Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2006 | PA | HB 2499 | 2006-2007 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (130 - 68) |
| June 10, 2020 | PA | HB 2502 | Requires Department of State to Publish Presidential Primary Report | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| Sept. 23, 2020 | PA | HB 2513 | Authorizes Restaurants and Bars to Open at 50 Percent Capacity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (145 - 56) |
| Sept. 22, 2020 | PA | HB 2513 | Authorizes Restaurants and Bars to Open at 50 Percent Capacity | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6) |
| June 14, 2022 | PA | HB 2524 | Limits Incarcerated Individuals' Ability to Request Public Records to Only Information About Themselves | Bill Passed - House (112 - 88) |
| April 26, 2022 | PA | HB 2525 | Amends Criminal Codes Related to Victim Requests for Criminal History Dissemination | Bill Passed - House (160 - 43) |
| Sept. 15, 2020 | PA | HB 2530 | Prohibits Governor from Disallowing Gatherings at Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (149 - 53) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 92) |
| Nov. 20, 2020 | PA | HB 2536 | Appropriates funds for the Emergency COVID-19 Response | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 72) |
| June 29, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| July 14, 2020 | PA | HB 2541 | Authorizes County Commissioners to Reopen Counties | Bill Passed - House (114 - 87) |
| June 13, 2023 | PA | HB 255 | Authorizes Penalties to be Imposed for "Blighted" Properties | Bill Passed - House (124 - 79) |
| July 7, 2020 | PA | HB 256 | Amends State Law to make Assaulting a Correctional Officer a Felony | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (173 - 28) |
| April 5, 2006 | PA | HB 257 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (146 - 50) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| July 2, 2010 | PA | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| Feb. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 262 | New Gaming Unit in the Office of Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2626 | Amends the Deadline for Mail-In Voting From 7 to 15 Days Before an Election | Bill Passed - House (112 - 90) |
| Oct. 25, 2022 | PA | HB 2633 | Amends Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Language in Previous State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| July 14, 2009 | PA | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| Oct. 4, 2023 | PA | HB 27 | Appropriates Funding for State K-12 Public Education System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 97) |
| May 24, 2017 | PA | HB 271 | Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| April 4, 2017 | PA | HB 271 | Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations | Bill Passed - House (142 - 56) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (155 - 47) |
| Sept. 2, 2020 | PA | HB 2788 | Authorizes Students to Repeat a Grade Level Due to COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (197 - 5) |
| May 4, 2021 | PA | HB 288 | Authorizes an Agency's Regulatory Compliance Officer to Create Guidelines for Waiving Fines or Penalties | Bill Passed - House (106 - 95) |
| July 10, 2007 | PA | HB 289 | Presidential Primary Date Change | Bill Passed - House (117 - 85) |
| May 2, 2023 | PA | HB 299 | Extends OSHA Protections for Public Workers in the State | Bill Passed - House (116 - 85) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | HB 3 | Authorizes Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 79) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| Dec. 13, 2023 | PA | HB 301 | Appropriates Millions for Various State Education Funding Costs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (175 - 28) |
| Nov. 20, 2019 | PA | HB 321 | Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| May 14, 2019 | PA | HB 321 | Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome | Bill Passed - House (117 - 76) |
| April 29, 2020 | PA | HB 327 | Amends the State Liquor Code | Bill Passed - House (193 - 9) |
| June 26, 2019 | PA | HB 33 | Repeals a General Assistance Program for Adults with Disabilities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| June 19, 2019 | PA | HB 33 | Repeals a General Assistance Program for Adults with Disabilities | Bill Passed - House (106 - 95) |
| April 5, 2021 | PA | HB 335 | Establishes the Permanent Status of Daylight Savings Time | Bill Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| June 25, 2021 | PA | HB 336 | Amends and Removes Provisions of Existing Laws Relating to Banking and Securities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 89) |
| June 25, 2021 | PA | HB 336 | Amends and Removes Provisions of Existing Laws Relating to Banking and Securities | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| May 2, 2006 | PA | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
| June 14, 2006 | PA | HB 39 | Property Taxes (Special Session) | Conference Report Adopted - House (137 - 61) |
| Oct. 5, 2010 | PA | HB 40 | Self Defense Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (159 - 38) |
| May 25, 2021 | PA | HB 406 | Establishes Work Search Requirements to Receive Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - House (130 - 71) |
| Nov. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 439 | Hiring Undocumented Workers | Bill Passed - House (122 - 74) |
