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
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (342 - 85)
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)
Sept. 27, 2016 National HR 954 CO-OP Consumer Protection Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (258 - 165)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA AB 1889 Appropriates Funds for High-Speed Rail Project Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
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. 31, 2016 CA SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA SB 859 Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels Bill Passed - House (51 - 20)
Aug. 26, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Aug. 25, 2016 CA SB 1234 Requires Eligible Employers to Provide Retirement Savings Funds to Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
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 - House (43 - 3)
July 20, 2016 HI SB 2077 Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
June 23, 2016 National HR 2577 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 171)
June 18, 2016 RI H 7454 Establishes State Budget for 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
June 16, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
June 16, 2016 NC HB 1047 Requires Lottery Commission to Report Winner Information to Social Services Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
June 15, 2016 CA SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
June 15, 2016 CA SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
June 15, 2016 RI H 7454 Establishes State Budget for 2017 Bill Passed - House (59 - 13)
June 9, 2016 MI HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54)
June 8, 2016 MI HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18)
June 6, 2016 AK SB 128 Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
June 3, 2016 NC HB 1030 Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
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 31, 2016 SC S 1258 Amends Structure and Funding of Department of Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 10)
May 30, 2016 IL SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 43)
May 30, 2016 IL SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
May 26, 2016 IL SB 2048 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (60 - 53)
May 19, 2016 IL HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
May 17, 2016 IL HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - House (68 - 45)
May 10, 2016 IL SB 231 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
May 5, 2016 MN HF 3467 Appropriates Bond Proceeds to Public Works Bill Failed - Senate (40 - 26)
May 5, 2016 AR HB 1141 Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
May 4, 2016 LA HB 1148 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities from Receiving Certain State Funds Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
May 1, 2016 KS SB 402 Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
May 1, 2016 KS SB 402 Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 43)
May 1, 2016 KS SB 249 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18)
May 1, 2016 KS SB 249 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 59)
April 28, 2016 AL SB 287 Appropriates Funds for New Prison Facilities Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
April 27, 2016 MN HF 3931 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2017 Bill Passed - House (72 - 54)
April 25, 2016 MN HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
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 21, 2016 TN HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
April 21, 2016 TN HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 21)
April 20, 2016 IA HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
April 19, 2016 IA SF 2323 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 19, 2016 IA HF 2459 Appropriates Funds and Establishes Equal Pay Task Force Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/28 HR 5325 Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (342 - 85)
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)
9/27 HR 954 CO-OP Consumer Protection Act of 2016 Bill Passed - House (258 - 165)
8/31 AB 1889 Appropriates Funds for High-Speed Rail Project Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
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)
8/31 SB 654 Authorizes Paid Family Leave Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/31 SB 859 Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels Bill Passed - House (51 - 20)
8/26 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
8/25 SB 1234 Requires Eligible Employers to Provide Retirement Savings Funds to Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
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 - House (43 - 3)
7/20 SB 2077 Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
6/23 HR 2577 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 Conference Report Adopted - House (239 - 171)
6/18 H 7454 Establishes State Budget for 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
6/16 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Bill Passed - House (48 - 28)
6/16 HB 1047 Requires Lottery Commission to Report Winner Information to Social Services Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
6/15 SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
6/15 SB 826 Approves Spending Plan for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27)
6/15 H 7454 Establishes State Budget for 2017 Bill Passed - House (59 - 13)
6/09 HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 54)
6/08 HB 5384 Appropriates Funds for New Detroit School District Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18)
6/06 SB 128 Amends Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Policy Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
6/03 HB 1030 Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
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)
5/31 S 1258 Amends Structure and Funding of Department of Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 10)
5/30 SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 43)
5/30 SB 777 Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
5/26 SB 2048 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - House (60 - 53)
5/19 HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
5/17 HB 4167 Appropriates Funds for Monetary Award Program Grants Bill Passed - House (68 - 45)
5/10 SB 231 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
5/05 HF 3467 Appropriates Bond Proceeds to Public Works Bill Failed - Senate (40 - 26)
5/05 HB 1141 Establishes State Budget for 2016-2017 Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
5/04 HB 1148 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities from Receiving Certain State Funds Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
5/01 SB 402 Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
5/01 SB 402 Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 43)
5/01 SB 249 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18)
5/01 SB 249 Establishes Budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 59)
4/28 SB 287 Appropriates Funds for New Prison Facilities Bill Passed - House (52 - 33)
4/27 HF 3931 Appropriates Funds for Fiscal Year 2017 Bill Passed - House (72 - 54)
4/25 HF 2749 Appropriates Funds for Education Bill Passed - House (84 - 46)
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)
4/21 HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
4/21 HB 2248 Rescinds Funding for the University of Tennessee's Diversity Office Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 21)
4/20 HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
4/19 SF 2323 Appropriates Funds for Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/19 HF 2459 Appropriates Funds and Establishes Equal Pay Task Force Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)

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