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
April 5, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
April 5, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
April 5, 2019 MD SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
April 4, 2019 ME LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
April 3, 2019 CO SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 3, 2019 IL HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
April 3, 2019 IL HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
April 2, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 2, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 1, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
April 1, 2019 MD SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
March 29, 2019 MT SB 331 Restructures Electric Utility Cost Recovery for Certain Coal-Fired Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
March 28, 2019 MT HB 327 Amends Definitions for Ground Beef and Hamburger Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 21)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 168 Authorizes Solar Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 27, 2019 IL HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - House (95 - 12)
March 27, 2019 IL HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - House (95 - 12)
March 26, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
March 26, 2019 MD HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
March 26, 2019 National S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
March 26, 2019 National S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
March 25, 2019 ND SB 2044 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Bill Passed - House (76 - 14)
March 25, 2019 National HR 1616 European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (391 - 24)
March 25, 2019 TN HB 1021 Prohibits Local Governments from Regulating, Restricting, or Banning Auxiliary Containers Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
March 21, 2019 VT S 55 Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 20, 2019 IA SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 19, 2019 NH HB 605 Increases Penalties for Possessing or Manufacturing Animal Fighting Paraphernalia "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (215 - 124)
March 19, 2019 NH HB 560 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (201 - 145)
March 19, 2019 NH HB 558 Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested Bill Passed - House (196 - 146)
March 14, 2019 KY SB 100 Requires Net Metering for Solar Power Bill Passed - House (55 - 36)
March 13, 2019 UT HB 353 Establishes the "Reduction of Single Occupancy Vehicle Trips Pilot Program" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
March 13, 2019 CO SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 12, 2019 SD HB 1191 Authorizes the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 12, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
March 12, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
March 12, 2019 IA SF 519 Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
March 12, 2019 IA SF 519 Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
March 8, 2019 WV HB 3142 Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
March 7, 2019 GA HB 545 Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 58)
March 6, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
March 6, 2019 NM SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
March 5, 2019 MD SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
March 5, 2019 HI HB 808 Prohibits Hunting of Sharks and Rays Bill Passed - House (51 - 0)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 522 Prohibits Certain Plastics Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1)
March 4, 2019 AZ HB 2604 Prohibits Labeling of "Milk" or "Meat" if Product is not Animal Derived Bill Failed - House (22 - 36)
March 1, 2019 WA SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
March 1, 2019 WA SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2019 National PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency (52 - 47)
Feb. 27, 2019 National PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/05 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
4/05 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43)
4/05 SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/04 LD 289 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
4/03 SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/03 HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
4/03 HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
4/02 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/02 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/01 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
4/01 SB 516 Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan Bill Passed - House (95 - 41)
3/31 S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
3/31 S 1508 Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
3/29 SB 331 Restructures Electric Utility Cost Recovery for Certain Coal-Fired Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
3/28 HB 327 Amends Definitions for Ground Beef and Hamburger Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 21)
3/28 SB 168 Authorizes Solar Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/27 HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - House (95 - 12)
3/27 HB 2988 Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas Bill Passed - House (95 - 12)
3/26 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
3/26 HB 298 Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
3/26 S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
3/26 S J Res 8 A joint resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (0 - 57)
3/25 SB 2044 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Bill Passed - House (76 - 14)
3/25 HR 1616 European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (391 - 24)
3/25 HB 1021 Prohibits Local Governments from Regulating, Restricting, or Banning Auxiliary Containers Bill Passed - House (69 - 21)
3/21 S 55 Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/20 SF 548 Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/19 HB 605 Increases Penalties for Possessing or Manufacturing Animal Fighting Paraphernalia "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (215 - 124)
3/19 HB 560 Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (201 - 145)
3/19 HB 558 Prohibits Restaurant Use of Plastic Straws Unless Specifically Requested Bill Passed - House (196 - 146)
3/14 SB 100 Requires Net Metering for Solar Power Bill Passed - House (55 - 36)
3/13 HB 353 Establishes the "Reduction of Single Occupancy Vehicle Trips Pilot Program" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
3/13 SB 19-181 Amends Local Environmental Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/12 HB 1191 Authorizes the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/12 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
3/12 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - House (43 - 22)
3/12 SF 519 Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
3/12 SF 519 Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
3/08 HB 3142 Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
3/07 HB 545 Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 58)
3/06 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
3/06 SB 489 Authorizes State Investment in Renewable Energies Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 9)
3/05 SB 285 Prohibits Use of Foam Containers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
3/05 HB 808 Prohibits Hunting of Sharks and Rays Bill Passed - House (51 - 0)
3/05 SB 522 Prohibits Certain Plastics Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1)
3/04 HB 2604 Prohibits Labeling of "Milk" or "Meat" if Product is not Animal Derived Bill Failed - House (22 - 36)
3/01 SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
3/01 SB 5116 Increases State Clean Energy Efforts to be 100 Percent Carbon Free by 2045 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/28 PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency (52 - 47)
2/27 PN 22 Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)

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