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 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1610 | Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14) |
| March 5, 2019 | NM | SB 323 | Reduces Criminal Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 5, 2019 | HI | SB 1466 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
| March 4, 2019 | NY | S 2450 | Increases Penalties for Improper Gun Storages | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 22) |
| 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. 26, 2019 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 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 | IN | SB 12 | Authorizes Consideration of Bias in Sentencing | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Feb. 21, 2019 | NJ | S 758 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals Count in Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | SD | SB 115 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry Within the Capital | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 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 | MI | SB 2 | Prohibits Property Seizures by Law Enforcement Until After Criminal Conviction | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2449 | Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 13) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | SC | S 176 | Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2448 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 14) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 101 | Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2374 | Amends Background Check Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | NY | S 2451 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21) |
| Jan. 23, 2019 | DE | HB 2 | Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| Jan. 22, 2019 | SD | SB 47 | Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |