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
Feb. 14, 2023 NY A 3340 Amends State Penal Law to Modify Rape Convictions Bill Passed - House (129 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2023 VA SB 1291 Classifies Making a False Report to Emergency Personnel as a Class 1 Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
Feb. 13, 2023 MN HF 2 Establishes 12 Weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - House (70 - 60)
Feb. 13, 2023 SD HB 1135 Establishes Transparency in the Pricing of Prescription Drugs Bill Passed - House (62 - 5)
Feb. 10, 2023 FL SB 4-B Authorizes Office of Statewide Prosecution to Investigate Voting-Related Crimes Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
Feb. 9, 2023 NM HB 9 Establishes Negligently Leaving a Firearm Accessible for a Minor as a Crime Bill Passed - House (37 - 32)
Feb. 9, 2023 National H J Res 26 Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 173)
Feb. 9, 2023 UT HB 219 Establishes Utah as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State Bill Passed - House (60 - 13)
Feb. 9, 2023 MS HB 1105 Authorizes Certain Government Employees of the Secretary of State to Carry Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 21)
Feb. 9, 2023 IA HF 159 Prohibits Use of Trans or Gay Panic Defense in Assault Cases Bill Passed - House (94 - 1)
Feb. 9, 2023 National H Res 104 Condemning the Chinese Communist Party's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty Resolution Passed - House (419 - 0)
Feb. 8, 2023 NC HB 40 Increases Penalties for Rioting Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
Feb. 8, 2023 NC HB 40 Increases Penalties for Rioting Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
Feb. 8, 2023 IA HF 161 Establishes a $1 Million Cap on Noneconomic Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 7, 2023 MS HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - House (76 - 38)
Feb. 7, 2023 VA HB 2387 Establishes a Refundable Income Tax Credit for Firearm Safety Devices Bill Passed - House (98 - 1)
Feb. 6, 2023 UT HB 107 Repeals Fees for Conceal Carry Permits for School Employees Bill Passed - House (57 - 12)
Feb. 3, 2023 VA HB 2385 Prohibits Use of TikTok on Government-Issued Devices Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 3, 2023 UT HB 195 Requires School Employees Who are Under Criminal Investigation To Be Put On Paid Leave Bill Passed - House (42 - 30)
Feb. 2, 2023 VA HB 2467 Requires Photo ID for the Purpose of Purchasing a Firearm Bill Passed - House (73 - 27)
Feb. 2, 2023 MN HF 28 Expands Voting Rights to Ex-Felons Bill Passed - House (71 - 59)
Feb. 1, 2023 National H J Res 7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 Joint Resolution Passed - House (229 - 197)
Jan. 31, 2023 National HR 382 Pandemic is Over Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 210)
Jan. 31, 2023 National HR 497 Freedom for Health Care Workers Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 203)
Jan. 24, 2023 IN HB 1306 Increases Penalty for Killing Law Enforcement Animal Bill Passed - House (89 - 8)
Jan. 24, 2023 NY A 975 Establishes the Crime of Unlawful Dissemination of Anothers Image Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
Jan. 24, 2023 NY A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. Bill Passed - House (97 - 46)
Jan. 19, 2023 WI SJR 2 Requires a Defendant's Potential Risk Factors be Considered when Setting Bail Joint Resolution Passed - House (74 - 23)
Jan. 18, 2023 AR HB 1018 Authorizes Bomb Squads to Carry Weapons and Make Arrests Bill Passed - House (71 - 9)
Jan. 18, 2023 AR HB 1018 Authorizes Bomb Squads to Carry Weapons and Make Arrests Bill Passed - House (71 - 9)
Jan. 11, 2023 MT HB 71 Amends State Alcohol Laws Bill Passed - House (95 - 3)
Jan. 11, 2023 MN HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - House (111 - 19)
Jan. 11, 2023 National H Con Res 3 Expressing the sense of Congress condemning the recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches Joint Resolution Passed - House (222 - 209)
Jan. 10, 2023 IL HB 5471 Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery and Purchase of Assault Weapons Across the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 41)
Jan. 10, 2023 National H Res 11 Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Resolution Passed - House (365 - 65)
Jan. 10, 2023 National H Res 12 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary Resolution Passed - House (221 - 211)
Jan. 6, 2023 IL SB 2226 Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery, and Purchase of Assault Weapons in the State Bill Passed - House (64 - 43)
Dec. 23, 2022 National HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201)
Dec. 14, 2022 OH HB 513 Prohibits Local Government Control of Flavored Tobacco Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 35)
Dec. 14, 2022 OH SB 16 Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20)
Dec. 14, 2022 OH SB 16 Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20)
Dec. 14, 2022 National S 4003 Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (264 - 162)
Dec. 13, 2022 OH HB 286 Requires Legal Challenges for Certain Agency Orders Occur in the County Where a Business or Individual Resides Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 31)
Dec. 6, 2022 National S 2796 Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (408 - 11)
Dec. 1, 2022 IL HB 1095 Amends Previously Passed Criminal Justice Reforms Known as the SAFE-T Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 40)
Dec. 1, 2022 OH SB 185 Prohibits Local Governments from Confiscating Firearms During Declared Emergencies Bill Passed - House (57 - 22)
