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
Jan. 18, 2023 PA SB 84 Authorizes Teacher Religious Garb in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
June 16, 2022 NJ S 721 Require Certain Public Venues Submit Emergency Plans to Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
June 15, 2022 SC H 4776 Establishes the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 13)
May 6, 2022 CO HB 22-1077 Increases Security at Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
March 23, 2022 KY HB 43 Requires Equal Treatment for All Religious Organizations During Declared State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 4, 2022 UT HCR 16 Amends School Uniform Policies to Accommodate Religious Freedom Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
May 21, 2021 TX HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
May 11, 2021 MO HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
April 28, 2021 MO HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 27, 2021 CT HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
April 27, 2021 MO SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 20, 2021 OK HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 1, 2021 AL HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 30, 2021 DE SB 72 Classifies Discrimination Against Any Person Because of their Religion as Illegal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
March 5, 2021 GA SB 200 Authorizes Businesses and Religious Operations to Continue During the Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 1, 2021 NC SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 1, 2021 MT SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2021 MO SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2021 AR SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Feb. 3, 2021 ND SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
June 10, 2020 OH HB 164 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
Jan. 14, 2020 TN HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
June 13, 2019 NY A 2371 Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/18 SB 84 Authorizes Teacher Religious Garb in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
6/16 S 721 Require Certain Public Venues Submit Emergency Plans to Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
6/15 H 4776 Establishes the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 13)
5/06 HB 22-1077 Increases Security at Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
3/23 HB 43 Requires Equal Treatment for All Religious Organizations During Declared State of Emergencies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/04 HCR 16 Amends School Uniform Policies to Accommodate Religious Freedom Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
5/21 HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
5/11 HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
4/28 HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/27 HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
4/27 SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/20 HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/01 HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/30 SB 72 Classifies Discrimination Against Any Person Because of their Religion as Illegal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
3/05 SB 200 Authorizes Businesses and Religious Operations to Continue During the Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/01 SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/01 SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/23 SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/10 SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
2/03 SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
1/09 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
6/10 HB 164 Authorizes Religious Expression in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
1/14 HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
6/13 A 2371 Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26)
5/23 SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)

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