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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 15, 2020 | SC | H 5305 | Authorizes Absentee Voting Due to the Declared State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 1) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 16) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | S 635 | Expands Access to Absentee Voting | Conference Report Adopted - House (108 - 0) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | HB 205 | Appropriate Funds to Various Government Agencies, Including for COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - House (23 - 13) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | SB 241 | Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1) |
March 26, 2020 | KY | SB 150 | Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0) |
June 1, 2020 | LA | HB 826 | Establishes Legal Immunity for COVID-19 Claims to Businesses and Government Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
April 15, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
March 27, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
March 12, 2020 | WA | SB 6168 | Establishes the 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
March 12, 2020 | GA | HB 792 | Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1) |
Dec. 11, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (84 - 13) |
March 19, 2020 | FL | H 5001 | Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0) |
May 15, 2020 | MO | SB 631 | Authorizes Mail-In Voting During COVID-19 Pandemic | Conference Report Adopted - House (121 - 24) |
May 21, 2020 | KS | HB 2054 | Limits Governor Powers During an Emergency and Increases Legislative Oversight | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3411 | Establishes Allocations of Federal COVID-19 Appropriations to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | MI | SB 604 | Extends Unemployment Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 4) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53) |
April 14, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
Sept. 23, 2020 | MI | HB 5396 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 Fiscal Year Budget | Bill Passed - House (101 - 4) |
March 25, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2011 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Social Services | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 44) |
May 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2007 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Economic Development, Commerce & Insurance and Labor & Industrial Relations | Conference Report Adopted - House (128 - 21) |
Dec. 8, 2020 | National | HR 6395 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Conference Report Adopted - House (335 - 78) |
May 21, 2020 | KS | HB 2054 | Limits Governor Powers During an Emergency and Increases Legislative Oversight | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 34) |
July 1, 2020 | MS | SB 3049 | Establishes the "Mississippi Back-to-Business Liability Assurance and Health Care Emergency Response Liability Protection Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
Aug. 17, 2020 | MI | HB 5913 | Requires School Districts to Administer Math and Reading Exams During E-Learning | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 33) |
April 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2014 | Establishes a Supplemental Budget to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (147 - 4) |
May 21, 2020 | HI | SB 75 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
May 28, 2020 | NC | HB 536 | Authorizes the Reopening of Bars and Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 53) |
March 17, 2020 | KS | SB 102 | Expands Flexibility in Courts | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 3088 | Establishes the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 8) |
March 15, 2020 | MD | HB 932 | Requires the Distribution of Sales and Use Tax Revenue from Certain Digital Products to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 45) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1166 | Extends Emergency Benefit Enhancements Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (178 - 154) |
July 23, 2020 | MI | SB 899 | Extends Certain Immunities and Liabilities to Healthcare Providers and Facilities | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1663 | Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3) |
Oct. 20, 2020 | LA | HB 26 | Establishes Sales Tax Holiday to Provide Relief for Recovery | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 0) |
May 24, 2020 | IL | SB 264 | Establishes 2020-2021 State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
Sept. 23, 2020 | PA | HB 2513 | Authorizes Restaurants and Bars to Open at 50 Percent Capacity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (145 - 56) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1639 | Establishes the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund, Among Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (201 - 121) |
May 18, 2020 | AL | SB 161 | Appropriates CARES Act Funds to the State Government for the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | HB 20B-1005 | Authorizes Local Authorities to Impose Food Delivery Fee Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 19) |
June 29, 2020 | CA | SB 98 | Establishes Distance Education Guidance and Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
July 1, 2020 | NH | HB 1672 | Authorizes Voting by Mail in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (195 - 130) |
May 14, 2020 | NJ | S 2332 | Establishes the 2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | SB 20B-001 | Appropriates $57 Million in Direct Aid, Grants, and Annual Fee Waivers to Small Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
