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
Sept. 10, 2021 CA AB 1395 Requires California to Maintain Net Negative Greenhouse Gas Emissions After Achieving Net-Zero Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 12)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA SB 596 Requires That a Comprehensive Strategy be Created to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions Associated With Cement by 2045 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA SB 343 Establishes Additional Labeling Requirements for Recyclable Materials Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 416 Requires Companies that Produce Forest-Risk Commodities Maintain a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 1346 Prohibits Exhaust, Emissions From Certain Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA SB 500 Requires All New Self-Driving Cars to be Zero-Emission by 2030 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA AB 1183 Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
Aug. 31, 2021 IL SB 18 Requires All Energy Production to be from Renewable Energy Sources by 2050 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
July 20, 2021 LA SB 203 Exempts Groundwater District Commissioners from Provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 30, 2021 NJ A 4554 Establishes a Renewable Solar Energy Certificate Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
June 25, 2021 OR SB 762 Appropriates $220 Million for Wildfire Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 24, 2021 NJ S 2515 Requires Plastic Containers and Packaging to Include Recycled Materials Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 24, 2021 NJ S 3926 Authorizes Offshore Wind Projects Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 17, 2021 ME LD 1541 Amends Recycling Laws to Shift the Cost of Disposing Packaging Materials to Companies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
June 14, 2021 PA SB 119 Prohibits Pennsylvania from Joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
June 8, 2021 NY S 1759A Requires Statewide Testing for 40 Types of Emerging Contaminants Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 9)
June 7, 2021 CT HB 6441 Authorizes Climate Change Adaptation for Shoreline and Inland Communities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
June 3, 2021 NJ A 3352 Requires Solar Panels on All New Warehouses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 3, 2021 CA SB 38 Requires the Beverage Industry to Create an Accessible Recycling and Redemption System Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
June 2, 2021 OH SB 52 Prohibits Wind and Solar Companies from Applying to Build Projects Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
May 12, 2021 CO SB 21-246 Extends Assistance to Aid in the Transition to "Healthier" Homes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 4, 2021 TX HB 17 Prohibits Cities from Banning Natural Gas Hookups in New Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
April 28, 2021 National S J Res 14 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review" Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 42)
April 27, 2021 NY S 4095B Prohibits the Sale and Use of Pavement Products Containing Coal Tar Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
April 27, 2021 NY S 4478 Prohibits the Use of Pesticides at Children's' Day and Overnight Camps Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
April 26, 2021 NY A 4302 Requires 100 Percent of Cars and Trucks Sold in State to be Zero-Emissions by 2035 Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
April 19, 2021 MN SF 959 Appropriates Funds for Environmental and Natural Resource Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
April 8, 2021 WA SB 5126 Requires the State to Reach 0 Carbon Emissions by 2050 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
April 8, 2021 OR SCR 17 Establishes Environmental Frameworks to Address Climate Change Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 6, 2021 RI H 5445 Establishes an Updated Outline of State Climate Goals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
March 15, 2021 National PN 78-11 Nomination of Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 40)
March 12, 2021 MD SB 414 Requires the State to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to a Lower Level Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
March 10, 2021 National PN 78-16 Nomination of Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
March 3, 2021 NY S 4378 Requires Fossil Fuel Plants to Submit a Renewable Energy Plan Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
March 1, 2021 WA SB 5141 Establishes the Environmental Justice Council Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Feb. 25, 2021 MO SB 26 Prohibits Any Person from Using Pesticides that are Cancelled or Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 17, 2021 AZ HB 2042 Requires Aquifer Protection Permits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 1, 2021 IN SB 389 Repeals State Law Regarding Wetland Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Jan. 21, 2021 DE SB 33 Amends State Clean Energy Standards to Require Renewables Generate 40 Percent of Electricity by 2035 Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
Jan. 12, 2021 NY S 528 Amends the State Constitution to Ensure the Right to a Healthy Environment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
Jan. 4, 2021 MA S 2995 Amends State Climate Goals Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 2)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/10 AB 1395 Requires California to Maintain Net Negative Greenhouse Gas Emissions After Achieving Net-Zero Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 12)
9/09 SB 596 Requires That a Comprehensive Strategy be Created to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions Associated With Cement by 2045 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/09 SB 343 Establishes Additional Labeling Requirements for Recyclable Materials Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
9/08 AB 416 Requires Companies that Produce Forest-Risk Commodities Maintain a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation Policy Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
9/08 AB 1346 Prohibits Exhaust, Emissions From Certain Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
9/02 SB 500 Requires All New Self-Driving Cars to be Zero-Emission by 2030 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
9/02 AB 1183 Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
8/31 SB 18 Requires All Energy Production to be from Renewable Energy Sources by 2050 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
7/20 SB 203 Exempts Groundwater District Commissioners from Provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/30 A 4554 Establishes a Renewable Solar Energy Certificate Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
6/25 SB 762 Appropriates $220 Million for Wildfire Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/24 S 2515 Requires Plastic Containers and Packaging to Include Recycled Materials Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/24 S 3926 Authorizes Offshore Wind Projects Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/17 LD 1541 Amends Recycling Laws to Shift the Cost of Disposing Packaging Materials to Companies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
6/14 SB 119 Prohibits Pennsylvania from Joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
6/08 S 1759A Requires Statewide Testing for 40 Types of Emerging Contaminants Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 9)
6/07 HB 6441 Authorizes Climate Change Adaptation for Shoreline and Inland Communities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
6/03 A 3352 Requires Solar Panels on All New Warehouses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/03 SB 38 Requires the Beverage Industry to Create an Accessible Recycling and Redemption System Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
6/02 SB 52 Prohibits Wind and Solar Companies from Applying to Build Projects Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
5/12 SB 21-246 Extends Assistance to Aid in the Transition to "Healthier" Homes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/04 HB 17 Prohibits Cities from Banning Natural Gas Hookups in New Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
4/28 S J Res 14 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review" Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 42)
4/27 S 4095B Prohibits the Sale and Use of Pavement Products Containing Coal Tar Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
4/27 S 4478 Prohibits the Use of Pesticides at Children's' Day and Overnight Camps Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
4/26 A 4302 Requires 100 Percent of Cars and Trucks Sold in State to be Zero-Emissions by 2035 Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
4/19 SF 959 Appropriates Funds for Environmental and Natural Resource Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29)
4/08 SB 5126 Requires the State to Reach 0 Carbon Emissions by 2050 Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
4/08 SCR 17 Establishes Environmental Frameworks to Address Climate Change Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/06 H 5445 Establishes an Updated Outline of State Climate Goals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
3/15 PN 78-11 Nomination of Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 40)
3/12 SB 414 Requires the State to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to a Lower Level Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
3/10 PN 78-16 Nomination of Michael Regan as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 34)
3/03 S 4378 Requires Fossil Fuel Plants to Submit a Renewable Energy Plan Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
3/01 SB 5141 Establishes the Environmental Justice Council Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
2/25 SB 26 Prohibits Any Person from Using Pesticides that are Cancelled or Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/17 HB 2042 Requires Aquifer Protection Permits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/01 SB 389 Repeals State Law Regarding Wetland Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
1/21 SB 33 Amends State Clean Energy Standards to Require Renewables Generate 40 Percent of Electricity by 2035 Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
1/12 S 528 Amends the State Constitution to Ensure the Right to a Healthy Environment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14)
1/04 S 2995 Amends State Climate Goals Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 2)

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