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 14, 2016 | AK | HB 256 | 2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
June 6, 2016 | AK | SB 128 | Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
Feb. 25, 2016 | AL | SB 125 | 2016-2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
April 5, 2016 | AL | SB 287 | Appropriates Funds for New Prison Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
May 5, 2016 | AR | HB 1141 | Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
April 14, 2016 | AR | SB 121 | Appropriates Funds to Department of Human Services | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 10) |
June 15, 2016 | CA | SB 826 | Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 654 | Authorizes Paid Family Leave | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1234 | Authorizes Implementation of Retirement Savings Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Aug. 26, 2016 | CA | SB 839 | Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Aug. 25, 2016 | CA | AB 1889 | Appropriates Funds for High-Speed Rail Project | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
July 20, 2016 | HI | SB 2077 | Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
April 22, 2016 | IA | HF 2459 | Appropriates Funds and Establishes Equal Pay Task Force | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
April 19, 2016 | IA | SF 2323 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
May 30, 2016 | IL | SB 777 | Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
March 2, 2016 | IL | SB 2043 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
May 31, 2016 | IL | SB 2048 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (17 - 31) |
May 31, 2016 | IL | SB 2048 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (17 - 31) |
May 19, 2016 | IL | HB 4167 | Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15) |
March 17, 2016 | IL | SB 2059 | 2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
May 10, 2016 | IL | SB 231 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
May 1, 2016 | KS | SB 402 | Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
May 1, 2016 | KS | SB 249 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 2, 2016 | KY | SB 7 | Prohibits Appropriation of Local Funds for Certain Family Planning Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
April 7, 2016 | MA | S 2220 | Increases Spending Cap on Charter School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
April 8, 2016 | MD | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
June 8, 2016 | MI | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
May 5, 2016 | MN | HF 3467 | Appropriates Bond Proceeds to Public Works | Bill Failed - Senate (40 - 26) |
April 7, 2016 | MO | HB 2003 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
March 2, 2016 | MS | SB 2238 | Prohibits the Appropriation of Funds to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | National | HR 4038 | American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43) |
Sept. 28, 2016 | National | HR 5325 | Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act | Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |
June 3, 2016 | NC | HB 1030 | Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
March 31, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
Jan. 27, 2016 | OH | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
June 18, 2016 | RI | H 7454 | Establishes State Budget for 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
May 31, 2016 | SC | S 1258 | Amends Structure and Funding of Department of Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 10) |
March 9, 2016 | SC | H 3579 | Appropriates Funds for Highways | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
March 11, 2016 | SD | SB 172 | 2016-2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
April 21, 2016 | TN | HB 2248 | Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
March 8, 2016 | UT | HB 437 | Expands the Health Coverage Improvement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
Jan. 29, 2016 | UT | SB 39 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Adult Dental Services | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0) |
March 7, 2016 | UT | SB 246 | Authorizes Infrastructure Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
March 7, 2016 | VA | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 16, 2016 | WA | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
Feb. 26, 2016 | WA | SB 6246 | 2016-2017 Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
Jan. 20, 2016 | WI | AB 310 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
3/14 | HB 256 | 2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
6/06 | SB 128 | Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
2/25 | SB 125 | 2016-2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
4/05 | SB 287 | Appropriates Funds for New Prison Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
5/05 | HB 1141 | Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
4/14 | SB 121 | Appropriates Funds to Department of Human Services | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 10) |
6/15 | SB 826 | Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
8/31 | SB 654 | Authorizes Paid Family Leave | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
8/31 | SB 1234 | Authorizes Implementation of Retirement Savings Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
8/31 | SB 859 | Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
8/26 | SB 839 | Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
8/25 | AB 1889 | Appropriates Funds for High-Speed Rail Project | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
7/20 | SB 2077 | Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
4/22 | HF 2460 | Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
4/22 | HF 2459 | Appropriates Funds and Establishes Equal Pay Task Force | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
4/19 | SF 2323 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
5/30 | SB 777 | Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
3/02 | SB 2043 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Veto Override Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
5/31 | SB 2048 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (17 - 31) |
5/31 | SB 2048 | Appropriates Funds for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (17 - 31) |
5/19 | HB 4167 | Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15) |
3/17 | SB 2059 | 2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
5/10 | SB 231 | Appropriates Funds for Education | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
3/10 | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
5/01 | SB 402 | Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
5/01 | SB 249 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18) |
2/02 | SB 7 | Prohibits Appropriation of Local Funds for Certain Family Planning Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
4/07 | S 2220 | Increases Spending Cap on Charter School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
4/08 | HB 1013 | Establishes Transportation Project Scoring System | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
6/08 | HB 5384 | Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
5/05 | HF 3467 | Appropriates Bond Proceeds to Public Works | Bill Failed - Senate (40 - 26) |
4/07 | HB 2003 | Appropriates Funds to the Department of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
3/02 | SB 2238 | Prohibits the Appropriation of Funds to Planned Parenthood | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
1/20 | HR 4038 | American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43) |
9/28 | HR 5325 | Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act | Bill Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |
6/03 | HB 1030 | Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
3/31 | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
1/27 | HB 294 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Certain Abortion Services | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
6/18 | H 7454 | Establishes State Budget for 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
5/31 | S 1258 | Amends Structure and Funding of Department of Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 10) |
3/09 | H 3579 | Appropriates Funds for Highways | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
3/11 | SB 172 | 2016-2017 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
4/21 | HB 2248 | Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
3/08 | HB 437 | Expands the Health Coverage Improvement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
1/29 | SB 39 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Adult Dental Services | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0) |
3/07 | SB 246 | Authorizes Infrastructure Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
3/07 | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
2/16 | SB 6195 | Amends Education Funding System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
2/26 | SB 6246 | 2016-2017 Supplemental Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
1/20 | AB 310 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Distributing Certain Funds to Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |