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 26, 2015 | NJ | A 4103 | Establishes Workforce Training Program for Former Casino Workers | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
April 29, 2015 | NY | A 4958 | Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct | Bill Passed - House (111 - 26) |
May 4, 2015 | NY | A 7257 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (97 - 43) |
April 7, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
April 1, 2015 | NV | AB 165 | Establishes the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (25 - 17) |
May 13, 2015 | WI | AB 177 | Limits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Purchases | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
May 13, 2015 | WI | AB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
May 13, 2015 | WI | AB 192 | Requires Drug Tests for Certain Individuals | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
Sept. 11, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
Sept. 10, 2015 | CA | AB 329 | Requires Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
April 21, 2015 | NV | AB 375 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Bill Failed - House (20 - 22) |
June 1, 2015 | CA | AB 718 | Authorizes Sleeping in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
May 18, 2015 | ID | H 1 | Amends Foreign Child Support Order | Bill Passed - House (49 - 21) |
June 11, 2015 | RI | H 5074 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
June 2, 2015 | RI | H 5074 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (59 - 13) |
June 25, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
June 23, 2015 | RI | H 5364 | Increases Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
April 16, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 40) |
April 15, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | IN | HB 1019 | Repeals Common Construction Wage | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
April 27, 2015 | ND | HB 1033 | Prohibits Legacy Fund Calculation in State Budget Drafts | Veto Override Passed - House (67 - 23) |
June 16, 2015 | DE | HB 115 | Authorizes Individuals to Change Name Based on Gender-Related Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5) |
Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Veto Override Failed - House (96 - 63) |
May 13, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 66) |
May 12, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Enrollment In Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | MO | HB 116 | Prohibits Mandatory Payment of Fees to Labor Organizations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 64) |
April 15, 2015 | CO | HB 1165 | Requires Approval to Use Native American School Mascots | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
March 10, 2015 | CO | HB 1175 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
April 6, 2015 | ND | HB 1181 | Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
April 6, 2015 | ND | HB 1181 | Requires Special Election to Fill Vacant Senate Seat | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | SD | HB 1195 | Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
April 2, 2015 | CO | HB 1265 | Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
March 3, 2015 | WA | HB 1355 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
March 25, 2015 | AR | HB 1426 | Establishes Paid Maternity Leave for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (56 - 28) |
March 12, 2015 | AR | HB 1489 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
May 12, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - House (109 - 53) |
April 21, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 68) |
April 15, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
Feb. 4, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (112 - 47) |
Feb. 27, 2015 | VA | HB 1570 | Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26) |
March 26, 2015 | OK | HB 1749 | Prohibits Payroll Deductions for Public Employee Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 16) |
March 11, 2015 | MO | HB 187 | Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (111 - 41) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | KY | HB 2 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
Feb. 20, 2015 | MT | HB 200 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
May 19, 2015 | IL | HB 217 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (68 - 43) |
April 2, 2015 | KS | HB 2258 | Amends Social Service Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
May 7, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
March 17, 2015 | OR | HB 2307 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
March 10, 2015 | AZ | HB 2368 | Prohibits Use of State Funds to Enforce Executive Orders not Authorized by Congress | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
Sept. 29, 2015 | NC | HB 318 | Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 43) |
Sept. 28, 2015 | NC | HB 318 | Prohibits Local Governments from Recognizing Identity Documents issued by Foreign Governments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | NM | HB 32 | Limits Driver's Licenses for Foreign Nationals | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
May 5, 2015 | HI | HB 631 | Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
May 5, 2015 | HI | HB 631 | Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
March 10, 2015 | HI | HB 631 | Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 10) |
March 11, 2015 | NH | HB 658 | Prohibits Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (149 - 146) |
May 29, 2015 | CT | HB 6844 | Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
May 19, 2015 | CT | HB 6844 | Amends Eligibility Requirements for In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - House (78 - 70) |
April 14, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
April 14, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
March 11, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 50) |
March 11, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 50) |
April 9, 2015 | FL | HB 7111 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (75 - 38) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | NM | HB 75 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - House (37 - 30) |
April 21, 2015 | PA | HB 874 | Repeals Exemptions for Harassment during Labor Disputes | Bill Passed - House (109 - 84) |
April 24, 2015 | FL | HB 943 | Amends Alimony Law | Bill Passed - House (93 - 22) |
March 23, 2015 | MN | HF 1027 | Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
March 20, 2015 | ID | HJM 4 | Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (44 - 25) |
March 20, 2015 | ID | HJM 4 | Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (44 - 25) |
Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - House (270 - 156) |
May 15, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Bill Passed - House (269 - 151) |
July 29, 2015 | National | HR 1994 | VA Accountability Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 170) |
Jan. 14, 2015 | National | HR 240 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (236 - 191) |
July 23, 2015 | National | HR 3009 | Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act | Bill Passed - House (241 - 179) |
July 28, 2015 | National | HR 427 | Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 165) |
July 28, 2015 | National | HR 427 | Regulations for the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 165) |
Nov. 17, 2015 | National | HR 511 | Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (249 - 177) |
Nov. 17, 2015 | National | HR 511 | Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (249 - 177) |
Oct. 8, 2015 | National | HR 538 | Native American Energy Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 173) |
Sept. 10, 2015 | National | H Res 411 | Finding that the President Has Not Complied with Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 186) |
April 23, 2015 | National | PN 4 | Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | NJ | S 866 | Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
May 20, 2015 | CT | SB 1090 | Expands Tribal Gaming Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | IL | SB 11 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
March 5, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - House (23 - 19) |
Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
March 5, 2015 | AZ | SB 1222 | Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
Sept. 2, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 34) |
Aug. 19, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
May 30, 2015 | IL | SB 1229 | Establishes Arbitration Procedure For Labor Disputes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
March 5, 2015 | GA | SB 129 | Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
April 1, 2015 | AZ | SB 1332 | Expands Empowerment Scholarship to Include Native Americans | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | UT | SB 164 | Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |