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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 18, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
Dec. 18, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
Nov. 5, 2015 | National | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
Nov. 3, 2015 | AK | SB 3001 | Appropriates Funds for Liquid Natural Gas (AKLNG) Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
Oct. 29, 2015 | National | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
Oct. 21, 2015 | OH | SB 214 | Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
Oct. 7, 2015 | National | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
Oct. 1, 2015 | National | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
Sept. 30, 2015 | National | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
Sept. 24, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
Sept. 16, 2015 | AL | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
Sept. 15, 2015 | AL | HB 3 | Increases Cigarette Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Sept. 15, 2015 | AL | HB 8 | Amends Budget for the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
Sept. 9, 2015 | IL | SB 2046 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Public Health | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
July 30, 2015 | National | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
July 7, 2015 | WI | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
June 30, 2015 | PA | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
June 25, 2015 | OH | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 9) |
June 24, 2015 | NH | HB 550 | Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 23, 2015 | RI | H 5900 | Establishes Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
June 11, 2015 | AK | HB 2001 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 3) |
June 4, 2015 | NH | HB 1 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 4, 2015 | AL | HB 135 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
June 3, 2015 | CT | HB 7061 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
June 1, 2015 | AK | HB 2001 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
May 29, 2015 | IL | HB 4151 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
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 5, 2015 | HI | SB 1028 | Appropriates Funds for the Hawaii Health Connector | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 2) |
May 5, 2015 | HI | HB 134 | Authorizes Rail Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
May 5, 2015 | MI | SB 133 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
May 4, 2015 | MN | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
April 29, 2015 | IN | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
April 27, 2015 | MN | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27) |
April 24, 2015 | MT | HB 2 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
April 23, 2015 | ND | HB 1476 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
April 17, 2015 | AK | HB 158 | Establishes Refined Fuel Surcharge | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
April 16, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 13) |
April 13, 2015 | NE | LB 610 | Increases Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
April 13, 2015 | MD | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
April 11, 2015 | MT | HB 2 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
April 10, 2015 | ID | H 312 | Increases Gas Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 9) |
April 7, 2015 | ID | H 312 | Increases Gax Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
April 2, 2015 | GA | HB 202 | Establishes Vehicle Manufacturer Headquarter License Plates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 22) |
March 31, 2015 | AR | HB 1402 | Amends Income Tax Applicable to Capital Gains | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
March 31, 2015 | MT | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
March 31, 2015 | NY | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
March 30, 2015 | ND | HB 1437 | Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
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 26, 2015 | IL | HB 317 | 2015-2016 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
March 26, 2015 | IL | HB 318 | 2015-2016 Budget Reconciliation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
March 25, 2015 | KS | HB 2135 | Appropriates Funds to Public and Private Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
March 25, 2015 | AZ | HB 2173 | Establishes Gold and Silver as Legal Tender | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
March 25, 2015 | CO | SB 45 | Establishes Tax Credits for Private School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
March 24, 2015 | KY | HB 299 | Increases Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 9) |
March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
March 19, 2015 | NY | S 3709 | Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15) |
March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
March 12, 2015 | UT | HB 362 | Amends Motor Fuel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
March 12, 2015 | ID | H 75 | Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
March 6, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7) |
March 2, 2015 | WA | SB 5987 | Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | ND | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
Feb. 25, 2015 | ND | SB 2254 | Amends School District Funding Calculations to Include Early Childhood Education Programs | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes Tax Credit Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 17, 2015 | SD | HJR 1001 | Requests a Constitutional Convention | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
Feb. 16, 2015 | ND | SB 2223 | Exempts Certain Clothing from Sales Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
Feb. 16, 2015 | NV | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
Feb. 14, 2015 | MT | SB 200 | Restructures Income Tax Brackets | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | NC | SB 20 | Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | MS | SB 2389 | Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
Feb. 11, 2015 | WY | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | IA | SF 171 | Amends Growth Percentage for Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
Feb. 4, 2015 | NC | SB 14 | Transfers Funds to Rules Review Commission for Litigation Expenses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/18 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
12/18 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
12/03 | HR 3762 | Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
11/05 | HR 2685 | Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 44) |
