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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 3, 2008 | MN | Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws | Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67) | |
May 28, 2008 | MI | Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18) | |
May 24, 2022 | NY | A 10190 | Increases the Amount of Certain Special Accidental Death Benefits | Bill Passed - House (141 - 7) |
Aug. 8, 2008 | NY | A 11258 | Mandatory Cigarette Taxation | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4) |
June 24, 2008 | NY | A 11258 | Mandatory Cigarette Taxation | Bill Passed - House (141 - 3) |
May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 1645 | Requiring Qualified Purchasing Agents | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | NY | A 1688 | Expanding Local Control Over Rent Laws | Bill Passed - House (94 - 49) |
June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
June 30, 2018 | NJ | A 4208 | Establishes a New Jersey Complete Count Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 21) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 25) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4249 | Increases the Use of Hospital Admission Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 4276 | Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 4276 | Authorizes Voters to Cure Their Ballot to Fix Problems that County Election Officials Identify | Bill Passed - House (51 - 27) |
Dec. 15, 2022 | NJ | A 4889 | Authorizes Residential Address Confidentiality for Local Officials | Bill Passed - House (67 - 11) |
March 25, 2021 | NJ | A 5373 | Authorizes County Board of Elections to Determine the Location of Certain Ballot Drop Boxes | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
March 25, 2021 | NJ | A 5373 | Authorizes County Board of Elections to Determine the Location of Certain Ballot Drop Boxes | Bill Passed - House (51 - 21) |
June 3, 2021 | NJ | A 5820 | Repeals the Public Health Emergency Declared by the Governor to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
June 3, 2021 | NJ | A 5820 | Repeals the Public Health Emergency Declared by the Governor to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - House (44 - 28) |
June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
June 3, 2009 | NY | A 8501 | Government Consolidation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16) |
June 1, 2009 | NY | A 8501 | Government Consolidation Bill | Bill Passed - House (118 - 26) |
Aug. 6, 2009 | NY | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8) |
June 17, 2009 | NY | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - House (129 - 18) |
April 30, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
April 28, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - House (104 - 25) |
June 19, 2014 | NY | A 9583A | Authorizes Demonstration Program for Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (91 - 37) |
March 7, 2013 | CA | AB 1-1 | Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program | Bill Passed - House (54 - 22) |
March 17, 2011 | CA | AB 109 | Criminal Justice Realignment | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
March 17, 2011 | CA | AB 109 | Criminal Justice Realignment | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
April 6, 2017 | WI | AB 109 | Authorizes Towns to Withdraw from County Zoning | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
May 19, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1248 | Requires Local Jurisdictions by 2030 Form Independent Redistricting Commissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 16) |
Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | AB 1248 | Requires Local Jurisdictions by 2030 Form Independent Redistricting Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
June 7, 2023 | WI | AB 141 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Clean Energy Devices | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
April 18, 2023 | WI | AB 141 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Clean Energy Devices | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
June 7, 2023 | WI | AB 142 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Motor Vehicles Based on Energy Sources | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
April 18, 2023 | WI | AB 142 | Prohibits Local Restrictions on Motor Vehicles Based on Energy Sources | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
April 9, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
March 6, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 153 | Amends State Election Recount Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
June 3, 2009 | CA | AB 155 | Local Government Bankruptcy Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 1578 | Prohibits State Law Enforcement from Cooperating with Federal Marijuana Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
May 28, 2014 | CA | AB 1609 | Establishes Requirements for Out of State Firearms Transfers | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 1633 | Requires Local Government Review of State Environmental Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1739 | Amends Groundwater Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 2) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 1991 | Development on Half Moon Bay | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
April 23, 2013 | NV | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
Jan. 15, 2008 | WI | AB 363 | Limiting the Scope of Citizen-Proposed Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (48 - 44) |
June 23, 2021 | WI | AB 374 | Establishes Guidelines for Potential Opioid Settlement Disbursement to State Counties | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
June 22, 2021 | WI | AB 374 | Establishes Guidelines for Potential Opioid Settlement Disbursement to State Counties | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
Aug. 29, 2011 | CA | AB 46 | Small City Disincorporation | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
March 11, 2008 | WI | AB 482 | Prohibiting Teacher Residency Requirements | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
Sept. 11, 2013 | CA | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 22) |
Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 484 | Amends State School Testing Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
May 31, 2009 | NV | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
May 29, 2009 | NV | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - House (33 - 9) |
Feb. 9, 2016 | WI | AB 582 | Amends Shoreline Zoning and Property Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 39) |
April 26, 2010 | CA | AB 711 | Authorizing Loan for East Los Angeles Incorporation Study | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
June 14, 2013 | CA | AB 76 | Specifies that Compliance with the California Public Records Act is Optional | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 25) |
June 14, 2013 | CA | AB 76 | Specifies that Compliance with the California Public Records Act is Optional | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Aug. 30, 2021 | CA | AB 816 | Requires State and Local Governments to Develop Plans to Reduce Homelessness | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
May 27, 2021 | CA | AB 816 | Requires State and Local Governments to Develop Plans to Reduce Homelessness | Bill Passed - House (55 - 15) |
May 14, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
May 8, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
Sept. 7, 2021 | CA | AB 970 | Reduces Obstacles to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure | Bill Passed - House (59 - 11) |
Sept. 2, 2021 | CA | AB 970 | Reduces Obstacles to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 25) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 31) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 30 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
March 22, 2012 | CA | AJR 22 | Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United | Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AJR 5 | Urges the Federal Government to Pass Universal Firearm Safety Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
March 18, 2019 | CA | AJR 5 | Urges the Federal Government to Pass Universal Firearm Safety Regulation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Feb. 14, 2008 | NE | AM 1736 | Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13) |
Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | Amdt 2002 to HB 31 | Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18) |
April 14, 2010 | LA | Amdt 2565 | Limiting the Number of Terms School Board Members May Serve | Amendment Rejected - House (30 - 65) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 17 | Elimination of Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 19 | Referendum on Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20) |
Feb. 15, 2008 | LA | Amnd. 423 to SB 1 | Persons Restricted from Doing Business with the State | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16) |
May 11, 2021 | WI | AR 18 | Requires the Governor Send Aid and Resources to the US-Mexico Border to Assist with Immigration Efforts | Resolution Passed - House (59 - 35) |
Oct. 18, 2012 | NJ | AR 86 | Opposes the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Versus Federal Elections Commission | Resolution Passed - House (49 - 23) |
April 9, 2021 | NH | CACR 9 | Prohibits Municipalities from Raising Property Taxes | "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (164 - 208) |
Feb. 16, 2011 | ID | H 117 | Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
May 5, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 49) |
May 3, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9) |
March 24, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
March 21, 2013 | ID | H 248 | Establishes Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 13, 2013 | ID | H 248 | Establishes Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (41 - 29) |
April 5, 2011 | ID | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
March 30, 2011 | ID | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
March 19, 2014 | SC | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
April 6, 2022 | SC | H 3126 | Prohibits Political Subdivisions from Accepting Federal Funds to Enforce Unlawful Mask Mandates | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12) |