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
Dec. 11, 2019 National HR 5038 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (260 - 165)
Sept. 26, 2019 National HR 3525 US Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 184)
Sept. 25, 2019 National HR 2203 Homeland Security Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 194)
Sept. 9, 2019 CA AB 1282 Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 16)
Sept. 5, 2019 CA AB 1282 Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
July 25, 2019 National HR 549 Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (272 - 158)
July 24, 2019 National HR 3239 Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 195)
July 17, 2019 OH HB 80 Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
July 16, 2019 National H Res 489 Condemning President Trump's Racist Comments Directed at Members of Congress Bill Passed - House (240 - 187)
June 29, 2019 OR HB 2015 Authorizes Driver Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10)
June 27, 2019 National HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (305 - 102)
June 26, 2019 National HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8)
June 26, 2019 NC HB 135 Prohibits "Sanctuary" Cities Bill Passed - House (65 - 52)
June 25, 2019 National HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - House (230 - 195)
June 24, 2019 NC HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
June 18, 2019 OR HB 2015 Authorizes Driver Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
June 17, 2019 NY A 3675 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
June 12, 2019 NY A 3675 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (87 - 61)
June 5, 2019 OH HB 80 Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
June 4, 2019 National HR 6 American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
May 30, 2019 CT SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - House (79 - 61)
May 30, 2019 IL HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19)
May 29, 2019 CA SB 29 Expands Medi-Cal Program Eligibility to Undocumented Immigrants Ages 19-25 or 65 and Older Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 28, 2019 CA AB 4 Authorizes Medi-Cal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
May 27, 2019 IL HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
May 24, 2019 CA AB 1593 Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
May 23, 2019 IL SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
May 20, 2019 TX HB 2911 Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 16, 2019 IL HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
May 14, 2019 CT SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 8, 2019 IL HB 2691 Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
May 3, 2019 CO HB 19-1124 Prohibits Local Law Enforcement from Helping to Enforce Federal Civil Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 2, 2019 FL SB 168 Prohibits State Sanctuary City Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 45)
May 2, 2019 FL SB 168 Prohibits State Sanctuary City Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
April 27, 2019 CO SB 19-030 Authorizes a Remedy for Improperly Entered Guilty Pleas Bill Passed - House (42 - 19)
April 24, 2019 WA SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
April 24, 2019 FL HB 527 Prohibits Cities from Enacting "Sanctuary" Policies Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
April 23, 2019 CO HB 19-1124 Prohibits Local Law Enforcement from Helping to Enforce Federal Civil Immigration Laws Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
April 17, 2019 CO SB 19-030 Authorizes a Remedy for Improperly Entered Guilty Pleas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 12, 2019 WA SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
April 11, 2019 CO SB 19-139 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (42 - 22)
April 11, 2019 IL HB 2691 Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students Bill Passed - House (66 - 47)
April 10, 2019 AR SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
April 10, 2019 MT HB 146 Prohibits Cities from Passing Sanctuary Laws Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
April 10, 2019 IL HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (85 - 26)
April 5, 2019 AR HB 1684 Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 19)
April 5, 2019 AR SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
April 3, 2019 AR HB 1684 Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
April 3, 2019 NC HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
April 2, 2019 IA SF 516 Requires Employers to Verify Employee Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 28, 2019 IL HB 1553 Authorizes Certain Kinds of Visas for Undocumented Children that are Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment Bill Passed - House (87 - 18)
March 28, 2019 IL HB 836 Authorizes Temporary Guardians for Children Whose Parents Have Been Detained or Deported by ICE Bill Passed - House (89 - 19)
March 20, 2019 NH HB 397 Authorizes Undocumented Individuals to get Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - House (204 - 137)
March 14, 2019 CO SB 19-139 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 8, 2019 CO HB 19-1148 Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 6, 2019 IL SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 557 Establishes Hawaii as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
Feb. 26, 2019 WA SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 19, 2019 CO HB 19-1148 Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days Bill Passed - House (41 - 21)
Feb. 12, 2019 MT HB 146 Prohibits Cities from Passing Sanctuary Laws Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (97 - 42)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/11 HR 5038 Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (260 - 165)
9/26 HR 3525 US Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 184)
9/25 HR 2203 Homeland Security Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 194)
9/09 AB 1282 Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 16)
9/05 AB 1282 Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
7/25 HR 549 Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (272 - 158)
7/24 HR 3239 Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 195)
7/17 HB 80 Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
7/16 H Res 489 Condemning President Trump's Racist Comments Directed at Members of Congress Bill Passed - House (240 - 187)
6/29 HB 2015 Authorizes Driver Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10)
6/27 HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (305 - 102)
6/26 HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8)
6/26 HB 135 Prohibits "Sanctuary" Cities Bill Passed - House (65 - 52)
6/25 HR 3401 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 Bill Passed - House (230 - 195)
6/24 HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
6/18 HB 2015 Authorizes Driver Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
6/17 A 3675 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
6/12 A 3675 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (87 - 61)
6/05 HB 80 Amends Specific Sections of Ohio's Worker's Compensation Law Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
6/04 HR 6 American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
5/30 SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - House (79 - 61)
5/30 HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19)
5/29 SB 29 Expands Medi-Cal Program Eligibility to Undocumented Immigrants Ages 19-25 or 65 and Older Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/28 AB 4 Authorizes Medi-Cal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (51 - 17)
5/27 HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
5/24 AB 1593 Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
5/23 HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
5/23 SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
5/22 AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
5/20 HB 2911 Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/16 HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
5/14 SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/08 HB 2691 Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
5/03 HB 19-1124 Prohibits Local Law Enforcement from Helping to Enforce Federal Civil Immigration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/02 SB 168 Prohibits State Sanctuary City Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 45)
5/02 SB 168 Prohibits State Sanctuary City Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
4/27 SB 19-030 Authorizes a Remedy for Improperly Entered Guilty Pleas Bill Passed - House (42 - 19)
4/24 SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
4/24 HB 527 Prohibits Cities from Enacting "Sanctuary" Policies Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
4/23 HB 19-1124 Prohibits Local Law Enforcement from Helping to Enforce Federal Civil Immigration Laws Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
4/17 SB 19-030 Authorizes a Remedy for Improperly Entered Guilty Pleas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/12 SB 5497 Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - House (57 - 38)
4/11 SB 19-139 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (42 - 22)
4/11 HB 2691 Authorizes Tuition Assistance to Transgender and Undocumented Immigrant Students Bill Passed - House (66 - 47)
4/10 SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
4/10 HB 146 Prohibits Cities from Passing Sanctuary Laws Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
4/10 HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (85 - 26)
4/05 HB 1684 Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 19)
4/05 SB 411 Prohibits Local Government from Adopting "Sanctuary Policies" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
4/03 HB 1684 Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
4/03 HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
4/02 SF 516 Requires Employers to Verify Employee Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/28 HB 1553 Authorizes Certain Kinds of Visas for Undocumented Children that are Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment Bill Passed - House (87 - 18)
3/28 HB 836 Authorizes Temporary Guardians for Children Whose Parents Have Been Detained or Deported by ICE Bill Passed - House (89 - 19)
3/20 HB 397 Authorizes Undocumented Individuals to get Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - House (204 - 137)
3/14 SB 19-139 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/08 HB 19-1148 Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/06 SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14)
3/05 SB 557 Establishes Hawaii as a Sanctuary State Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
2/26 SB 5165 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/19 HB 19-1148 Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days Bill Passed - House (41 - 21)
2/12 HB 146 Prohibits Cities from Passing Sanctuary Laws Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
1/14 S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - House (97 - 42)
1/14 S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)

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