11/03 | SB 3001 | Appropriates Funds for Liquid Natural Gas (AKLNG) Pipeline | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
10/29 | HR 1314 | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
10/21 | SB 214 | Amends Healthcare Funds Distribution | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
10/07 | HR 1735 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (70 - 27) |
10/01 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
10/01 | HR 2029 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 44) |
9/30 | HR 719 | Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (78 - 20) |
9/24 | S Amdt 2669 | Rescinds Funds from Planned Parenthood | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 52) |
9/16 | HB 1 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
9/15 | HB 3 | Increases Cigarette Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
9/15 | HB 8 | Amends Budget for the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
9/09 | SB 2046 | Appropriates Funds for the Department of Public Health | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
7/30 | HR 22 | Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34) |
7/07 | SB 21 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
7/03 | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
7/03 | SB 567 | Appropriates Excess Revenue to the Education Stability Fund | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (11 - 18) |
6/30 | HB 1192 | Establishes State Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
6/25 | HB 64 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 9) |
6/24 | HB 550 | Authorizes Businesses to Not Declare Profits from Interest Sales | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
6/23 | H 5900 | Establishes Budget for FY 2015-2016 | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
6/11 | HB 2001 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 3) |
6/04 | HB 1 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
6/04 | HB 135 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
6/03 | HB 7061 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
6/01 | HB 2001 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4) |
5/29 | HB 4151 | 2015-2016 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 24) |
5/05 | 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) |
5/05 | SB 1028 | Appropriates Funds for the Hawaii Health Connector | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 2) |
5/05 | HB 134 | Authorizes Rail Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
5/05 | SB 133 | 2015-2016 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
5/04 | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
4/29 | HB 1001 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9) |
4/27 | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27) |
4/24 | HB 2 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 15) |
4/23 | HB 1476 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
4/17 | HB 158 | Establishes Refined Fuel Surcharge | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7) |
4/16 | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
4/13 | HB 70 | 2015-2016 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 13) |
4/13 | LB 610 | Increases Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
4/13 | SB 183 | Amends Funding for the Geographic Cost of Education Index | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
4/11 | HB 2 | 2015-2017 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
4/10 | H 312 | Increases Gas Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 9) |
4/07 | H 312 | Increases Gax Tax and Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
4/02 | HB 202 | Establishes Vehicle Manufacturer Headquarter License Plates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 22) |
3/31 | HB 1402 | Amends Income Tax Applicable to Capital Gains | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
3/31 | SB 410 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Donations to Certain Educational Programs and Student Scholarship Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
3/31 | S 2006B | Establishes Annual Teacher Evaluation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
3/30 | HB 1437 | Extends Triggered Oil Extraction Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
3/27 | 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) |
3/26 | HB 317 | 2015-2016 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
3/26 | HB 318 | 2015-2016 Budget Reconciliation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 26) |
3/25 | HB 2135 | Appropriates Funds to Public and Private Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
3/25 | HB 2173 | Establishes Gold and Silver as Legal Tender | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
3/25 | SB 45 | Establishes Tax Credits for Private School Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
3/24 | HB 299 | Increases Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 9) |
3/24 | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
3/19 | S 3709 | Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15) |
3/16 | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
3/12 | HB 362 | Amends Motor Fuel Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
3/12 | H 75 | Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
3/06 | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7) |
3/02 | SB 5987 | Increases Gas Tax and Amends Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
2/25 | SB 2151 | Appropriates Funds for Early Childhood Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
2/25 | SB 2254 | Amends School District Funding Calculations to Include Early Childhood Education Programs | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 31) |
2/24 | SF 257 | Increases Fuel Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
2/24 | SB 189 | Establishes Tax Credit Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
2/17 | HJR 1001 | Requests a Constitutional Convention | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
2/16 | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
2/16 | SB 2223 | Exempts Certain Clothing from Sales Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
2/16 | SB 119 | Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
2/14 | SB 200 | Restructures Income Tax Brackets | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
2/12 | SB 20 | Restructures the Motor Fuel Tax Rate and the State Tax Code | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
2/11 | SB 2389 | Authorizes Joining Interstate Compact for a Balanced Federal Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
2/11 | SF 145 | Appropriates Funds for Uncompensated Charity Care | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
2/10 | SF 171 | Amends Growth Percentage for Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
2/04 | SB 14 | Transfers Funds to Rules Review Commission for Litigation Expenses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |