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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 11, 2024 | IL | SB 2979 | Amends Liability Laws for Biometric Data Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 13) |
July 1, 2022 | MI | HB 5558 | Prohibits Research on Stem Cells Obtained from an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
July 1, 2022 | MI | HB 5559 | Classifies Performing Research on the Tissue of an Aborted Fetus as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
March 28, 2022 | National | HR 4521 | America COMPETES Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 28) |
June 8, 2021 | National | S 1260 | United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
Oct. 20, 2020 | PA | SB 1199 | Specifies Provisions for Personal Delivery Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
June 7, 2018 | MA | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
April 19, 2018 | National | PN 1359 | Nomination of James Bridenstine to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | (50 - 49) |
April 18, 2018 | National | PN 1359 | Nomination of James Bridenstine to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 48) |
July 7, 2016 | National | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
March 2, 2015 | NM | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
May 22, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 9) |
May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
April 23, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
March 12, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
March 25, 2013 | SD | SB 115 | Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
May 21, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
March 19, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
Oct. 26, 2011 | CT | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 22, 2011 | IN | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 29, 2010 | AZ | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1044 | Prohibiting Human Cloning | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
Feb. 26, 2010 | ID | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 23, 2009 | OK | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Failed - Senate (26 - 19) |
March 12, 2009 | GA | SB 169 | In Vitro Embryo Creation Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22) |
Feb. 23, 2009 | SD | SB 195 | Stem Cell Research Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | NM | SB 77 | Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
June 12, 2008 | MA | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
April 23, 2008 | FL | SB 2692 | Science Curriculum Flexibility | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
April 8, 2008 | CO | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
March 6, 2008 | MN | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | SD | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | NM | SB 23 | Authorizing Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | NM | SB 23 | Authorizing Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
Oct. 16, 2007 | National | HR 3093 | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19) |
June 21, 2007 | National | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
April 27, 2007 | MN | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26) |
April 11, 2007 | National | S 30 | Stem Cell Research Hope Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
April 11, 2007 | National | S 5 | Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
March 29, 2007 | DE | SB 5 | Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
March 20, 2007 | GA | SB 148 | Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15) |
Feb. 23, 2007 | IL | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | IA | SF 162 | Stem Cell Research and Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
July 18, 2006 | National | HR 810 | Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37) |
May 18, 2006 | NJ | S 1471 | Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
May 11, 2006 | NH | SCR 6 | Stem Cell Research Resolution | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10) |
April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
March 14, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
March 8, 2006 | AZ | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
Nov. 16, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
April 28, 2005 | National | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
Oct. 15, 1999 | National | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
July 7, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3062 | Space Station Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
May 18, 1998 | National | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
May 12, 1998 | National | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
Feb. 11, 1998 | National | S 1601 | Human Cloning Research bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54) |
Aug. 10, 1995 | National | S Amdt 2401 | Space-Based Laser Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41) |
March 16, 1994 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
Sept. 22, 1993 | National | S Amdt 910 | Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47) |
Sept. 22, 1993 | National | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
4/11 | SB 2979 | Amends Liability Laws for Biometric Data Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 13) |
7/01 | HB 5558 | Prohibits Research on Stem Cells Obtained from an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
7/01 | HB 5559 | Classifies Performing Research on the Tissue of an Aborted Fetus as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
3/28 | HR 4521 | America COMPETES Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 28) |
6/08 | S 1260 | United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32) |
10/20 | SB 1199 | Specifies Provisions for Personal Delivery Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
6/07 | H 4501 | Authorizes Capital for State Life Sciences Capital Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
4/19 | PN 1359 | Nomination of James Bridenstine to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | (50 - 49) |
4/18 | PN 1359 | Nomination of James Bridenstine to Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 48) |
7/07 | S 764 | Establishes Labeling Standards for Genetically Modified Foods | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (63 - 30) |
3/02 | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
5/22 | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 9) |
5/02 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
4/23 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
3/12 | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
4/05 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
3/25 | SB 115 | Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
8/27 | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
5/21 | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
3/19 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
2/27 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
10/26 | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
2/22 | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
4/29 | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
3/01 | SCR 1044 | Prohibiting Human Cloning | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
2/26 | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/23 | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Failed - Senate (26 - 19) |
3/12 | SB 169 | In Vitro Embryo Creation Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22) |
2/23 | SB 195 | Stem Cell Research Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
2/19 | SB 77 | Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
6/12 | H 4554 | Life-Science Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
4/23 | SB 2692 | Science Curriculum Flexibility | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
4/08 | HB 1001 | Expanding Bioscience Research Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
3/14 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
3/06 | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9) |
2/27 | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
1/29 | SB 23 | Authorizing Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
1/29 | SB 23 | Authorizing Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
10/16 | HR 3093 | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19) |
6/21 | HR 6 | Energy Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27) |
4/27 | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26) |
4/11 | S 30 | Stem Cell Research Hope Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
4/11 | S 5 | Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
3/29 | SB 5 | Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
3/20 | SB 148 | Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15) |
2/23 | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
2/14 | SF 162 | Stem Cell Research and Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
7/18 | HR 810 | Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 37) |
5/18 | S 1471 | Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
5/11 | SCR 6 | Stem Cell Research Resolution | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10) |
4/11 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
3/14 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
3/08 | SB 1356 | Air Pollutant Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
11/16 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
4/28 | H Con Res 95 | Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47) |
10/15 | HR 2684 | Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5) |
7/07 | S Amdt 3062 | Space Station Termination Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (33 - 66) |
5/18 | S 1723 | Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
5/12 | S 1150 | Agricultural Research bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8) |
2/11 | S 1601 | Human Cloning Research bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (42 - 54) |
8/10 | S Amdt 2401 | Space-Based Laser Program Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41) |
3/16 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
9/22 | S Amdt 910 | Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47) |
9/22 | HR 2491 | Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 | Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9) |