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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 10, 2019 | NC | SB 553 | Establishes the Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 582 | Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Rebate Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 582 | Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Rebate Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
April 3, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
April 2, 2019 | MD | SB 516 | Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
April 19, 2019 | WA | SB 5001 | Authorizes Composting of Human Remains | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
Nov. 7, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
Nov. 7, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 8 | Prohibits Smoking at Public Parks and Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
April 2, 2019 | MD | SB 516 | Establishes Renewable Energy Standards and Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
April 5, 2019 | MD | SB 285 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
Dec. 2, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 15) |
April 11, 2019 | National | PN 503 | Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior | (56 - 41) |
Feb. 28, 2019 | National | PN 22 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency | (52 - 47) |
June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 326 | Expands Protections for Wetlands | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 326 | Expands Protections for Wetlands | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
April 22, 2019 | WA | SB 5135 | Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 8, 2019 | WV | HB 3142 | Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
May 29, 2019 | OR | HB 2623 | Establishes Temporary Ban on Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
April 10, 2019 | WA | HB 1579 | Increases Catch Limits for Bass, Walleye, and Catfish | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
April 12, 2019 | WA | HB 1578 | Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1282 | Establishes a "Green New Deal" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 3726 | Requires Food Waste Recycling Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
July 17, 2019 | OH | HB 6 | Amends Clean Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
July 17, 2019 | OH | HB 6 | Amends Clean Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | MI | HB 4687 | Repeals Prohibition of Deer-Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 1, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1261 | Authorizes Regulations on Greenhouse Gases | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1298 | Prohibits Drivers of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars and Non-Charging Electric Vehicles to Park in Front of Charging Stations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
April 3, 2019 | IL | HB 2988 | Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
June 6, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
March 26, 2019 | MD | HB 298 | Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 1532 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
March 26, 2019 | MD | HB 298 | Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
April 27, 2019 | WA | HB 1652 | Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
April 3, 2019 | IL | HB 2988 | Prohibits Townships from Regulating Wind Farms Outside of City Zoning Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2753 | Authorizes Environmental State Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
April 25, 2019 | ME | LD 289 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
June 14, 2019 | ME | LD 1426 | Increases Protections for Land Installment Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
June 11, 2019 | OR | HB 2509 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2007 | Reduces Number of Diesel Trucks Allowed in Specified Counties | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
April 10, 2019 | MT | HB 291 | Establishes a Voluntary Wolf Mitigation Account | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
April 30, 2019 | FL | HB 771 | Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Nov. 21, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 18) |
Feb. 27, 2019 | National | PN 22 | Nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 54 | Requires Single-Use Plastics be made from Recyclable Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Feb. 12, 2019 | National | S 47 | Natural Resources Management Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
Feb. 13, 2019 | KY | SB 100 | Requires Net Metering for Solar Power | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 19, 2019 | OR | SB 256 | Prohibits Oil and Gas Exploration In Coastal Waters | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
Feb. 19, 2019 | ND | SB 2315 | Establishes Hunters Access Advisory Group | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | KS | SB 32 | Authorizes The Farm Bureau To Offer Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Feb. 25, 2019 | IN | SB 553 | Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
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) |
March 5, 2019 | MD | SB 285 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
March 5, 2019 | HI | SB 522 | Prohibits Certain Plastics | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1) |
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 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
March 13, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
March 20, 2019 | IA | SF 548 | Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
March 21, 2019 | VT | S 55 | Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
March 28, 2019 | NH | SB 168 | Authorizes Solar Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 29, 2019 | MT | SB 331 | Restructures Electric Utility Cost Recovery for Certain Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | S 1508 | Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
April 11, 2019 | OR | SB 90 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
April 25, 2019 | WA | SB 5993 | Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |