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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 2, 2023 AZ SB 1264 Prohibits Election Officials or Workers from Being in Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2023 AZ SB 1180 Prohibits an Individual From Being Paid on the Basis of How Many Voter Registration Forms They Collect Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA SB 525 Increases the Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers to $25 an Hour Starting in 2025 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Sept. 14, 2023 CA AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Sept. 12, 2023 CA AB 1 Authorizes Unionization of Legislative Staff Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Sept. 12, 2023 CA AB 524 Prohibits Employment Discrimination for Those With Family Caregiver Status Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
May 31, 2023 CA SB 616 Increases Paid Sick Leave for Railroad Employees from 3 to 7 Days Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
May 30, 2023 CA SB 227 Establishes a State Program to Pay Undocumented Workers Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
May 24, 2023 CA SB 735 Establishes Extra Occupational Safety Measures on Motion Picture Sets Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
May 31, 2023 CA SB 616 Increases Paid Sick Leave for Railroad Employees from 3 to 7 Days Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 4, 2023 CO SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 24, 2023 CO SB 23-017 Authorizes Additional Uses of Paid Sick Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 26, 2023 CO SB 23-058 Prohibits Age-Related Discrimination in Work Settings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 2, 2023 CO SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 5, 2023 CO HB 23-1076 Expands Employee's Medical Impairments and Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 9, 2023 CT HB 6671 Appropriates Funding for School Lunches, Sustainable Aviation, Special Education, and More Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
May 3, 2023 CT SB 228 Requires Employees Keep Healthcare Coverage after a Labor Dispute Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
May 18, 2023 DE SB 72 Establishes a Tax Credit for Dues-paying Union Members Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
April 17, 2023 IA SF 542 Amends Child Labor Laws to Authorize Minor Employment in Previously Prohibited Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2023 IA SF 228 Limits Employee Liability in Commercial Vehicle Crashes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
March 22, 2023 ID H 24 Appropriates Funding for a State Post-Secondary Career Initiatives Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 22, 2023 ID S 1167 Limits the Scope of the Post-Secondary Career Initiatives Plan Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
March 28, 2023 ID S 1212 Appropriates $5 Million for the Postsecondary Career Initiatives Plan for Fiscal Year 2024 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 19, 2023 IL SB 2034 Requires Large Employers Provide 12 Weeks of Paid Family Leave for Employees that Experience the Loss of a Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 10)
May 18, 2023 IL HB 1286 Authorizes Businesses to Designate Multi-Occupancy Restrooms as All-Gender Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Jan. 6, 2023 IL HB 5107 Establishes Collective Bargaining Rights for Chicago School Principals but Prohibits Strikes Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
Nov. 7, 2023 IL SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
Nov. 7, 2023 IL SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
March 29, 2023 KY SB 7 Prohibits Automatic Payroll Deductions Used to Pay Union Dues Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
June 4, 2023 LA HB 205 Authorizes Overtime Pay for Teachers and School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
June 5, 2023 LA HB 504 Requires All Unclassified State Employees Making Over $100,000 Hold a Valid Driver's License and Register Their Vehicle in the State Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
April 6, 2023 MD HB 513 Requires State Department of Labor Enforce Investor-Owned Utility Contractors Pay Prevailing Wages on Underground Projects Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
April 6, 2023 MD HB 513 Requires State Department of Labor Enforce Investor-Owned Utility Contractors Pay Prevailing Wages on Underground Projects Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
July 6, 2023 ME LD 1756 Expands Employee's Freedom of Association and Speech in the Workplace "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
June 14, 2023 ME LD 1718 Increases Support for Maines Essential Workers by Increasing Higher Education Program Funding "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
March 14, 2023 MI SB 34 Repeals State Right-to-Work Laws for Private Sector Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
March 14, 2023 MI SB 34 Repeals State Right-to-Work Laws for Private Sector Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
April 26, 2023 MI SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
June 8, 2023 MI SB 169 Requires Public Employers Provide Collective Bargaining Representatives with Employee Contact Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
June 8, 2023 MI SB 169 Requires Public Employers Provide Collective Bargaining Representatives with Employee Contact Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
May 22, 2023 MN SF 1384 Requires Safety Protections for Healthcare Workers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 26)
May 21, 2023 MN HF 2369 Increases Worker Protections Ride Sharing Companies Must Require Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32)
Jan. 26, 2023 MN HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
Feb. 17, 2023 MT SB 270 Prohibits Employer Retaliation Against an Employee's Legal Social Media Post Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 17, 2023 MT SB 270 Prohibits Employer Retaliation Against an Employee's Legal Social Media Post Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
April 17, 2023 ND SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
