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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2018 | NJ | A 1217 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 11) |
| June 7, 2018 | DE | SB 65 | Prohibits the Practice of Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (24 - 14) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 411 | Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 411 | Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 411 | Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 2142 | Requires Certain Marijuana Convictions be Sealed | Bill Passed - House (98 - 41) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 9016 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Opioid-Use Disorder | Bill Passed - House (108 - 28) |
| May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 336 | Establishes the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (72 - 38) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3256 | Requires 72 Hour Waiting Period for Guns | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2562 | Authorizes Police Drone Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (74 - 35) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3489 | Amends the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2560 | Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
| May 29, 2018 | IL | SB 337 | Amends Gun Dealer Licensing Rules | Bill Passed - House (65 - 49) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
| May 24, 2018 | NJ | S 493 | Authorizes Transgender Death Certificates | Bill Passed - House (57 - 10) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | HB 6043 | Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days | Bill Passed - House (88 - 21) |
| May 24, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Bill Passed - House (351 - 66) |
| May 23, 2018 | NC | SB 470 | Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
| May 23, 2018 | MA | H 4517 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (139 - 14) |
| May 23, 2018 | MA | H 4517 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (139 - 14) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | HB 2354 | Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals | Bill Passed - House (80 - 32) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | HB 2354 | Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals | Bill Passed - House (80 - 32) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | S 204 | Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 169) |
| May 22, 2018 | National | HR 5682 | FIRST STEP Act | Bill Passed - House (360 - 59) |
| May 16, 2018 | NY | A 3557 | Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health | Bill Passed - House (137 - 0) |
| May 16, 2018 | National | HR 5698 | Protect and Serve Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (382 - 35) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 15, 2018 | MI | HB 5901 | Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System | Bill Passed - House (69 - 39) |
| May 9, 2018 | SC | S 109 | Prohibits Flying Drones Over Military Installations | Bill Passed - House (88 - 1) |
| May 9, 2018 | National | HR 2152 | Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 197) |
| May 8, 2018 | National | S J Res 57 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" | Bill Passed - House (234 - 175) |
| May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
| May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
| May 1, 2018 | HI | SB 270 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors | Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 5) |
| May 1, 2018 | CT | HB 5542 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| May 1, 2018 | MN | HF 2856 | Amends Public Safety Laws | Bill Passed - House (92 - 35) |
| April 30, 2018 | MO | HB 2499 | Amends Parole Hearing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (114 - 30) |
| April 26, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
| April 26, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
| April 26, 2018 | CO | SB 18-166 | Amends Sentencing Requirements for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 786 | Amends Burglary Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 33) |
| April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 793 | Amends Drug Possession Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
| April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 793 | Amends Drug Possession Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
| April 23, 2018 | NY | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
| April 23, 2018 | NY | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
| April 19, 2018 | CA | AB 2943 | Prohibits Advertising Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| April 18, 2018 | ME | LD 912 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (72 - 76) |
| April 18, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1391 | Establishes Requirements for Sexual Misconduct Policies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| April 17, 2018 | TN | SB 2133 | Prohibits Criminal Sentencing Based on Sterilization | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| April 15, 2018 | AK | HB 316 | Amends Rules Concerning Release of Marijuana Conviction Records | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
| April 13, 2018 | KY | HB 169 | Amends Criminal Laws Related to Gang Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 30) |
| April 12, 2018 | TN | HB 849 | Authorizes GPS Monitoring for Domestic Abuse Defendants | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 5) |
| April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7688 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
| April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7452 | Prohibits Sharing Explicit Images without Consent | Bill Passed - House (66 - 0) |
| April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7688 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
| April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7075 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (65 - 3) |
| April 12, 2018 | ME | LD 912 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3686 | Increases State Protections for Labor Unions | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
| April 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4891 | Authorizes Parents to Monitor Child's Communications | Bill Passed - House (105 - 3) |
| April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (188 - 2) |
| April 5, 2018 | MD | HB 819 | Amends Handgun Permit Rules and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 31) |
| April 4, 2018 | MA | S 2371 | Amends Criminal Justice Law | Conference Report Adopted - House (148 - 5) |
| April 4, 2018 | MA | S 2372 | Establishes the Garden of Peace Trust Fund | Conference Report Adopted - House (152 - 0) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 1302 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Order | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| April 2, 2018 | TN | SB 1796 | Establishes Process to Remove Domestic Abusers from Cell Phone Plans | Bill Passed - House (94 - 0) |
| March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 34) |
| March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 34) |
| March 29, 2018 | DE | HB 399 | Amends State Constitution to Provide Equal Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 5) |
| March 27, 2018 | VT | S 55 | Amends Various State Gun Laws | Bill Passed - House (89 - 54) |
| March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1181 | Amends Various Firearm Confiscation Measures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
| March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 2758 | Requires Justifiable Need to Carry a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (48 - 26) |