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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 15 | Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 15 | Increases State Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour | Bill Passed - House (52 - 25) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2000 | Establishes $175.5 Billion Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2000 | Establishes $175.5 Billion Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - House (111 - 37) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2006 | Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 4260 | Prohibits the Sale of Certain Toy Guns or Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (54 - 19) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 5385 | Increases Licensing and Tax Requirements for Vape Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 23) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 5385 | Increases Licensing and Tax Requirements for Vape Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
April 1, 2019 | NY | A 558 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 9) |
March 6, 2019 | NY | A 558 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - House (120 - 26) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
May 24, 2019 | NV | AB 132 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination for Positive Marijuana Drug Tests | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 132 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination for Positive Marijuana Drug Tests | Bill Passed - House (33 - 8) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1366 | Extends the Ban on the Regulation of "Internet Protocol Enabled" Services | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 1395 | Requires Technology Companies Receive Consent Prior to Voice Storage and Recordings | Bill Passed - House (44 - 6) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 161 | Prohibits Paper Receipts | Bill Passed - House (43 - 24) |
May 7, 2019 | NV | AB 337 | Amends Certain Railroad Freight Transportation Safety Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 35 | Requires Reporting on Employee Blood Level Testing for Lead | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 35 | Requires Reporting on Employee Blood Level Testing for Lead | Bill Passed - House (49 - 22) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 16) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 378 | Authorizes Collective Bargaining for Childcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - House (52 - 16) |
May 31, 2019 | NV | AB 456 | Increases The State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
May 28, 2019 | NV | AB 456 | Increases The State Minimum Wage | (28 - 12) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 5 | Establishes Criteria For Determining Who Is An Employee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 15) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 51 | Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 51 | Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements | Bill Passed - House (47 - 20) |
May 15, 2019 | VT | H 107 | Establishes a Paid Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
April 5, 2019 | VT | H 107 | Establishes a Paid Statewide Family and Medical Leave Program | Bill Passed - House (92 - 52) |
Feb. 26, 2019 | ID | H 153 | Increases State Teacher Pay | Bill Passed - House (61 - 9) |
March 26, 2019 | ID | H 179 | Requires Proof of Insurance for Vehicle Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
March 13, 2019 | ID | H 179 | Requires Proof of Insurance for Vehicle Registration | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
March 28, 2019 | ID | H 259 | Establishes an Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | MA | H 4183 | Prohibits Flavored Tobacco and Vaping Products, Including Menthol Cigarettes | Bill Passed - House (127 - 31) |
May 20, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
March 26, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Bill Passed - House (90 - 25) |
Feb. 1, 2019 | VT | H 47 | Increases the E-Cigarette Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (134 - 6) |
April 9, 2019 | RI | H 5663 | Requires Firefighters to Receive Overtime Pay After 42 Hours | Bill Passed - House (62 - 9) |
July 24, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
July 22, 2019 | KY | HB 1 | Establishes a State of Emergency for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
March 27, 2019 | WA | HB 1074 | Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | WA | HB 1074 | Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
March 19, 2019 | ND | HB 1097 | Repeals the Sunday Retail Closing Law | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
March 28, 2019 | KY | HB 11 | Prohibits Tobacco Products from Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
April 24, 2019 | WA | HB 1155 | Requires Uninterrupted Breaks for Health Care Workers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 16) |
April 24, 2019 | WA | HB 1155 | Requires Uninterrupted Breaks for Health Care Workers | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24) |
April 3, 2019 | MD | HB 1169 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 35) |
April 2, 2019 | MD | HB 1169 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
June 6, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
May 14, 2019 | DE | HB 130 | Prohibits Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
April 22, 2019 | WA | HB 1324 | Establishes the Washington Rural Development and Opportunity Zone Act | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
April 22, 2019 | WA | HB 1324 | Establishes the Washington Rural Development and Opportunity Zone Act | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
March 26, 2019 | IN | HB 1470 | Authorizes Utilities to Raise Rates Outside of Typical "Rate Case" Process | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | HB 1477 | Authorizes Professional Licenses for Ex-Convicts | Bill Passed - House (193 - 4) |
April 18, 2019 | WA | HB 1575 | Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 38) |
April 12, 2019 | WA | HB 1575 | Amends Labor Law Concerning Public Employee Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
April 27, 2019 | WA | HB 1652 | Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
April 25, 2019 | WA | HB 1652 | Establishes a Paint Stewardship Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
April 4, 2019 | IL | HB 1653 | Increases Penalties for Employers Who Commit Wage Theft | Bill Passed - House (69 - 43) |
March 28, 2019 | MD | HB 166 | Increases State Minimum Wage | Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43) |
March 14, 2019 | MD | HB 166 | Increases State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
March 1, 2019 | MD | HB 166 | Increases State Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (96 - 44) |
March 14, 2019 | NH | HB 186 | Increases Minimum Wage to $9.50 by 2020 | Bill Passed - House (210 - 145) |
May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1210 | Authorizes Local Governments to Establish Their Own Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 25) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1210 | Authorizes Local Governments to Establish Their Own Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1230 | Authorizes Marijuana Consumption on the Premises of Hospitality Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 22) |
May 1, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1230 | Authorizes Marijuana Consumption on the Premises of Hospitality Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1245 | Reduces Sales Tax Vendor Fee Allowance and Increases Funding for Affordable Housing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1245 | Reduces Sales Tax Vendor Fee Allowance and Increases Funding for Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1289 | Increases State Consumer Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1289 | Increases State Consumer Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Jan. 23, 2019 | DE | HB 2 | Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2005 | Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
June 20, 2019 | OR | HB 2005 | Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 13) |
April 9, 2019 | IL | HB 2078 | Increases Teacher Salary to $40,000 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 31) |
May 30, 2019 | AL | HB 225 | Prohibits Pay Discrimination Based on Sex and Race | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2270 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Increase Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
June 20, 2019 | OR | HB 2270 | Authorizes a Ballot Measure to Increase Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
Dec. 11, 2019 | OH | HB 242 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Fees on Plastic Bags in Stores | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
April 9, 2019 | IL | HB 2451 | Increases the Annual Cost of Living for Retired Firefighters | Bill Passed - House (72 - 40) |
June 11, 2019 | OR | HB 2509 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bags | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Feb. 28, 2019 | AZ | HB 2523 | Authorizes Employers to Pay Less than Minimum Wage to Full-Time Students | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 253 | Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19) |
Feb. 14, 2019 | NH | HB 253 | Prohibits Employers from Asking Job Applicants About Criminal History | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (213 - 142) |
March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 253 | Classifies University Graduate and Research Assistants as "Employees" | Bill Passed - House (72 - 37) |
March 11, 2019 | OK | HB 2612 | Establishes State Medical Marijuana Rules and Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 2670 | Expands Definition of "Mitigating Factors" | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 2670 | Expands Definition of "Mitigating Factors" | Bill Passed - House (69 - 42) |
Feb. 13, 2019 | VA | HB 2748 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32) |
May 27, 2019 | AZ | HB 2756 | Amends Minimum Wage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
May 24, 2019 | AZ | HB 2756 | Amends Minimum Wage Regulations | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
March 13, 2019 | UT | HB 324 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 16) |
March 13, 2019 | UT | HB 324 | Increases Age for Legal Tobacco Sales to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
March 29, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |