Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act | Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |
May 24, 2016 | National | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
May 24, 2016 | National | HR 897 | Zika Vector Control Act | Bill Passed - House (258 - 156) |
Sept. 27, 2016 | National | HR 954 | CO-OP Consumer Protection Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (258 - 165) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | NE | LB 18 | Requires a Meningitis Immunization Before Entering Seventh Grade | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (29 - 14) |
March 23, 2016 | ME | LD 180 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
April 28, 2016 | MA | S 2269 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
July 13, 2016 | National | S 304 | Conscience Protection Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
May 26, 2016 | NJ | S 359 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
July 7, 2016 | National | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
March 30, 2016 | AK | SB 1 | Prohibits Smoking in Public | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
June 2, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 10 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
June 1, 2016 | CA | SB 1033 | Requires Physicians to Disclose Probationary Status | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
March 23, 2016 | MD | SB 1159 | Amends Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners Appointment Regulations | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1268 | Exempts Cities from Assured Water Supply Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Aug. 30, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 25, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - House (50 - 26) |
May 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1333 | Prohibits Smoking on State Beaches and Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1400 | Amends Review Process for County Water Supply | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
March 8, 2016 | OK | SB 1552 | Prohibits State from Issuing or Renewing Physician Licenses Following the Performance of an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7) |
April 6, 2016 | TN | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
Feb. 17, 2016 | TN | SB 1556 | Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 35) |
March 9, 2016 | MD | SB 198 | Prohibits Certain Pesticides | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
Jan. 14, 2016 | KY | SB 200 | Amends Alcohol Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
March 14, 2016 | KY | SB 205 | Establishes Regulations for Nursing Home Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
July 20, 2016 | HI | SB 2077 | Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits | Veto Override Passed - House (43 - 3) |
July 20, 2016 | HI | SB 2077 | Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
March 2, 2016 | MS | SB 2238 | Prohibits the Appropriation of Funds to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
April 18, 2016 | LA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 18, 2016 | IL | SB 3011 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
Feb. 11, 2016 | GA | SB 308 | Authorizes Grants to Pregnancy Resource Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
Feb. 2, 2016 | IN | SB 313 | Prohibits Abortion Based on Gender, Race, or Disability of Fetus | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
Aug. 24, 2016 | CA | SB 32 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Aug. 23, 2016 | CA | SB 32 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Levels | Bill Passed - House (48 - 31) |
March 30, 2016 | MD | SB 323 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (97 - 39) |
March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 5 | Amends Regulations for E-Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
March 10, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
March 3, 2016 | CA | SB 7 | Increases Smoking Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | SB 80 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
Feb. 3, 2016 | IN | SB 80 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Bill Passed - House (51 - 20) |
March 3, 2016 | MO | SB 919 | Authorizes Breweries to Lease Coolers to Stores | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
April 25, 2016 | CA | SB 966 | Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16) |
March 1, 2016 | IA | SF 2188 | Authorizes Certain Psychologists to Prescribe Medication | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25) |
Feb. 29, 2016 | IA | SF 2222 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Dispense Over-the-Counter Birth Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
March 1, 2016 | OK | SJR 68 | Authorizes the Public to Vote on Beer and Wine Sales | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 16) |
Jan. 21, 2016 | National | S J Res 22 | A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 40) |
Jan. 13, 2016 | National | S J Res 22 | A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to the Definition of "Waters of the United States" Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (253 - 166) |