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 34 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 41) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 34 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Feb. 25, 2020 | VT | S 23 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Veto Override Passed - House (100 - 49) |
Feb. 25, 2020 | VT | S 23 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Veto Override Passed - House (100 - 49) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 883 | Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
Feb. 13, 2020 | VT | S 23 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
Feb. 13, 2020 | VT | S 23 | Increases the State Minimum Wage | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
March 6, 2020 | UT | SB 67 | Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Remains | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 6) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 883 | Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
April 15, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
March 6, 2020 | UT | SB 67 | Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Remains | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 20) |
March 10, 2020 | IN | HB 1022 | Expands the Definition of Panhandling | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 14) |
Dec. 11, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
March 13, 2020 | FL | HB 1259 | Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | MI | SB 604 | Extends Unemployment Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 4) |
April 14, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
Jan. 17, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
Jan. 17, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | (24 - 16) |
Dec. 8, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - House (335 - 78) |
June 30, 2020 | LA | HB 57 | Amends Jury Trial and Seatbelt Lawsuit Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 15) |
May 14, 2020 | MO | HB 1414 | Establishes a State Birth Certificate Program and Medicaid Health Coverage for Missouri's Homeless Youth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 4) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | SB 5033 | Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | HB 5093 | Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
Feb. 25, 2020 | VA | SB 657 | Authorizes Replacement Birth Certificates for Transgender Individuals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
March 17, 2020 | KS | SB 102 | Expands Flexibility in Courts | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 43) |
March 12, 2020 | FL | SB 664 | Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
March 12, 2020 | UT | HB 364 | Requires an Ultrasound Procedure Prior to Abortion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | SB 6561 | Establishes a Student Loan Program for Undocumented Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
March 11, 2020 | WA | HB 2441 | Increases Access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 41) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1162 | Amends Adoption Laws for Unmarried Couples | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (209 - 119) |
March 4, 2020 | VA | HB 623 | Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | HB 5289 | Prohibits the State Registrar from Imposing Fees for Stillbirth Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 4) |
June 26, 2020 | VT | H 965 | Appropriates Funds to Health Care and Human Services Programs from Coronavirus Relief Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
March 11, 2020 | WA | SB 6478 | Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
March 11, 2020 | WA | SB 6478 | Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 2419 | Authorizes Release of Certain Individuals Without Bail Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | HB 20B-1003 | Expands Food Pantry Programs for Pandemic Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 5) |
June 13, 2020 | CO | SB 20-224 | Prohibits Landlords from Asking Immigration Status Questions on Rental Applications | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 13, 2020 | CO | SB 20-207 | Increases the Wages One Can Earn on Unemployment | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1869 | Repeals Certain Judicial Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 17) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
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) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 973 | Requires Employers to Submit Annual Pay Data Report | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
April 30, 2020 | MI | SB 858 | Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Dec. 18, 2020 | MI | SB 748 | Extends Unemployment Benefits Through March | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
July 15, 2020 | PA | SB 1166 | Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
July 15, 2020 | PA | SB 1166 | Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
Jan. 16, 2020 | DE | HB 73 | Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 705 | Repeals Statute of Limitation Requirements for Sexual Assault Lawsuits | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
March 3, 2020 | VA | HB 623 | Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms | (24 - 16) |
Oct. 26, 2020 | National | PN 2252 | Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48) |
May 21, 2020 | National | PN 1615 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe as Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44) |
Feb. 19, 2020 | WI | AB 804 | Increases Penalties for Domestic Abuse Victim Intimidation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 2380 | Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
March 5, 2020 | WA | HB 2441 | Increases Access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
March 11, 2020 | WA | SB 6478 | Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | A 1649 | Prohibits Public Disclosure of Personal Information of Judicial Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
March 10, 2020 | UT | SB 39 | Increases Funding for Affordable Housing Development | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
March 11, 2020 | WA | SB 6478 | Reduces Sanctions Related to Noncompliance with TANF Work Requirements for Abuse Survivors | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
Oct. 22, 2020 | LA | HB 43 | Establishes Guidelines for Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
Sept. 25, 2020 | VA | SB 5033 | Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
Sept. 25, 2020 | VA | HB 5093 | Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
Sept. 2, 2020 | NC | HB 1105 | Appropriates COVID Relief Checks to Parents | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
Sept. 1, 2020 | MI | SB 745 | Appropriates Funds for a Temporary Additional $300 Weekly Unemployment Benefit | Bill Passed - House (106 - 3) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1876 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrant Workers to Qualify for State Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1869 | Repeals Certain Judicial Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Incarcerated Transgendered Individuals to be Housed by Gender Identity | Bill Passed - House (52 - 15) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 2380 | Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |