Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. 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
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 17, 2015 National S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
Nov. 3, 2015 National S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
Sept. 11, 2015 CA SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Sept. 4, 2015 CA AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
Sept. 2, 2015 CA AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
June 12, 2015 MN SF 5 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
June 12, 2015 MN SF 5 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 185 Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 3, 2015 CA SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 18, 2015 MN HF 846 Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30)
May 18, 2015 MN HF 846 Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30)
May 5, 2015 HI HB 623 Requires 100 Percent Dependency on Renewable Energy by 2045 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
April 28, 2015 OR SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
April 23, 2015 IL HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
April 21, 2015 MT SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
April 21, 2015 MT SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 14, 2015 IN HB 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
March 24, 2015 MD SB 458 Increases Liabilities for Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 23, 2015 AZ HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 23, 2015 AZ HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 19, 2015 ND SB 2351 Authorizes Corporate Dairy and Swine Farms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 16, 2015 NJ S 2791 Environmental Protection Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 14, 2015 WV HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 9, 2015 MT HB 212 Amends Definitions of Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 9, 2015 WA SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 9, 2015 WA SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 2, 2015 NM SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
March 2, 2015 WA SB 5987 Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 24, 2015 CO SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2015 IN SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
Feb. 24, 2015 IN SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
Feb. 17, 2015 OR SB 324 Extends Low Carbon Fuel Standards Target Date Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 13, 2015 NM SB 253 Prohibits Coyote Hunting Contests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/17 S J Res 24 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/17 S J Res 23 A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
11/03 S 1140 Federal Water Quality Protection Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
9/11 SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
9/04 AB 888 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
9/02 AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
6/12 SF 5 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
6/12 SF 5 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29)
6/03 SB 185 Requires Public Retirement Systems to Divest from Coal Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
6/03 SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/03 SB 32 Establishes Certain Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/03 SB 350 Establishes Renewable Energy Production Targets Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/18 HF 846 Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30)
5/18 HF 846 Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30)
5/05 HB 623 Requires 100 Percent Dependency on Renewable Energy by 2045 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
4/28 SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
4/23 HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
4/21 SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
4/21 SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/14 HB 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
3/24 SB 458 Increases Liabilities for Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/23 HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/23 HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/19 SB 2351 Authorizes Corporate Dairy and Swine Farms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/16 S 2791 Environmental Protection Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/14 HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/09 HB 212 Amends Definitions of Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/09 SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/09 SB 5735 Establishes Carbon Reduction Investment as Alternative to Meeting Renewable Energy Targets Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/02 SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8)
3/02 SB 5987 Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/26 SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/24 SB 93 Requires Compensation for Mineral Rights Owners Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/24 SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
2/24 SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
2/17 SB 324 Extends Low Carbon Fuel Standards Target Date Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/13 SB 253 Prohibits Coyote Hunting Contests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)

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