April 21, 2023 ND HB 1040 Prohibits New Hires from the State Pension Plan Beginning in 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/02 SB 1264 Prohibits Election Officials or Workers from Being in Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/28 SB 1180 Prohibits an Individual From Being Paid on the Basis of How Many Voter Registration Forms They Collect Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
9/14 SB 525 Increases the Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers to $25 an Hour Starting in 2025 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
9/14 AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
9/14 AB 1228 Requires Fast Food Restaurants Share Legal Responsibility when State Labor Laws are Violated Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
9/12 AB 1 Authorizes Unionization of Legislative Staff Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
9/12 AB 524 Prohibits Employment Discrimination for Those With Family Caregiver Status Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
5/31 SB 616 Increases Paid Sick Leave for Railroad Employees from 3 to 7 Days Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
5/30 SB 227 Establishes a State Program to Pay Undocumented Workers Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
5/24 SB 735 Establishes Extra Occupational Safety Measures on Motion Picture Sets Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
5/31 SB 616 Increases Paid Sick Leave for Railroad Employees from 3 to 7 Days Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
5/02 SB 23-111 Authorizes Additional Protections for Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/04 SB 23-105 Amends the State Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/24 SB 23-017 Authorizes Additional Uses of Paid Sick Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/26 SB 23-058 Prohibits Age-Related Discrimination in Work Settings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/02 SB 23-172 Expands State Anti-Discrimination Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/05 HB 23-1076 Expands Employee's Medical Impairments and Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/09 HB 6671 Appropriates Funding for School Lunches, Sustainable Aviation, Special Education, and More Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
5/03 SB 228 Requires Employees Keep Healthcare Coverage after a Labor Dispute Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
5/18 SB 72 Establishes a Tax Credit for Dues-paying Union Members Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
4/17 SF 542 Amends Child Labor Laws to Authorize Minor Employment in Previously Prohibited Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/22 SF 228 Limits Employee Liability in Commercial Vehicle Crashes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
3/22 H 24 Appropriates Funding for a State Post-Secondary Career Initiatives Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/22 S 1167 Limits the Scope of the Post-Secondary Career Initiatives Plan Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
3/28 S 1212 Appropriates $5 Million for the Postsecondary Career Initiatives Plan for Fiscal Year 2024 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/19 SB 2034 Requires Large Employers Provide 12 Weeks of Paid Family Leave for Employees that Experience the Loss of a Child Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 10)
5/18 HB 1286 Authorizes Businesses to Designate Multi-Occupancy Restrooms as All-Gender Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
1/06 HB 5107 Establishes Collective Bargaining Rights for Chicago School Principals but Prohibits Strikes Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
11/07 SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
11/07 SB 508 Prohibits Employers From Putting Stricter Work Authorization Verification Requirements than Required by Federal Law Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 13)
3/29 SB 7 Prohibits Automatic Payroll Deductions Used to Pay Union Dues Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
6/04 HB 205 Authorizes Overtime Pay for Teachers and School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
6/05 HB 504 Requires All Unclassified State Employees Making Over $100,000 Hold a Valid Driver's License and Register Their Vehicle in the State Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
4/06 HB 513 Requires State Department of Labor Enforce Investor-Owned Utility Contractors Pay Prevailing Wages on Underground Projects Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
4/06 HB 513 Requires State Department of Labor Enforce Investor-Owned Utility Contractors Pay Prevailing Wages on Underground Projects Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
7/06 LD 1756 Expands Employee's Freedom of Association and Speech in the Workplace "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
6/14 LD 1718 Increases Support for Maines Essential Workers by Increasing Higher Education Program Funding "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
3/14 SB 34 Repeals State Right-to-Work Laws for Private Sector Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
3/14 SB 34 Repeals State Right-to-Work Laws for Private Sector Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
4/26 SB 185 Authorizes Graduate Student Research Assistants and Independent University Contractors to Unionize Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
6/08 SB 169 Requires Public Employers Provide Collective Bargaining Representatives with Employee Contact Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
6/08 SB 169 Requires Public Employers Provide Collective Bargaining Representatives with Employee Contact Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
5/22 SF 1384 Requires Safety Protections for Healthcare Workers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 26)
5/21 HF 2369 Increases Worker Protections Ride Sharing Companies Must Require Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32)
1/26 HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
2/17 SB 270 Prohibits Employer Retaliation Against an Employee's Legal Social Media Post Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/17 SB 270 Prohibits Employer Retaliation Against an Employee's Legal Social Media Post Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
4/17 SB 2142 Establishes a State Immigration Office to Help Companies Recruit and Retain Foreign Workers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
4/21 HB 1040 Prohibits New Hires from the State Pension Plan Beginning in 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)

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