Dec. 1, 2022 National HR 4785 To support the human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing primarily in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their distinct identity, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (407 - 17)
Dec. 1, 2022 National HR 6878 Pregnant Women in Custody Act Bill Passed - House (324 - 90)
Dec. 1, 2022 National HR 3372 One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (259 - 167)
Nov. 30, 2022 National H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
Nov. 30, 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 - House (290 - 137)
Nov. 21, 2022 NJ A 4769 Establishes Gun Free Zones Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
Nov. 16, 2022 OH HB 283 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (77 - 14)
Nov. 15, 2022 PA HB 1546 Prohibits "Endangerment" of Public Safety Officials Concurrence Vote Passed - House (158 - 39)
Sept. 22, 2022 National HR 4118 Break the Cycle of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 207)
Sept. 22, 2022 National HR 6448 Invest to Protect Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (360 - 64)
Sept. 22, 2022 National HR 8542 Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (223 - 206)
Sept. 22, 2022 National HR 5768 Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (250 - 178)
Sept. 21, 2022 MI HB 6354 Amends Law in Regard to Hunting (73 - 33)
Sept. 19, 2022 PA HB 146 Prohibits Premature Release of an Individual who has Committed a Violent Offense while Imprisoned Concurrence Vote Passed - House (133 - 69)
Sept. 15, 2022 National HR 2988 Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (221 - 203)
Aug. 25, 2022 CA AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12)
Aug. 25, 2022 CA AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12)
Aug. 25, 2022 CA AB 2147 Limits Police Enforcement of Prohibition on Pedestrian Jaywalking Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 16)
Aug. 15, 2022 CA SB 960 Repeals Citizenship and Permanent Resident Requirements for State Police Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
Aug. 11, 2022 CA SB 1384 Requires Firearm Dealers to Use Video Surveillance Systems Bill Passed - House (53 - 19)
Aug. 8, 2022 CA SB 1106 Prohibits Unpaid Restitution from Blocking an Individual from Clearing Their Record Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
July 29, 2022 National HR 1808 Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 Bill Passed - House (217 - 213)
July 13, 2022 National HR 6538 Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (260 - 169)
July 1, 2022 NC HB 674 Prohibits Medical Billing of Rape Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 1)
July 1, 2022 PA SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Bill Passed - House (135 - 65)
July 1, 2022 NY S 51001 Requires Social Media Account Disclosure for Individuals Applying for a Handgun License Bill Passed - House (90 - 52)
June 30, 2022 MI HB 4195 Amends Divorce Filing Law Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 3)
June 30, 2022 CA AB 2571 Prohibits Marketing of Firearms to Minors; Authorizes Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 15)
June 30, 2022 NC SB 101 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE Bill Passed - House (65 - 47)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/14 A 3340 Amends State Penal Law to Modify Rape Convictions Bill Passed - House (129 - 12)
2/13 SB 1291 Classifies Making a False Report to Emergency Personnel as a Class 1 Misdemeanor Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
2/13 HF 2 Establishes 12 Weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - House (70 - 60)
2/13 HB 1135 Establishes Transparency in the Pricing of Prescription Drugs Bill Passed - House (62 - 5)
2/10 SB 4-B Authorizes Office of Statewide Prosecution to Investigate Voting-Related Crimes Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
2/09 HB 9 Establishes Negligently Leaving a Firearm Accessible for a Minor as a Crime Bill Passed - House (37 - 32)
2/09 H J Res 26 Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 173)
2/09 HB 219 Establishes Utah as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State Bill Passed - House (60 - 13)
2/09 HB 1105 Authorizes Certain Government Employees of the Secretary of State to Carry Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 21)
2/09 HF 159 Prohibits Use of Trans or Gay Panic Defense in Assault Cases Bill Passed - House (94 - 1)
2/09 H Res 104 Condemning the Chinese Communist Party's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty Resolution Passed - House (419 - 0)
2/08 HB 40 Increases Penalties for Rioting Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
2/08 HB 40 Increases Penalties for Rioting Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
2/08 HF 161 Establishes a $1 Million Cap on Noneconomic Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/07 HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - House (76 - 38)
2/07 HB 2387 Establishes a Refundable Income Tax Credit for Firearm Safety Devices Bill Passed - House (98 - 1)
2/06 HB 107 Repeals Fees for Conceal Carry Permits for School Employees Bill Passed - House (57 - 12)
2/03 HB 2385 Prohibits Use of TikTok on Government-Issued Devices Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/03 HB 195 Requires School Employees Who are Under Criminal Investigation To Be Put On Paid Leave Bill Passed - House (42 - 30)
2/02 HB 2467 Requires Photo ID for the Purpose of Purchasing a Firearm Bill Passed - House (73 - 27)
2/02 HF 28 Expands Voting Rights to Ex-Felons Bill Passed - House (71 - 59)
