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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 16) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 588 | Authorizes Counties to Levy Certain Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
April 15, 2020 | KY | HB 351 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 588 | Authorizes Counties to Levy Certain Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 35) |
April 15, 2020 | KY | HB 351 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting | Veto Override Passed - House (57 - 32) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2742 | Reduces Contributions to Retirement Systems for Police and Firefighters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2741 | Reduces Contributions to Teachers' Retirement System | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | HB 205 | Appropriate Funds to Various Government Agencies, Including for COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - House (23 - 13) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | SB 241 | Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1) |
March 27, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
Jan. 16, 2020 | GA | HB 276 | Establishes an Online Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
March 11, 2020 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizes School Districts To Use Tax Dollars For Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 12, 2020 | WY | SF 138 | Authorizes One Million Acre Land Purchase | Conference Report Adopted - House (46 - 10) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
Dec. 11, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13) |
March 12, 2020 | GA | HB 792 | Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1) |
Oct. 23, 2020 | LA | HB 38 | Establishes the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 29) |
March 19, 2020 | FL | H 5001 | Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 31) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | HB 1590 | Authorizes Local Affordable Housing Tax to be Imposed by a Councilmanic Authority | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3411 | Establishes Allocations of Federal COVID-19 Appropriations to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53) |
March 25, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2007 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Economic Development, Commerce & Insurance and Labor & Industrial Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (128 - 21) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2002 | Appropriates Education Funding for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - House (120 - 28) |
March 11, 2020 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizes School Districts To Use Tax Dollars For Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 40) |
Jan. 16, 2020 | GA | HB 276 | Establishes an Online Sales Tax | Conference Report Adopted - House (111 - 54) |
March 9, 2020 | WY | SF 1 | Establishes Biennium Budget for Fiscal Years 2020-2022 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
March 19, 2020 | KS | SB 66 | Appropriates Funds for the 2020 and 2021 Fiscal Years | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2007 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Economic Development, Commerce & Insurance and Labor & Industrial Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (128 - 21) |
Dec. 8, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - House (335 - 78) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2011 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Social Services | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 44) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2011 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Social Services | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 44) |
April 23, 2020 | National | HR 266 | Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3998 | Establishes a State Housing Credit Equal to the Federal Low Income Housing Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 18) |
May 2, 2020 | NC | HB 1043 | Appropriates Funds from the CARES Act for COVID-19 Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (120 - 0) |
May 9, 2020 | AL | HB 187 | Appropriates Funds for the Fiscal Year 2021 Education Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 1) |
May 9, 2020 | MN | HF 3429 | Appropriates Funds and Establishes Procedures for Safe State Primaries and General Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (122 - 10) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 92) |
Oct. 21, 2020 | LA | HB 29 | Establishes Severance Tax Exemption for Oil Wells | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 17) |
Oct. 21, 2020 | LA | SB 72 | Authorizes One-Time Income Tax Credit For Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
Oct. 20, 2020 | LA | HB 26 | Establishes Sales Tax Holiday to Provide Relief for Recovery | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 0) |
July 22, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (310 - 107) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1166 | Extends Emergency Benefit Enhancements Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (178 - 154) |
June 26, 2020 | VT | H 965 | Appropriates Funds to Health Care and Human Services Programs from Coronavirus Relief Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
March 15, 2020 | MD | HB 932 | Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 45) |
March 15, 2020 | MD | HB 932 | Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 45) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 89 | Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 117 | Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 17, 2020 | MI | HB 4729 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0) |
March 17, 2020 | MD | HB 1300 | Establishes the "Blueprint for Maryland's Future" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (96 - 38) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 732 | Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
June 15, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1427 | Increases the Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 25) |
June 14, 2020 | IA | HF 2643 | Establishes a General Fund Budget and Limits Actions of County Auditors Regarding Absentee Ballot Requests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 41) |
May 24, 2020 | IL | SB 264 | Establishes 2020-2021 State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 516 | Amends Tax Structure for Chicago Casino | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 14) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1350 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 General Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
March 25, 2020 | AK | HB 234 | Appropriates Supplemental Funds for COVID-19 Relief Efforts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (27 - 11) |
May 21, 2020 | HI | SB 75 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
April 1, 2020 | KY | HB 351 | Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 22) |
April 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2014 | Establishes a Supplemental Budget to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (147 - 4) |
April 15, 2020 | KY | HB 387 | Establishes a Revolving Fund for Rural Hospitals During an Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 1) |
Feb. 18, 2020 | OK | HB 1230 | Increases Transparency on State-Funded Scholarships for Private Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 17) |
Dec. 18, 2020 | MI | SB 748 | Extends Unemployment Benefits Through March | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (327 - 85) |
March 17, 2020 | SC | H 4014 | Appropriates Funds for the COVID-19 Public Health Response | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
March 6, 2020 | WA | HB 1590 | Authorizes Local Affordable Housing Tax to be Imposed by a Councilmanic Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 1166 | Extends Emergency Benefit Enhancements Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
Feb. 19, 2020 | WI | AB 532 | Increases Tax Incentives for Investors putting Capital Gains in the Wisconsin Opportunity Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
June 14, 2020 | IA | HF 2643 | Establishes a General Fund Budget and Limits Actions of County Auditors Regarding Absentee Ballot Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1350 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 General Budget | Bill Passed - House (104 - 97) |
May 29, 2020 | LA | HB 846 | Establishes Tax Rebates for COVID-19 Impacted Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
May 7, 2020 | MO | SB 676 | Exempts Federal Government Stimulus Checks from State Taxable Income | Bill Passed - House (105 - 39) |
May 7, 2020 | MN | HF 3429 | Appropriates Funds and Establishes Procedures for Safe State Primaries and General Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 1) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 1232 | Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
March 12, 2020 | UT | HB 494 | Appropriates Funds In Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0) |
March 12, 2020 | AL | HB 186 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 1232 | Authorizes Emergency Finances and Tax Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
March 13, 2020 | MD | HB 932 | Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
March 13, 2020 | MD | HB 932 | Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
Sept. 22, 2020 | SC | S 217 | Authorizes Hospitality Taxes be Used for Repairs in Tourism Areas Affected by Flood Damage | Bill Passed - House (87 - 15) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 264 | Establishes 2020-2021 State Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 44) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 516 | Amends Tax Structure for Chicago Casino | Bill Passed - House (77 - 32) |
June 22, 2020 | LA | HB 39 | Establishes Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
Dec. 17, 2020 | NJ | A 1135 | Amends Property Tax Law to Exempt Non-Profit Hospitals | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
June 17, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25) |
March 17, 2020 | MD | HB 732 | Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
June 15, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1420 | Amends State Tax Breaks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
May 2, 2020 | NC | SB 704 | Establishes the COVID-19 Response Act | Bill Passed - House (119 - 0) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | HB 2965 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
July 16, 2020 | NJ | A 4175 | Establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
March 11, 2020 | WA | SB 6690 | Reduces the Business and Occupation Tax Preference for Aerospace Manufacturers | Bill Passed - House (73 - 24) |