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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2019 | SD | SB 115 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry Within the Capital | Bill Passed - House (44 - 19) |
| March 4, 2019 | AZ | HB 2693 | Repeals Requirement that Firearms be Unloaded on School Grounds | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
| March 4, 2019 | ID | H 180 | Authorizes Syringe and Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (47 - 20) |
| March 4, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1177 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (38 - 25) |
| March 4, 2019 | NY | S 2450 | Increases Penalties for Improper Gun Storages | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 22) |
| March 1, 2019 | KY | SB 150 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| March 1, 2019 | MT | HB 498 | Authorizes Parolee Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | CO | SB 19-1025 | Prohibits Employers from Asking About Employee Criminal History | Bill Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | National | HR 1112 | Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 198) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | AZ | SB 1250 | Authorizes Protective Orders for Victims of Sexual Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WV | SB 348 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WV | HB 2519 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2167 | Establishes System for Transfer of Certain Deer Hunting Permits to Nonresidents | Bill Passed - House (63 - 60) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | National | HR 8 | Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 190) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | OH | HB 86 | Amends Regulations for Firearm Length | Bill Passed - House (76 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1119 | Requires Law Enforcement Internal Investigations to Become Public | Bill Passed - House (33 - 29) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | National | H J Res 46 | Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 182) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 24, 2019 | NM | HB 564 | Amends Probation and Parole Procedures | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| Feb. 22, 2019 | UT | HB 40 | Repeals the Misdemeanor Crime of Sodomy and Adultery | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 2) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 758 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 758 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | IN | SB 12 | Authorizes Consideration of Bias in Sentencing | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | IA | HF 262 | Prohibits Pyramid Promotional Schemes | Bill Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | WA | HB 1074 | Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | SD | SB 115 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry Within the Capital | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | ND | HB 1381 | Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs | Bill Passed - House (66 - 26) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1148 | Reduces Maximum Criminal Penalty for Certain Crimes to 364 Days | Bill Passed - House (41 - 21) |
| Feb. 18, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| Feb. 15, 2019 | NV | SB 143 | Expands Background Checks for Private Gun Sales | Bill Passed - House (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | NH | HB 253 | Prohibits Employers from Asking Job Applicants About Criminal History | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (213 - 142) |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | IN | HB 1615 | Increases Penalties for Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - House (81 - 13) |
| Feb. 14, 2019 | NM | SB 8 | Requires Background Checks for Gun Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | NV | SB 143 | Expands Background Checks for Private Gun Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | OK | HB 2597 | Authorizes State Constitutional Carry | Bill Passed - House (70 - 30) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | MI | SB 2 | Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Feb. 11, 2019 | OK | HB 2591 | Requires Healthcare Providers Report Statutory Rape | Bill Passed - House (79 - 20) |
| Feb. 8, 2019 | NM | HB 8 | Requires Background Checks for Gun Sales | Bill Passed - House (41 - 25) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 4135 | Establishes Procedures for Digital Parking Meters and a Fund for Encouraging Designated Drivers | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2374 | Amends Background Check Regulations | Bill Passed - House (85 - 52) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (100 - 37) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | SD | SB 47 | Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit | Bill Passed - House (47 - 23) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (100 - 37) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2449 | Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program | Bill Passed - House (108 - 36) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | SC | S 176 | Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2449 | Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 13) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2374 | Amends Background Check Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2448 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 14) |
| Jan. 23, 2019 | DE | HB 2 | Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| Jan. 22, 2019 | VA | SB 1012 | Amends Conceal Carry Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Jan. 22, 2019 | SD | SB 47 | Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | S 1047 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression | Bill Passed - House (105 - 43) |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | A 576 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4) |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | S 1047 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | National | H Res 41 | Rejecting White Nationalism and White Supremacy | Bill Passed - House (424 - 1) |
| Jan. 10, 2019 | DE | HB 1 | Establishes an Equal Rights Amendment in the State Constitution | Bill Passed - House (35 - 6) |
| Dec. 27, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| Dec. 27, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Veto Override Passed - House (67 - 22) |
| Dec. 20, 2018 | National | S 756 | First Step Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (358 - 36) |
| Dec. 18, 2018 | National | S 756 | First Step Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| Dec. 17, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| Dec. 17, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| Dec. 6, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 22) |
| Dec. 6, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| Dec. 6, 2018 | OH | SB 250 | Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| Dec. 4, 2018 | MI | SB 1175 | Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (60 - 48) |
| Nov. 28, 2018 | MI | SB 1175 | Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Nov. 27, 2018 | IL | SB 3136 | Authorizes More Discretion by the State Police in Positive Cannabis Testing Terminations | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 24) |
| Nov. 14, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Oct. 29, 2018 | NJ | S 2465 | Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0) |