April 23, 2020 | National | HR 266 | Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | HB 20B-1002 | Appropriates $45 Million in Funds for Grants Programs to Assist Childcare Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | HB 2682 | Authorizes the Sale of To-Go Cocktails | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 6) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1350 | Appropriates Funds for the 2021 General Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 89 | Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 25, 2020 | OH | HB 197 | Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0) |
March 30, 2020 | SD | HB 1295 | Amends the List of Contagious Diseases to Include COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 12) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 92) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 117 | Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
May 17, 2020 | MN | HF 4415 | Expands Aid for COVID-19 Related School Closures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 55) |
July 1, 2020 | NH | HB 1246 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (194 - 132) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 2135 | Establishes the "Government Emergency Administration Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
March 17, 2020 | MI | HB 4729 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0) |
May 31, 2020 | LA | SB 508 | Limits Liability of Restaurants During the COVID-19 Epidemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
May 2, 2020 | NC | HB 1043 | Appropriates Funds from the CARES Act for COVID-19 Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (120 - 0) |
April 30, 2020 | MI | SB 858 | Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 1867 | Requires Employers with 500 Employees to Provide 2 Weeks of Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Full Time Workers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 15) |
March 25, 2020 | AK | HB 234 | Appropriates Supplemental Funds for COVID-19 Relief Efforts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (27 - 11) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | MI | HB 6030 | Establishes a Minimum Threshold for COVID-19 Business Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 15) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 685 | Requires Employers to Report COVID-19 Infections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 17) |
May 15, 2020 | MO | HB 1682 | Authorizes Free COVID-19 Testing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (127 - 21) |
Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 1737 | Establishes Liability Protection to Healthcare Practitioners and Manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 98) |
June 10, 2020 | IA | SF 2338 | Establishes Legal Protection to Businesses and Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
Oct. 1, 2020 | National | HR 925 | The Heroes Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207) |
July 8, 2020 | NC | SB 232 | Repeals Anti-Mask Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 4) |
June 13, 2020 | IA | SF 2310 | Establishes Educational Instructional Requirements for Online Learning | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (327 - 85) |
Dec. 18, 2020 | MI | SB 748 | Extends Unemployment Benefits Through March | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
March 17, 2020 | SC | H 4014 | Appropriates Funds for the COVID-19 Public Health Response | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 1246 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 1166 | Extends Emergency Benefit Enhancements Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 26, 2020 | NC | SB 681 | Requires Credit in the Arts in Order to Graduate | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 21) |
July 2, 2020 | MA | H 4820 | Expands Voting Options in Response to COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 0) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 2380 | Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | SB 20B-001 | Appropriates $57 Million in Direct Aid, Grants, and Annual Fee Waivers to Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (46 - 17) |
July 16, 2020 | NJ | A 4175 | Establishes the "New Jersey COVID-19 Emergency Bond Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
June 5, 2020 | IA | SF 2338 | Establishes Legal Protection to Businesses and Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
June 9, 2020 | PA | HR 836 | Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
May 13, 2020 | PA | HB 2388 | Establishes Exemption Waivers for Business Closures Due to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | SB 20B-002 | Authorizes Housing and Direct COVID Emergency Assistance | Bill Passed - House (48 - 16) |
April 29, 2020 | PA | HB 327 | Amends the State Liquor Code | Bill Passed - House (193 - 9) |
May 14, 2020 | MO | HB 1682 | Authorizes Free COVID-19 Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
June 16, 2020 | NH | HB 1672 | Authorizes Voting by Mail in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 26, 2020 | VT | H 965 | Appropriates Funds to Health Care and Human Services Programs from Coronavirus Relief Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
Aug. 15, 2020 | MI | HB 5913 | Requires School Districts to Administer Math and Reading Exams During E-Learning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
Sept. 2, 2020 | NC | HB 1105 | Appropriates COVID Relief Checks to Parents | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 2380 | Requires Employer to Offer Benefits to Essential Workers Unable to Work | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
June 11, 2020 | NC | HB 1169 | Establishes Expedited Vote-By-Mail System in the 2020 General Election | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | NJ | S 2519 | Authorizes Public Health Emergency Credits for Certain Inmates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
Sept. 22, 2020 | PA | HB 2513 | Authorizes Restaurants and Bars to Open at 50 Percent Capacity | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6) |