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 3, 2020 | NC | SB 315 | Establishes Regulations on Hemp and Other Farming Industries | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 34) |
Jan. 10, 2020 | National | HR 535 | PFAS Action Act | Bill Passed - House (247 - 159) |
Jan. 23, 2020 | DE | SB 139 | Establishes Requirements for the Treatment of Dogs in Cold Weather | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
Jan. 22, 2020 | VA | SB 318 | Reduces Number of Balloons that Can be Released per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
March 10, 2020 | FL | SB 172 | Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Certain Drugs and Cosmetics | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
Jan. 29, 2020 | FL | SB 172 | Prohibits Local Governments from Prohibiting Certain Drugs and Cosmetics | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
Jan. 29, 2020 | WA | HB 1110 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transportation Fuels | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
June 18, 2020 | GA | HB 545 | Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Feb. 3, 2020 | IN | HB 1414 | Requires Notification from Utility Companies Prior to Closure of Energy Plant | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
Feb. 12, 2020 | National | HR 2546 | Protecting Americas Wilderness Act | Bill Passed - House (231 - 183) |
Feb. 13, 2020 | AZ | HB 2686 | Amends Local Government Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
Feb. 12, 2020 | AZ | HB 2686 | Amends Local Government Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
Feb. 3, 2020 | IN | SB 438 | Establishes Regulations for Pesticides | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
Feb. 19, 2020 | OR | HB 4109 | Prohibits Aerial Pesticide Applications of Chlorpyrifos | Bill Passed - House (32 - 24) |
Feb. 18, 2020 | NM | SB 2 | Establishes an Electric Vehicle Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
March 3, 2020 | IN | SB 229 | Removes State Oversight of Certain Drains Near Wetlands | Bill Passed - House (58 - 37) |
Feb. 6, 2020 | MI | HB 4567 | Amends Fishing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (72 - 32) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | NJ | S 864 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 24) |
March 5, 2020 | NJ | S 864 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags and Styrofoam Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 732 | Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
March 17, 2020 | MD | HB 732 | Increases Tobacco Tax and Establishes Vaping Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 300 | Prohibits Use of Chlorpyrifos | Bill Passed - House (94 - 37) |
March 3, 2020 | MD | SB 300 | Prohibits Use of Chlorpyrifos | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 31) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 31) |
Feb. 19, 2020 | NM | SB 29 | Establishes a Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
Feb. 15, 2020 | NM | SB 29 | Establishes a Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Feb. 8, 2020 | NM | HB 50 | Authorizes Transmission Line Projects for Industrial Revenue Bonds | Bill Passed - House (48 - 21) |
March 5, 2020 | WA | HB 2311 | Requires State Greenhouse Gas Emissions be Reduced to Zero by 2050 | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
Feb. 16, 2020 | WA | HB 2311 | Requires State Greenhouse Gas Emissions be Reduced to Zero by 2050 | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 6261 | Expands Farm Labor Contractor System | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
Feb. 18, 2020 | WA | SB 6261 | Expands Farm Labor Contractor System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | SB 5323 | Establishes Standards for the Use of Plastic Bags at Retail Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
March 7, 2020 | WA | SB 5323 | Establishes Standards for the Use of Plastic Bags at Retail Establishments | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
March 4, 2020 | WV | SB 739 | Authorizes the Public Service Commission to Protect Consumers of Water and Wastewater Utilities | Bill Passed - House (76 - 14) |
March 3, 2020 | VA | SB 1030 | Prohibits Dangerous Captive Animal Exhibits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
March 2, 2020 | VA | SB 1030 | Prohibits Dangerous Captive Animal Exhibits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
March 5, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 5, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | NJ | A 2371 | Requires Recycling of Food Waste | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
Sept. 17, 2020 | NH | SB 159 | Increases Net Metering Capacity for Customer-Generators | Veto Override Failed - House (207 - 130) |
March 5, 2020 | NH | SB 159 | Increases Net Metering Capacity for Customer-Generators | Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
Jan. 9, 2020 | NH | HB 102 | Authorizes Municipalities to Regulate Single-Use Bags | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (215 - 151) |
March 10, 2020 | WY | HB 159 | Requires Payment of Ad Valorem Tax on Mineral Production | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 18) |
March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 18) |
March 10, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