| Oct. 21, 2020 | PA | HB 440 | Repeals Obligation to Pay Outstanding Court-Ordered Finances Before Eligible Cases Are Sealed | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| May 6, 2013 | PA | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| Oct. 2, 2017 | PA | HB 45 | Authorizes Terminally Ill Patients to Use Experimental Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Sept. 13, 2017 | PA | HB 453 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 91) |
| July 27, 2017 | PA | HB 453 | Establishes Budget for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 456 | Establishes Regulations for Tattoo Industry | Bill Passed - House (173 - 17) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | PA | HB 466 | Authorizes Private Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (114 - 87) |
| June 29, 2023 | PA | HB 479 | Establishes Taxpayer-Funded Private School Tuition Vouchers for Children in Low-Performing School Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| April 26, 2023 | PA | HB 494 | Establishes Safety Standards for Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Childcare Centers | Bill Passed - House (158 - 43) |
| March 4, 2015 | PA | HB 530 | Amends Charter School Laws | Bill Passed - House (118 - 78) |
| Jan. 27, 2021 | PA | HB 55 | Limits Governor Emergency Declaration Powers | Bill Passed - House (116 - 86) |
| June 6, 2018 | PA | HB 564 | Requires Civics Test for High School Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (167 - 27) |
| May 11, 2011 | PA | HB 574 | Amending the Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 | Bill Passed - House (148 - 43) |
| April 6, 2021 | PA | HB 605 | Establishes Protections For Businesses From Certain COVID-19 Related Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (107 - 94) |
| July 5, 2023 | PA | HB 611 | Appropriates Funding for the General Budget for the State of Pennsylvania | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (117 - 86) |
| June 30, 2023 | PA | HB 611 | Appropriates Funding for the General Budget for the State of Pennsylvania | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 10, 2019 | PA | HB 629 | Requires Full Lyme Disease Coverage under Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - House (158 - 34) |
| March 24, 2021 | PA | HB 63 | Increases Suburban County Authority for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution | Bill Passed - House (135 - 66) |
| Oct. 18, 2023 | PA | HB 636 | Prohibits Hidden or "Junk" Fees in All Online Sales and Advertising | Bill Passed - House (172 - 31) |
| June 16, 2021 | PA | HB 649 | Establishes Additional Safety Requirements for Congregate Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| June 12, 2023 | PA | HB 664 | Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board | Bill Passed - House (155 - 48) |
| May 1, 2023 | PA | HB 666 | Repeals the "At Will" Employment Requirement for the State Housing Authority | Bill Passed - House (172 - 29) |
| July 1, 2010 | PA | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| April 26, 2017 | PA | HB 671 | Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (134 - 53) |
| March 25, 2020 | PA | HB 68 | Establishes a System of Unemployment Compensation in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 12, 2006 | PA | HB 698 | Mental Retardation Consideration in Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (169 - 28) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 15, 2010 | PA | HB 708 | Recycling Program for Electronic Materials | Bill Passed - House (169 - 30) |
| May 22, 2023 | PA | HB 714 | Requires Background Checks for All Firearms | Bill Passed - House (109 - 92) |
| May 4, 2021 | PA | HB 72 | Establishes a Review Process for Major Regulations | Bill Passed - House (108 - 93) |
| July 13, 2020 | PA | HB 732 | Establishes Tax Credit for Companies that Invest and Create Jobs Building Petrochemical or Fertilizer Plants using Dry Natural Gas Produced in Pennsylvania | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| April 21, 2021 | PA | HB 747 | Authorizes Retail Stores to Remain Open with One Staff and One Shopper During Disaster Emergency Declarations | Bill Passed - House (117 - 84) |
| May 2, 2023 | PA | HB 760 | Establishes Greater Access to Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (114 - 86) |
| June 30, 2012 | PA | HB 761 | Exempts Certain Transfers from the Realty Transfer Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 56) |
| March 27, 2024 | PA | HB 777 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns and Establishes Penalties | Bill Passed - House (104 - 97) |
| June 25, 2019 | PA | HB 790 | Establishes State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - House (140 - 62) |
| March 21, 2013 | PA | HB 790 | Requires the State to Privatize Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (105 - 90) |
| Oct. 20, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| May 7, 2019 | PA | HB 800 | Increases Amount of Tax Credits Available for Students to Attend the School of Their Choice | Bill Passed - House (111 - 85) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| June 23, 2015 | PA | HB 805 | Requires Schools to Use Teacher Performance Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 91) |
| May 23, 2011 | PA | HB 815 | Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors | Bill Passed - House (178 - 20) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 815 | Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| June 6, 2023 | PA | HB 815 | Requires All Candidates for Public Office File Online Campaign Finance Reports | Bill Passed - House (102 - 101) |
| April 23, 2013 | PA | HB 818 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (144 - 53) |