Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
April 5, 2024 PA SB 745 Requires Contracts for Information Technology Commodities Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 22, 2023 PA SB 190 Defines and Provides for Existing Regulatory Practices Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
May 10, 2023 PA SB 350 Amends and Reforms the State Permitting Process Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 6, 2023 PA SB 8 Repeals All Patient's Share Costs Associated with Mammograms and Screenings for Breast and Ovarian Cancers Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
Jan. 11, 2023 PA SB 1 Authorizes Constitutional Amendment Requiring Valid Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
Jan. 3, 2023 PA SR 1 Amends Senate Ethics Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
Oct. 26, 2022 PA HB 1393 Defines Testing of Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Compounds in Relation to Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
July 8, 2022 PA SB 106 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that States there is No Right to Taxpayer-Funded Abortion and Amends Voter ID Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
July 6, 2022 PA SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
June 29, 2022 PA HB 972 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
June 29, 2022 PA SB 1278 Prohibits Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for K-5 Students Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
June 7, 2022 PA SB 1191 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
June 16, 2021 PA HB 649 Establishes Additional Safety Requirements for Congregate Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
May 25, 2021 PA SB 426 Increases Legislative Oversight of the Regulatory Review Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Oct. 5, 2020 PA HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
July 15, 2020 PA HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 14 Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
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)
June 9, 2020 PA HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
April 15, 2020 PA SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Nov. 20, 2019 PA HB 321 Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 6 Establishes Further Stipulations for Welfare Access Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Oct. 25, 2017 PA SB 936 Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
May 10, 2017 PA SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
May 6, 2015 PA SB 645 Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
May 6, 2015 PA SB 644 Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
July 3, 2013 PA HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
June 29, 2012 PA HB 1261 Repeals the General Assistance Cash Program Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
June 5, 2012 PA SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Dec. 14, 2011 PA SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
June 30, 2011 PA HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Oct. 9, 2009 PA HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2009 PA HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
June 2, 2008 PA SB 1386 Poverty Income Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
June 26, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
June 22, 2006 PA SB 1090 Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
June 21, 2006 PA HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/05 SB 745 Requires Contracts for Information Technology Commodities Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/22 SB 190 Defines and Provides for Existing Regulatory Practices Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
5/10 SB 350 Amends and Reforms the State Permitting Process Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/06 SB 8 Repeals All Patient's Share Costs Associated with Mammograms and Screenings for Breast and Ovarian Cancers Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
1/11 SB 1 Authorizes Constitutional Amendment Requiring Valid Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
1/03 SR 1 Amends Senate Ethics Rules Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2)
10/26 HB 1393 Defines Testing of Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Compounds in Relation to Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
7/08 SB 106 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that States there is No Right to Taxpayer-Funded Abortion and Amends Voter ID Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
7/06 SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
6/29 HB 972 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
6/29 SB 1278 Prohibits Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for K-5 Students Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
6/07 SB 1191 Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
6/16 HB 649 Establishes Additional Safety Requirements for Congregate Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
5/25 SB 426 Increases Legislative Oversight of the Regulatory Review Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
10/05 HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
7/15 SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
7/15 SB 1166 Limits the Governor's Emergency Powers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
7/15 HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
7/15 SB 14 Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
7/13 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)
6/09 HR 836 Establishes a Resolution to Terminate the Governor's Emergency Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
4/15 SB 613 Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
11/20 HB 321 Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
10/17 SB 6 Establishes Further Stipulations for Welfare Access Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
10/25 SB 936 Establishes Prescription Drug Formulary for Injured Employees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
5/10 SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
5/06 SB 645 Requires Notice of Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
5/06 SB 644 Requires Cost Analysis of Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
7/03 HB 1075 Amends Public Welfare Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
6/29 HB 1261 Repeals the General Assistance Cash Program Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
6/05 SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
12/14 SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
6/30 HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
10/09 HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
8/26 HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
6/02 SB 1386 Poverty Income Tax Cut Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
6/26 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
6/22 SB 1090 Minimum Wage Bill Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
6/21 HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)

arrow_upward