March 10, 2020 | WY | HB 200 | Establishes Low-Carbon Energy Standards and Subsidizes Carbon Capture Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
June 23, 2020 | GA | HB 879 | Authorizes Retailers to Deliver Alcohol to Residents | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 9) |
March 10, 2020 | GA | HB 879 | Authorizes Retailers to Deliver Alcohol to Residents | Bill Passed - House (110 - 54) |
May 20, 2020 | LA | SB 440 | Limits Environmental Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 11, 2020 | MN | HF 4502 | Increases the Minnesota Conservation Program's Energy Savings Goal | Bill Passed - House (79 - 55) |
May 11, 2020 | MN | HF 4502 | Increases the Minnesota Conservation Program's Energy Savings Goal | Bill Passed - House (79 - 55) |
June 5, 2020 | IA | SF 2413 | Increases Penalties for Trespassing on Animal Food Operations | Bill Passed - House (59 - 37) |
June 5, 2020 | IA | SF 2413 | Increases Penalties for Trespassing on Animal Food Operations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
June 10, 2020 | CA | AB 3214 | Increases Penalties for Oil Spills | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
March 23, 2020 | AK | HB 232 | Authorizes Local Governments to Create Property Tax Credits to Increase Efficiency and Local Air Quality | Bill Passed - House (31 - 4) |
June 8, 2020 | CA | AB 3030 | Requires Protection for 30 Percent of State's Land and Waters by 2030 | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
July 22, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (310 - 107) |
July 22, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (310 - 107) |
June 17, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25) |
June 17, 2020 | National | HR 1957 | Great American Outdoors Act | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 25) |
May 27, 2020 | OH | HB 242 | Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Fees on Plastic Bags in Stores | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1343 | Requires Colorado Eggs to be Cage-Free by 2025 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1343 | Requires Colorado Eggs to be Cage-Free by 2025 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
June 29, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
June 29, 2020 | NJ | S 232 | Requires the Evaluation of Environmental and Public Health Stressors | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
June 11, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1265 | Establishes an Emergency Notification Service for Air Quality Incidents | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 11, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1265 | Establishes an Emergency Notification Service for Air Quality Incidents | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
June 5, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - House (40 - 24) |
June 5, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1143 | Increases Maximum Fines for Air and Water Quality Violations | Bill Passed - House (40 - 24) |
July 1, 2020 | HI | SB 2629 | Prohibits Burning Coal After 2022 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 5) |
July 1, 2020 | HI | SB 2629 | Prohibits Burning Coal After 2022 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 5) |
Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
July 8, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - House (130 - 71) |
July 8, 2020 | PA | HB 2025 | Requires Legislative Authorization Before Entering a State or Regional Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade Program | Bill Passed - House (130 - 71) |
July 21, 2020 | NY | S 4234 | Prohibits the Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits by Retail Pet Shops | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 13) |
July 13, 2020 | PA | HB 732 | Establishes Tax Credit for Companies that Invest and Create Jobs Building Petrochemical or Fertilizer Plants using Dry Natural Gas Produced in Pennsylvania | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
Sept. 22, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Veto Override Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
Sept. 17, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Veto Override Passed - House (103 - 47) |
Sept. 9, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 45) |
June 26, 2020 | VT | H 688 | Establishes the Global Warming Solutions Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
July 22, 2020 | NY | S 6502 | Prohibits the Use of Glyphosate on State Property | Bill Passed - House (100 - 42) |
July 22, 2020 | NY | S 6502 | Prohibits the Use of Glyphosate on State Property | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 15) |
June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1215 | Appropriates Funds to Assist Municipalities with Power Outages | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
Feb. 27, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 27, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 29, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - House (66 - 32) |
Jan. 29, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - House (66 - 32) |
June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1175 | Prohibits Importation and Possession of Wild Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |