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
May 10, 2022 AK SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
May 9, 2022 CO HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 3, 2022 VT H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 28, 2022 CO HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
April 25, 2022 KS SB 366 Establishes a Mechanism for Drug Offenders to Seek Relief from the Kansas Offender Registration Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
April 18, 2022 OK HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
April 18, 2022 AZ SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - House (39 - 18)
April 7, 2022 ME LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 11)
April 6, 2022 AZ HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
April 5, 2022 ME LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (76 - 36)
April 4, 2022 GA HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
March 31, 2022 MA H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
March 28, 2022 MN HF 2774 Increases Warehouse Worker Safety Regulations Bill Passed - House (72 - 60)
March 24, 2022 IA SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - House (90 - 3)
March 22, 2022 IA SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
March 22, 2022 VT H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - House (109 - 30)
March 21, 2022 TN HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 21, 2022 AZ HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
March 18, 2022 National HR 2116 Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (CROWN Act of 2021) Bill Passed - House (235 - 185)
March 17, 2022 National HR 963 FAIR Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (222 - 209)
March 15, 2022 GA HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - House (172 - 0)
March 15, 2022 GA SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
March 15, 2022 GA HB 1464 Specifies New Election Security Measures Bill Passed - House (98 - 73)
March 11, 2022 GA SB 377 Prohibits Teaching "Divisive Concepts" Such as Systematic Racism Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
March 10, 2022 FL HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 9, 2022 OK HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses (66 - 27)
March 7, 2022 National HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - Senate (100 - 0)
March 7, 2022 FL HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
March 7, 2022 TN HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - House (66 - 24)
March 3, 2022 MS SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
March 3, 2022 FL SB 1798 Increases the Monetary Damages an Individual May Receive as a Result of Violations Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
March 2, 2022 FL HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (76 - 41)
Feb. 28, 2022 National HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - House (422 - 3)
Feb. 24, 2022 AZ HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (47 - 12)
Feb. 24, 2022 MS HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
Feb. 24, 2022 FL HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
Feb. 23, 2022 ME LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2022 WY SF 103 Limits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
Feb. 22, 2022 AL HB 2 Expands Penalties for Rioting, Certain Public Demonstrations Bill Passed - House (75 - 27)
Feb. 16, 2022 ME LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (80 - 57)
Feb. 16, 2022 OH HB 109 Increases Penalties for Specific Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
Feb. 14, 2022 AZ SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
Feb. 9, 2022 MS HB 1367 Establishes a Process to Remove Discriminatory Provisions from Real Property Documents Bill Passed - House (115 - 3)
Jan. 26, 2022 IN HB 1134 Prohibits Teaching Certain Concepts on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Jan. 25, 2022 WI AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 25, 2022 IN HB 1122 Prohibits Sexually Oriented Businesses from Operating Near Child-Oriented Facilities Bill Passed - House (84 - 8)
Jan. 21, 2022 MS SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
Dec. 20, 2021 NJ S 2834 Requires Culturally Responsive Training for Teaching Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18)
Dec. 20, 2021 NJ S 2834 Requires Culturally Responsive Training for Teaching Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
Dec. 14, 2021 National HR 5665 Combating International Islamophobia Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
Oct. 14, 2021 TX HB 25 Requires Public School Students to Compete in Athletic Competitions Based on Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (76 - 54)
Oct. 4, 2021 PA HB 1893 Expands Access to COVID-19 Data in Order to be Available to the Public Bill Passed - House (113 - 87)
Oct. 4, 2021 AR SB 732 Prohibits the Process Known as "Vaccine Coercion" Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Sept. 28, 2021 WI AB 414 Prohibit Government Agencies from Holding Employee Training Sessions that Say Individuals are Responsible for Past Acts by People of the Same Race Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Sept. 28, 2021 WI AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Sept. 10, 2021 CA SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
Sept. 10, 2021 CA SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
Sept. 1, 2021 NC HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41)
Aug. 26, 2021 NC HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
July 16, 2021 TX SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
June 30, 2021 AZ HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 29, 2021 DE SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
June 29, 2021 National HR 3005 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (285 - 120)
June 25, 2021 AZ HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - House (31 - 25)
June 24, 2021 PA SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
June 24, 2021 NJ A 698 Requires Incarcerated Individuals be Counted for Municipal, County, and Congressional Redistricting Purposes Bill Passed - House (50 - 25)
June 23, 2021 PA SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Bill Passed - House (112 - 89)
June 23, 2021 National HR 2062 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (247 - 178)
