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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 24, 2023 | OR | HB 3235 | Establishes a Refundable Child Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1) |
June 5, 2023 | NV | AB 498 | Amends the calculations of contribution rates to the public employees retirement system for state employees | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
May 7, 2023 | CO | HB 23-1200 | Establishes Behavioral Health Crisis Vouchers to Fund Treatment Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
Feb. 17, 2022 | AL | HB 231 | Exempts Certain Tax Credits from the Calculation of Income Tax Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
July 15, 2021 | CA | AB 133 | Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
June 9, 2021 | WI | AB 336 | Repeals $300 per Week Federal Unemployment Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
May 26, 2021 | NE | LB 108 | Expands SNAP Eligibility | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
May 25, 2021 | National | PN 124 | Nomation of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as the Adminstor of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44) |
Jan. 21, 2021 | CA | SB 88 | Authorizes Distributing a $600 Payment to Low Income Residents | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
Aug. 10, 2020 | OR | SB 1701 | Authorizes Unemployment Benefits for Employees Working Less than Full-Time | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
Aug. 2, 2020 | NV | SB 1 | Authorizes Courts to Grant a Stay on Certain Evictions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
July 22, 2020 | NY | S 8247 | Authorizes Online Grocery Purchases for SNAP Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 1) |
July 2, 2020 | CA | SB 1383 | Expands Protections for Paid Family Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1410 | Authorizes COVID-19 Eviction Relief Agreements Between Tenants and Landlords | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
June 25, 2020 | CA | ACA 11 | Establishes the "Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
June 25, 2020 | CA | SB 795 | Appropriates Funds for Affordable Housing and Homelessness Aid | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
June 22, 2020 | CA | SB 1138 | Requires Land Zoned for Shelters Meet Certain Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
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) |
May 29, 2020 | LA | HB 846 | Establishes Tax Rebates for COVID-19 Impacted Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
May 14, 2020 | NJ | S 2332 | Establishes the 2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2741 | Reduces Contributions to Teachers' Retirement System | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2742 | Reduces Contributions to Retirement Systems for Police and Firefighters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
May 5, 2020 | OK | SB 1073 | Expands Oklahoma's Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8) |
April 15, 2020 | WI | AB 1038 | Establishes Various Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 22, 2020 | AK | HB 308 | Establishes Relief for Employees Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0) |
March 19, 2020 | AZ | SB 1690 | Establishes the Emergency Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
March 18, 2020 | National | HR 6201 | Families First Coronavirus Response Act | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8) |
March 17, 2020 | KS | SB 27 | Authorizes 26 Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | SB 6088 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | IA | SF 2272 | Establishes Computer Verification System for Public Assistance Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | SD | SB 96 | Repeals the Lifetime Ban on Drug Felons Receiving TANF Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
Feb. 11, 2020 | MS | SB 2257 | Authorizes State Auditor to Examine Tax Returns of Public Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
June 30, 2019 | OR | HB 2005 | Requires 12 Weeks of Paid Medical Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
June 26, 2019 | PA | HB 33 | Repeals a General Assistance Program for Adults with Disabilities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
June 19, 2019 | ME | LD 459 | Defines Homelessness in Laws Governing Emergency General Assistance | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 31, 2019 | AL | HB 77 | Expands Retirement Benefits for Public School Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 29, 2019 | ME | LD 1324 | Establishes Committee for Universal Basic Income System | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13) |
May 23, 2019 | NH | HB 696 | Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 10) |
May 23, 2019 | NH | HB 616 | Establishes a 1.5 Percent Cost of Living Adjustment for Retired Public Employees | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (12 - 11) |
May 21, 2019 | ME | LD 1417 | Expands Access to Head Start Programs | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11) |
May 14, 2019 | ME | LD 820 | Requires the State Medicaid Program to Cover Abortion Services | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 2, 2019 | TN | HB 1280 | Amends State Medicaid Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6) |
May 1, 2019 | NY | S 4573 | Reduces Amount of Time Workers on Strike Must Wait to Collect Unemployment | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14) |
April 16, 2019 | MT | HB 658 | Amends State Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
April 16, 2019 | WA | HB 1087 | Establishes a Long-Term Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
April 2, 2019 | ID | S 1204 | Amends Medicaid Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
March 19, 2019 | IA | SF 538 | Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
March 14, 2019 | NH | SB 228 | Increases State Consumer Protections Related to Welfare Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1596 | Authorizes Exceptions for Limits on Workers' Compensation Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 16) |
Feb. 26, 2019 | GA | SB 106 | Authorizes Governor to Pursue Medicaid Waivers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | HB 2138 | Establishes Medicaid Work Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 3871 | Amends Definition of 'Misconduct' for Unemployment Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 490 | Prohibits Welfare "Family Caps" | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
May 9, 2018 | MO | HB 2171 | Amends Eligibility Requirements for Blind Pension | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
April 19, 2018 | MI | SB 897 | Establishes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Jan. 29, 2018 | VA | SB 192 | Authorizes State to Deduct Previous TANF Benefits from Lottery Winnings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
July 6, 2017 | OR | HB 3464 | Prohibits Disclosure of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
May 11, 2017 | AL | SB 200 | Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9) |
May 10, 2017 | AZ | HB 2372 | Extends Time Period for Individuals to Receive Government Assistance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
April 11, 2017 | AL | SB 193 | Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
April 4, 2017 | TX | SB 576 | Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
March 27, 2017 | IA | HF 518 | Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1234 | Authorizes Implementation of Retirement Savings Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 654 | Authorizes Paid Family Leave | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
July 20, 2016 | HI | SB 2077 | Authorizes Employees Affected by Privatization to Receive Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
May 30, 2016 | IL | SB 777 | Amends Chicago Police and Firefighter Pension Plans | Veto Override Passed - Senate (39 - 19) |
May 1, 2016 | KS | SB 402 | Amends Public Assistance Eligibility Criteria | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
March 31, 2016 | NH | HB 1696 | Amends Health Protection Program | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
March 10, 2016 | IN | SB 165 | Expands Medicaid | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
March 8, 2016 | UT | HB 437 | Expands the Health Coverage Improvement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
Jan. 29, 2016 | UT | SB 39 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Adult Dental Services | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
Sept. 16, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
Sept. 9, 2015 | IL | HB 1 | Expands Heroin Abuse Treatment Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (44 - 11) |
June 25, 2015 | NJ | S 3100 | Requires State to Pay Pension Contributions on Quarterly Basis | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
June 17, 2015 | ME | LD 319 | Authorizes Medicaid Coverage for Reproductive Care | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
June 16, 2015 | OR | HB 2960 | Establishes Oregon Retirement Savings Board | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
June 3, 2015 | CA | SB 185 | Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
May 26, 2015 | MI | HB 4041 | Amends Requirements to Receive Certain Assistance Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
May 4, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
April 18, 2015 | MT | SB 405 | Expands Health Care Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 15, 2015 | MO | HB 150 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
April 14, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 9) |
April 2, 2015 | KS | HB 2258 | Amends Social Service Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
March 30, 2015 | MT | SB 405 | Expands Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 27, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
March 12, 2015 | AR | HB 1489 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | UT | SB 164 | Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | AZ | SB 1092 | Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | MO | SB 24 | Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
Feb. 9, 2015 | CO | SB 65 | Prohibits Withdrawing Public Assistance Funds at Certain Places | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 29, 2014 | IL | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |