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 4, 2023 IL HB 1596 Amends the Children Family Services Act by Removing Gender Specific Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
May 2, 2023 FL HB 931 Prohibits Public Institutions from Requiring Students, Faculty, or Staff Take Political Loyalty Tests Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
April 28, 2023 FL SB 266 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Spending Federal or State Funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 391 Prohibits Local Government Use of "Sundown Sirens" Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 19, 2023 NV SB 239 Authorizes Medical Aid-In-Dying for Terminally Ill Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 13, 2023 MT HB 693 Prohibits State Agencies from Denying Individual Records Request Due To Ongoing Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
April 12, 2023 VA SB 989 Establishes Greater Victims Rights in Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1489 Prohibits Collegiate Transgender Athletes from Competing with the Gender They Identify As Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1249 Requires Classification of Student Athletes Based on "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
March 30, 2023 CO HB 23-1011 Authorizes Individuals Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
March 30, 2023 FL SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 14, 2023 NM HB 207 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
March 7, 2023 MS HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 7, 2023 IA SF 507 Prohibits Investment of Public Funds from Management by Firms that Account for "Environmental, Social and Governance Factors" Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
March 3, 2023 KY SB 129 Prohibits Selling Data Obtained by Automated License Plate Readers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 1, 2023 MI SB 4 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 7, 2023 VA SB 1515 Establishes Civil Liability for or Publishing or Distributing Material Harmful to Minors on the Internet Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
Jan. 31, 2023 VA SB 1455 Authorizes Law Enforcement to Establish a Curfew Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2023 MN HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
Jan. 25, 2023 NY S 345 Establishes 6-Year Statute of Limitations for Employment Discrimination Claims Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
Jan. 24, 2023 NY A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)
Dec. 1, 2022 National H J Res 100 To provide for a resolution with respect to the unresolved disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of their employees. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (80 - 15)
Dec. 1, 2022 National H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (52 - 43)
Aug. 24, 2022 CA AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Aug. 23, 2022 CA AB 485 Amends the California Penal Code on Hate Crimes for Transparency of Police Departments Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 18, 2022 CA AB 2799 Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
June 3, 2022 LA HB 729 Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
June 1, 2022 OH SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
June 1, 2022 NY S 8922 Establishes Worker Protections for Warehouse Workers Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 18)
May 31, 2022 NY S 9039 Prohibits Interference with Protected Rights Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
May 11, 2022 AK SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 0)
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 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 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 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 22, 2022 IA SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
March 21, 2022 AZ HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
March 21, 2022 TN HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 15, 2022 GA SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
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 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 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)
Feb. 24, 2022 MS HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
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. 14, 2022 AZ SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
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. 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 - Senate (32 - 6)
Oct. 4, 2021 AR SB 732 Prohibits the Process Known as "Vaccine Coercion" Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
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. 8, 2021 CA AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
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 24, 2021 PA SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
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 10, 2021 DE SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
June 8, 2021 CT HB 6665 Prohibits 'Whites Only' Covenants Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
June 7, 2021 OR HB 3284 Prohibits a Covered Organization from Collecting Personal Health Data Without Consent Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
June 2, 2021 CA SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
May 30, 2021 IL SB 817 Prohibits School Discrimination Against Certain Hairstyles Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 12)
May 25, 2021 MI SB 457 Prohibits Local Public Health Directors from Issuing an Emergency Order to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 22, 2021 TX HB 3979 Prohibits the Teaching of "Critical Race Theory" in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
May 20, 2021 NV AB 88 Requires Schools to Change Any Identifier that is "Racially Discriminatory" Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
May 18, 2021 CT SB 1 Alleges Racism is a Public Health Crisis Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
May 5, 2021 TN SB 623 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in K-12 Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7)
May 5, 2021 IA HF 889 Prohibits the Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Passports Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/04 HB 1596 Amends the Children Family Services Act by Removing Gender Specific Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
5/02 HB 931 Prohibits Public Institutions from Requiring Students, Faculty, or Staff Take Political Loyalty Tests Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
4/28 SB 266 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Spending Federal or State Funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/25 SB 391 Prohibits Local Government Use of "Sundown Sirens" Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/19 SB 239 Authorizes Medical Aid-In-Dying for Terminally Ill Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/13 HB 693 Prohibits State Agencies from Denying Individual Records Request Due To Ongoing Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
4/12 SB 989 Establishes Greater Victims Rights in Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
4/03 HB 1489 Prohibits Collegiate Transgender Athletes from Competing with the Gender They Identify As Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
4/03 HB 1249 Requires Classification of Student Athletes Based on "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
3/30 HB 23-1011 Authorizes Individuals Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
3/30 SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/14 HB 207 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
3/07 HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/07 SF 507 Prohibits Investment of Public Funds from Management by Firms that Account for "Environmental, Social and Governance Factors" Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
3/03 SB 129 Prohibits Selling Data Obtained by Automated License Plate Readers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/01 SB 4 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/07 SB 1515 Establishes Civil Liability for or Publishing or Distributing Material Harmful to Minors on the Internet Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
1/31 SB 1455 Authorizes Law Enforcement to Establish a Curfew Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
1/26 HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
1/25 S 345 Establishes 6-Year Statute of Limitations for Employment Discrimination Claims Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
1/24 A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)
12/01 H J Res 100 To provide for a resolution with respect to the unresolved disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of their employees. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (80 - 15)
12/01 H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (52 - 43)
8/24 AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
8/23 AB 485 Amends the California Penal Code on Hate Crimes for Transparency of Police Departments Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/18 AB 2799 Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
6/03 HB 729 Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
6/01 SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
6/01 S 8922 Establishes Worker Protections for Warehouse Workers Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 18)
5/31 S 9039 Prohibits Interference with Protected Rights Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
5/11 SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 0)
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)
4/25 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)
4/07 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)
4/04 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)
3/22 SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
3/21 HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
3/21 HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/15 SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
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)
3/07 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)
3/03 SB 1798 Increases the Monetary Damages an Individual May Receive as a Result of Violations Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
2/24 HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
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)
2/14 SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
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)
1/21 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 - Senate (32 - 6)
10/04 SB 732 Prohibits the Process Known as "Vaccine Coercion" Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
9/10 SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
9/08 AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
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)
6/24 SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
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)
6/10 SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
6/08 HB 6665 Prohibits 'Whites Only' Covenants Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
6/07 HB 3284 Prohibits a Covered Organization from Collecting Personal Health Data Without Consent Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
6/02 SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
5/30 SB 817 Prohibits School Discrimination Against Certain Hairstyles Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 12)
5/25 SB 457 Prohibits Local Public Health Directors from Issuing an Emergency Order to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/22 HB 3979 Prohibits the Teaching of "Critical Race Theory" in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
5/20 AB 88 Requires Schools to Change Any Identifier that is "Racially Discriminatory" Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
5/18 SB 1 Alleges Racism is a Public Health Crisis Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/05 SB 623 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in K-12 Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7)
5/05 HF 889 Prohibits the Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Passports Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)

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