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 28, 2018 | AL | HB 317 | Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
Jan. 23, 2018 | AL | HB 17 | Repeals Special Elections | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
April 19, 2018 | AZ | HB 2563 | Establishes Free Speech Policy for College Campuses | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
Feb. 8, 2018 | AZ | HB 2208 | Prohibits Photo Speed and Red Light Enforcement Cameras | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
Feb. 13, 2018 | AZ | HB 2153 | Prohibits Localities from Requiring Campaign Donation Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
Feb. 13, 2018 | AZ | HB 2153 | Prohibits Localities from Requiring Campaign Donation Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (33 - 25) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 2) |
July 2, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 14) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | AB 1838 | Prohibits Local Grocery Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
Aug. 6, 2018 | CA | SB 892 | Authorizes the Official Recognition of the Lunar New Year | Bill Passed - House (75 - 0) |
June 21, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (53 - 23) |
April 5, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
April 5, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1322 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
April 10, 2018 | CO | SB 18-043 | Specifies Rules of Nominee Rejections | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
March 29, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1322 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (42 - 22) |
April 27, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1403 | Expands Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
Feb. 2, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1033 | Expands Employee Leave | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
May 5, 2018 | CT | HB 5421 | Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
April 26, 2018 | CT | HB 5421 | Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - House (77 - 73) |
Jan. 12, 2018 | FL | HB 13 | Prohibits Sport Franchises from Building on Publicly Owned Land | Bill Passed - House (75 - 27) |
Jan. 12, 2018 | FL | HB 9 | Prohibits Local Sanctuary Policies | Bill Passed - House (71 - 35) |
Feb. 14, 2018 | FL | HB 1013 | Authorizes Daylight Saving Time Year-Round | Bill Passed - House (103 - 11) |
Feb. 20, 2018 | ID | H 419 | Prohibits Courts from Ruling Based on Foreign Law | Bill Passed - House (44 - 24) |
May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3109 | Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law | Bill Passed - House (61 - 49) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SJRCA 4 | Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 2213 | Requires State Agencies to Adhere to Federal Regulations as of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 2213 | Requires State Agencies to Adhere to Federal Regulations as of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
Feb. 22, 2018 | IN | SB 1 | Authorizes Sunday Alcohol Sales | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
Feb. 20, 2018 | IN | SB 1 | Authorizes Sunday Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (82 - 10) |
May 2, 2018 | KS | HB 2539 | Amends Gubernatorial Qualifications | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 52) |
May 17, 2018 | LA | HB 265 | Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 42) |
May 16, 2018 | LA | HB 265 | Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
May 17, 2018 | LA | SB 31 | Prohibits Convicted Felons From Obtaining Public Office | Bill Passed - House (70 - 24) |
May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
June 7, 2018 | MA | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 30, 2018 | MA | H 4834 | Establishes Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
July 18, 2018 | MA | H 4546 | Authorizes Creation of Community Benefit Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
July 31, 2018 | MA | H 4857 | Increases State Clean Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
April 7, 2018 | MD | HB 993 | Requires Risk Management in the Investment of System Assets | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 44) |
March 28, 2018 | MD | HB 829 | Establishes No-Excuse Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
March 21, 2018 | MD | SB 646 | Establishes a Maryland Estate Tax | Bill Passed - House (90 - 49) |
March 28, 2018 | MD | SB 1048 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
March 5, 2018 | MD | SB 256 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
March 16, 2018 | MD | SB 1048 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
March 8, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
Feb. 12, 2018 | MD | SB 138 | Requires Governor to Include Maryland as a Member of US Climate Alliance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
March 8, 2018 | MD | HB 109 | Establishes a Community Development Program Act | Bill Passed - House (88 - 48) |
July 9, 2018 | ME | LD 1912 | Prohibit Campaign Fundraising at Voting Place | Bill Passed - House (81 - 48) |
June 20, 2018 | ME | LD 1584 | Expands Local Food Economy by Promoting Local Foods Procurement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
June 26, 2018 | ME | LD 1869 | Establishes Total Cost of Education and State and Local Contributions to Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
March 1, 2018 | ME | LD 1653 | Amends Retirement Benefits for Capitol Police Officers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 57) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
March 1, 2018 | MI | HB 4321 | Appropriates Funds for Road Repairs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (109 - 0) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6553 | Authorizes Legislative Intervention in Individual Constitutionality Claims and Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6553 | Authorizes Legislative Intervention in Individual Constitutionality Claims and Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 47) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 4991 | Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 51) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Oct. 2, 2018 | MI | HB 4668 | Prohibits Marijuana Infused Beer | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 4) |
May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
May 29, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
Dec. 18, 2018 | MI | SB 1176 | Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1239 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Dec. 21, 2018 | MI | HB 6595 | Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1239 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (60 - 48) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | HB 4991 | Appropriates $1.3 Billion to Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Feb. 22, 2018 | MI | HB 4053 | Establishes English as Official Language | Bill Passed - House (62 - 46) |
March 15, 2018 | MI | HB 5669 | Authorizes Additional Forms of Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
Sept. 26, 2018 | MI | HB 5548 | Establishes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (107 - 0) |
Oct. 4, 2018 | MI | HB 6064 | Authorizes Taxpayer Subsidies for the Rural Development Fund | Bill Passed - House (81 - 25) |
Oct. 4, 2018 | MI | HB 6064 | Authorizes Taxpayer Subsidies for the Rural Development Fund | Bill Passed - House (81 - 25) |
Nov. 8, 2018 | MI | SB 1022 | Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Nov. 29, 2018 | MI | SB 1176 | Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
April 12, 2018 | MI | SB 741 | Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Dec. 12, 2018 | MI | HB 6595 | Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (60 - 49) |
May 14, 2018 | MN | HF 2802 | Requires Municipalities That Contract Public Treatment Works to Comply with New State Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 26) |
May 8, 2018 | MO | SB 743 | Amends Open Records Laws | Bill Passed - House (85 - 59) |
May 11, 2018 | MO | HJR 100 | Prohibits Counting Non-Citizens for Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 34) |
May 14, 2018 | MO | HJR 79 | Amends Constitution to Include Right-to-Work Provision | Bill Passed - House (93 - 54) |
April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
April 11, 2018 | MO | SJR 27 | Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
May 11, 2018 | MO | HJR 100 | Prohibits Counting Non-Citizens for Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 34) |
Feb. 28, 2018 | MS | SB 2295 | Transfer Exclusive Jurisdiction of Utility Matters to Public Service Commission | Bill Passed - House (90 - 26) |
Feb. 8, 2018 | MS | HB 1238 | Prohibits Certain Consumer Protection Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (58 - 54) |
Jan. 31, 2018 | MS | SB 2570 | Prohibits Government Bans on Storage Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (240 - 186) |
Feb. 9, 2018 | National | HR 1892 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (71 - 28) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
July 18, 2018 | National | PN 1645 | Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit | (50 - 49) |
July 11, 2018 | National | PN 1402 | Nomination of Brian Allen Benczkowski to be Assistant Attorney General | (51 - 48) |
Oct. 6, 2018 | National | PN 2259 | Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States | (50 - 48) |
Dec. 11, 2018 | National | PN 2117 | Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court | (51 - 50) |