June 22, 2021 National S 2093 For the People Act of 2021 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50)
June 17, 2021 CT SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
June 17, 2021 CT SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Bill Passed - House (89 - 50)
June 16, 2021 National S 475 Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/10 SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
5/09 HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/03 H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/28 HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
4/25 SB 366 Establishes a Mechanism for Drug Offenders to Seek Relief from the Kansas Offender Registration Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
4/18 HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
4/18 SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - House (39 - 18)
4/07 LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 11)
4/06 HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
4/05 LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (76 - 36)
4/04 HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
3/31 H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
3/28 HF 2774 Increases Warehouse Worker Safety Regulations Bill Passed - House (72 - 60)
3/24 SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - House (90 - 3)
3/22 SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
3/22 H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - House (109 - 30)
3/21 HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/21 HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
3/18 HR 2116 Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (CROWN Act of 2021) Bill Passed - House (235 - 185)
3/17 HR 963 FAIR Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (222 - 209)
3/15 HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - House (172 - 0)
3/15 SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
3/15 HB 1464 Specifies New Election Security Measures Bill Passed - House (98 - 73)
3/11 SB 377 Prohibits Teaching "Divisive Concepts" Such as Systematic Racism Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
3/10 HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/09 HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses (66 - 27)
3/07 HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - Senate (100 - 0)
3/07 HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
3/07 HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - House (66 - 24)
3/03 SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
3/03 SB 1798 Increases the Monetary Damages an Individual May Receive as a Result of Violations Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
3/02 HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (76 - 41)
2/28 HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - House (422 - 3)
2/24 HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (47 - 12)
2/24 HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
2/24 HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
2/23 LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
2/23 SF 103 Limits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
2/22 HB 2 Expands Penalties for Rioting, Certain Public Demonstrations Bill Passed - House (75 - 27)
2/16 LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (80 - 57)
2/16 HB 109 Increases Penalties for Specific Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
2/14 SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
2/09 HB 1367 Establishes a Process to Remove Discriminatory Provisions from Real Property Documents Bill Passed - House (115 - 3)
1/26 HB 1134 Prohibits Teaching Certain Concepts on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
1/25 AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
1/25 HB 1122 Prohibits Sexually Oriented Businesses from Operating Near Child-Oriented Facilities Bill Passed - House (84 - 8)
1/21 SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
12/20 S 2834 Requires Culturally Responsive Training for Teaching Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18)
12/20 S 2834 Requires Culturally Responsive Training for Teaching Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
12/14 HR 5665 Combating International Islamophobia Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
10/14 HB 25 Requires Public School Students to Compete in Athletic Competitions Based on Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (76 - 54)
10/04 HB 1893 Expands Access to COVID-19 Data in Order to be Available to the Public Bill Passed - House (113 - 87)
10/04 SB 732 Prohibits the Process Known as "Vaccine Coercion" Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
9/28 AB 414 Prohibit Government Agencies from Holding Employee Training Sessions that Say Individuals are Responsible for Past Acts by People of the Same Race Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
9/28 AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
9/10 SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
9/10 SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
9/09 AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12)
9/08 AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
9/08 SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
9/01 HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41)
8/26 HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
7/16 SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
6/30 HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/29 SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
6/29 HR 3005 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (285 - 120)
6/25 HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - House (31 - 25)
6/24 SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
6/24 A 698 Requires Incarcerated Individuals be Counted for Municipal, County, and Congressional Redistricting Purposes Bill Passed - House (50 - 25)
6/23 SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Bill Passed - House (112 - 89)
6/23 HR 2062 Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (247 - 178)
6/22 S 2093 For the People Act of 2021 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50)
6/17 SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
6/17 SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Bill Passed - House (89 - 50)
6/16 S 475 Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Bill Passed - House (415 - 14)

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