2/01 H J Res 7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 Joint Resolution Passed - House (229 - 197)
1/31 HR 382 Pandemic is Over Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 210)
1/31 HR 497 Freedom for Health Care Workers Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 203)
1/24 HB 1306 Increases Penalty for Killing Law Enforcement Animal Bill Passed - House (89 - 8)
1/24 A 975 Establishes the Crime of Unlawful Dissemination of Anothers Image Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
1/24 A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. Bill Passed - House (97 - 46)
1/19 SJR 2 Requires a Defendant's Potential Risk Factors be Considered when Setting Bail Joint Resolution Passed - House (74 - 23)
1/18 HB 1018 Authorizes Bomb Squads to Carry Weapons and Make Arrests Bill Passed - House (71 - 9)
1/18 HB 1018 Authorizes Bomb Squads to Carry Weapons and Make Arrests Bill Passed - House (71 - 9)
1/11 HB 71 Amends State Alcohol Laws Bill Passed - House (95 - 3)
1/11 HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - House (111 - 19)
1/11 H Con Res 3 Expressing the sense of Congress condemning the recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches Joint Resolution Passed - House (222 - 209)
1/10 HB 5471 Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery and Purchase of Assault Weapons Across the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 41)
1/10 H Res 11 Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Resolution Passed - House (365 - 65)
1/10 H Res 12 Establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary Resolution Passed - House (221 - 211)
1/06 SB 2226 Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery, and Purchase of Assault Weapons in the State Bill Passed - House (64 - 43)
12/23 HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201)
12/14 HB 513 Prohibits Local Government Control of Flavored Tobacco Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 35)
12/14 SB 16 Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20)
12/14 SB 16 Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20)
12/14 S 4003 Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (264 - 162)
12/13 HB 286 Requires Legal Challenges for Certain Agency Orders Occur in the County Where a Business or Individual Resides Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 31)
12/06 S 2796 Rural Opioid Abuse Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (408 - 11)
12/01 HB 1095 Amends Previously Passed Criminal Justice Reforms Known as the SAFE-T Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 40)
12/01 SB 185 Prohibits Local Governments from Confiscating Firearms During Declared Emergencies Bill Passed - House (57 - 22)
12/01 HR 4785 To support the human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing primarily in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their distinct identity, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (407 - 17)
12/01 HR 6878 Pregnant Women in Custody Act Bill Passed - House (324 - 90)
12/01 HR 3372 One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (259 - 167)
11/30 H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207)
11/30 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 - House (290 - 137)
11/21 A 4769 Establishes Gun Free Zones Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
11/16 HB 283 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (77 - 14)
11/15 HB 1546 Prohibits "Endangerment" of Public Safety Officials Concurrence Vote Passed - House (158 - 39)
9/22 HR 4118 Break the Cycle of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 207)
9/22 HR 6448 Invest to Protect Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (360 - 64)
9/22 HR 8542 Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (223 - 206)
9/22 HR 5768 Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (250 - 178)
9/21 HB 6354 Amends Law in Regard to Hunting (73 - 33)
9/19 HB 146 Prohibits Premature Release of an Individual who has Committed a Violent Offense while Imprisoned Concurrence Vote Passed - House (133 - 69)
9/15 HR 2988 Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (221 - 203)
8/25 AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12)
8/25 AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12)
8/25 AB 2147 Limits Police Enforcement of Prohibition on Pedestrian Jaywalking Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 16)
8/15 SB 960 Repeals Citizenship and Permanent Resident Requirements for State Police Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
8/11 SB 1384 Requires Firearm Dealers to Use Video Surveillance Systems Bill Passed - House (53 - 19)
8/08 SB 1106 Prohibits Unpaid Restitution from Blocking an Individual from Clearing Their Record Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
7/29 HR 1808 Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 Bill Passed - House (217 - 213)
7/13 HR 6538 Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (260 - 169)
7/01 HB 674 Prohibits Medical Billing of Rape Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 1)
7/01 SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Bill Passed - House (135 - 65)
7/01 S 51001 Requires Social Media Account Disclosure for Individuals Applying for a Handgun License Bill Passed - House (90 - 52)
6/30 HB 4195 Amends Divorce Filing Law Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 3)
6/30 AB 2571 Prohibits Marketing of Firearms to Minors; Authorizes Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 15)
6/30 SB 101 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE Bill Passed - House (65 - 47)

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