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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
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) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
March 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1191 | Authorizes the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 13) |
June 6, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
April 12, 2019 | WA | HB 1578 | Requires Tug Boat Escorts for Certain Oil Barges | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
April 10, 2019 | WA | HB 1579 | Increases Catch Limits for Bass, Walleye, and Catfish | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
April 27, 2019 | WA | HB 1652 | Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
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) |
June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2007 | Reduces Number of Diesel Trucks Allowed in Specified Counties | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
June 11, 2019 | OR | HB 2509 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
May 29, 2019 | OR | HB 2623 | Establishes Temporary Ban on Fracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2753 | Authorizes Environmental State Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
April 10, 2019 | MT | HB 291 | Establishes a Voluntary Wolf Mitigation Account | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
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) |
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) |
March 8, 2019 | WV | HB 3142 | Reduces Severance Tax on Steam Coal | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
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) |
May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | MI | HB 4687 | Repeals Prohibition of Deer-Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
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) |
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) |
April 30, 2019 | FL | HB 771 | Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
May 13, 2019 | NE | LB 155 | Amends Eminent Domain Provisions to Apply to Renewable Energy Generation Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 0) |
May 13, 2019 | NE | LB 155 | Amends Eminent Domain Provisions to Apply to Renewable Energy Generation Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 0) |
June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1282 | Establishes a "Green New Deal" | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 14, 2019 | ME | LD 1426 | Increases Protections for Land Installment Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 1532 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
April 25, 2019 | ME | LD 289 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
Dec. 2, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 15) |
Nov. 21, 2019 | National | PN 1268 | Nomination of Dan Brouillette as the Secretary of Energy | Cloture Invoked - Senate (74 - 18) |
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) |
April 11, 2019 | National | PN 503 | Nomination of David Bernhardt as the Secretary of the Interior | (56 - 41) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | S 1508 | Prohibits Retail Stores from Using Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | S 2000 | Establishes Regulations for PFAS Chemicals in Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6) |
Feb. 12, 2019 | National | S 47 | Natural Resources Management Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
Feb. 12, 2019 | National | S 47 | Natural Resources Management Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 8) |
April 30, 2019 | NY | S 5098 | Prohibits the Sale of Anything Made from "Vulnerable Species", Including Giraffe Products | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14) |
March 21, 2019 | VT | S 55 | Establishes Regulations for Toxic Substances and Hazardous Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
June 4, 2019 | NY | S 5532 | Prohibits Declawing Cats | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 12) |
June 18, 2019 | NY | S 6599 | Increases Renewable Energy Goals | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 21) |
June 18, 2019 | NY | S 6599 | Increases Renewable Energy Goals | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 21) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 1 | Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 1 | Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Feb. 13, 2019 | KY | SB 100 | Requires Net Metering for Solar Power | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 28, 2019 | NH | SB 168 | Authorizes Solar Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
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) |
Oct. 24, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Oct. 24, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
April 3, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 13, 2019 | CO | SB 19-181 | Amends Local Environmental Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 210 | Establishes a Smog-Check Program for Diesel Trucks | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Feb. 19, 2019 | ND | SB 2315 | Establishes Hunters Access Advisory Group | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
Feb. 19, 2019 | OR | SB 256 | Prohibits Oil and Gas Exploration In Coastal Waters | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
April 5, 2019 | MD | SB 285 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
March 5, 2019 | MD | SB 285 | Prohibits Use of Foam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 307 | Prohibits Water Transfers from Desert Groundwater Basins | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
June 17, 2019 | NC | SB 315 | Establishes Regulations on Hemp and Other Farming Industries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | KS | SB 32 | Authorizes The Farm Bureau To Offer Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
March 29, 2019 | MT | SB 331 | Restructures Electric Utility Cost Recovery for Certain Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
June 12, 2019 | NC | SB 377 | Establishes Restrictions on State Wind Energy Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19) |
May 2, 2019 | MO | SB 391 | Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | SB 43 | Establishes the Feasibility and Practicality of Assessing the Carbon Intensity of Retail Products Subject to the Sales and Use Tax Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | SB 453 | Authorizes Annual Farming Construction Code Building Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
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) |
April 19, 2019 | WA | SB 5001 | Authorizes Composting of Human Remains | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
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) |
April 22, 2019 | WA | SB 5135 | Authorizes the Department of Ecology to Ban Certain Chemicals in Consumer Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
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) |
March 5, 2019 | HI | SB 522 | Prohibits Certain Plastics | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 1) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 54 | Requires Single-Use Plastics be made from Recyclable Materials | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | NC | SB 553 | Establishes the Regulatory Reform Act of 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
Feb. 25, 2019 | IN | SB 553 | Authorizes Public Use of Shore of Lake Michigan | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
May 2, 2019 | NC | SB 559 | Authorizes Rate Changes to Public Electric Utilities for Storm Recovery Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
May 7, 2019 | PA | SB 588 | Exempts Milk Haulers from Travel Bans Imposed During Emergency Disasters | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
April 25, 2019 | WA | SB 5993 | Increases the State Hazardous Substance Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 627 | Authorizes Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 8 | Prohibits Smoking at Public Parks and Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
May 9, 2019 | IL | SB 9 | Establishes Coal-Ash Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
April 11, 2019 | OR | SB 90 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Straws at Restaurants Unless Asked For | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
March 20, 2019 | IA | SF 548 | Amends Land Purchase Regulations for Water Quality Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |