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 20, 2007 | IL | S. Amdt. 3: Electric Rates Freeze | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 24) | |
April 2, 2009 | MN | Ending Prohibition on New Nuclear Power Plants | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 24) | |
April 2, 2009 | MN | Ending Prohibition on New Nuclear Power Plants | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 24) | |
Feb. 27, 2007 | WY | 1SHB 213 | Grey Wolf Population Control | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3) |
May 25, 2022 | NY | A 10001 | Authorizes a Study on the Impact of the Urban Heat Effect on Disadvantaged Communities | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 1) |
May 28, 2010 | NY | A 11308 | Emergency State Parks Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 27) |
June 16, 2022 | NJ | A 1282 | Establishes Electric School Bus Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
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) |
June 3, 2021 | NJ | A 3352 | Requires Solar Panels on All New Warehouses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
June 3, 2021 | NJ | A 3352 | Requires Solar Panels on All New Warehouses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
June 3, 2021 | NJ | A 3352 | Requires Solar Panels on All New Warehouses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 3367 | Requires Installment of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Common Interest Communities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 3367 | Requires Installment of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Common Interest Communities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3372 | Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3723 | Amends Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
June 27, 2019 | NJ | A 3726 | Requires Food Waste Recycling Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
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) |
June 30, 2021 | NJ | A 4554 | Establishes a Renewable Solar Energy Certificate Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
June 30, 2021 | NJ | A 4554 | Establishes a Renewable Solar Energy Certificate Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4707 | Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4714 | Fur Clothing Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 5121 | Exempts Certain Manufacturing Facilities from Certain Energy Related Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
June 9, 2021 | NY | A 6193 | Requires Utilities to Allow Customers to Use Their Preferred Name and Pronouns | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 17) |
June 2, 2022 | NY | A 7389 | Establishes Restrictions on Cryptocurrency Industry | Bill Passed - Senate |
May 5, 2022 | NY | A 9279 | Establishes a Carpet Collection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 15) |
June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 1066 | Requires Overtime Pay for Farmworkers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1162 | Prohibits Single-Use Plastics for Personal Care Products at Lodging Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1167 | Prohibits Oil Well Owners from Transferring Ownership to Another Unless They File for a Bond | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | AB 1183 | Establishes the California Desert Conservation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1279 | Establishes California Climate Crisis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1279 | Establishes California Climate Crisis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Nov. 14, 2023 | WI | AB 133 | Amends Farmland Preservation Rules | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 1346 | Prohibits Exhaust, Emissions From Certain Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
Sept. 14, 2023 | CA | AB 1373 | Appropriates Funding for Various State Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 14, 2023 | CA | AB 1373 | Appropriates Funding for Various State Clean Energy Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
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. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 1403 | Authorizes Planned Power Outages During State of Emergencies | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
June 7, 2023 | WI | AB 141 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Clean Energy Devices | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
June 7, 2023 | WI | AB 142 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Motor Vehicles Based on Energy Sources | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | AB 1445 | Requires Governments Factor Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise when Determining Future Municipal Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 1478 | Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1633 | Requires Local Government Review of State Environmental Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
May 10, 2018 | CA | AB 1668 | Requires Water-Use Targets | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Aug. 21, 2014 | CA | AB 1699 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 14) |
Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1757 | Specifies Strategy Regarding Climate Change and Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Aug. 31, 2022 | CA | AB 1757 | Specifies Strategy Regarding Climate Change and Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
June 3, 2023 | NV | AB 184 | Establishes an Incentive Program for the Purchase of Certain Zero-emission Medium-duty and Heavy-duty Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 2) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 1946 | Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Aug. 22, 2016 | CA | AB 197 | Establishes the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 205 | Establishes New Energy Relief and Environmental Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 205 | Establishes New Energy Relief and Environmental Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Aug. 29, 2022 | CA | AB 2183 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Unionize by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2270 | Water Softener Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
Aug. 22, 2008 | CA | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
July 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2949 | Retrieving Abandoned Pets | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
Aug. 22, 2008 | CA | AB 3025 | Polystyrene Packaging Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 376 | Prohibiting the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 398 | Extends California's Cap-and-Trade Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
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. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 499 | Authorizes Sulfide Mining | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Aug. 26, 2021 | CA | AB 616 | Authorizes "Card Check" for Farm Workers Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
July 17, 2017 | CA | AB 617 | Establishes Air-Quality Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
Sept. 9, 2013 | CA | AB 711 | Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 792 | Increases Recycled Plastics Percentages Used in Plastic Beverage Bottles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 826 | Establishes a Disaster Food Assistance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Sept. 4, 2015 | CA | AB 888 | Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 936 | Amends Environmental Protections Relating to Heavy Crude Oils | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Sept. 2, 2015 | CA | AB 96 | Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | ACR 161 | Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Aug. 2, 2020 | NV | AJR 1 | Increases Tax on Mining Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
Aug. 2, 2020 | NV | AJR 2 | Amends the State Constitution to Increase Taxes on Mining Proceeeds | Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
March 5, 2018 | CA | AJR 29 | Expresses Opposition to Executive Offshore Drilling Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
April 1, 2008 | NE | AM 2319 to LB 1174 | Farm and Ranch Ownership Requirements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 27) |
Jan. 25, 2012 | NH | Amdt 367s | Restricting Eminent Domain Petitions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
April 3, 2008 | MD | Amnd. 663027/2 | Power Plant Regulation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
March 28, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 265 | Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |