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
June 18, 2025 WI AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 WI AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 WI AB 85 Increases Early Release Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 OH SB 172 Prohibits Immigration-Related Arrest Protections Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
June 18, 2025 WI SB 111 Requires Counties That Approve Emergency Detention for a Minor to Transport the Minor to the Detention Facility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 WI SB 94 Increases Penalties for Acts of Violence and Other Actions Which Contribute to a Riot Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 WI SB 278 Extends the Governmental Grant Program for Community-Oriented Policing-House Programs to July 1, 2027 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
June 18, 2025 OH SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
June 17, 2025 ME LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
June 17, 2025 ME LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
June 17, 2025 NC HB 612 Requires Counties and Cities to have Criminal History Record Checks for Applicants Offered a Position that Requires the Applicant to Work with Children in Any Capacity Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
June 13, 2025 ME LD 1062 Repeals Private Sale Firearm Background Checks in Maine "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
June 13, 2025 ME LD 1062 Repeals Private Sale Firearm Background Checks in Maine "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 1120 Prohibits Certain Forms of Firearm Storage Defined as Negligent "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 1120 Prohibits Certain Forms of Firearm Storage Defined as Negligent "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 424 Reduces the Age Requirement for an Individual to Carry a Firearm Without a Permit "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 424 Reduces the Age Requirement for an Individual to Carry a Firearm Without a Permit "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 998 Authorizes Employers to Prohibit Employees From Storing Firearms in Their Vehicle While at Work "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
June 12, 2025 ME LD 677 Prohibits the Posession of Certain Rapid-Fire Devices in Maine "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
June 12, 2025 NY S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
June 12, 2025 NY S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
June 11, 2025 NY A 1894 Repeals Provisions Requiring Reporting of a Patient's Drug Use Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
June 11, 2025 NY A 1894 Repeals Provisions Requiring Reporting of a Patient's Drug Use Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
June 11, 2025 NY A 6556 Authorizes Cruelty to Animals to be Considered as a Factor for a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 1)
June 11, 2025 National S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/18 AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 AB 85 Increases Early Release Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 SB 172 Prohibits Immigration-Related Arrest Protections Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
6/18 SB 111 Requires Counties That Approve Emergency Detention for a Minor to Transport the Minor to the Detention Facility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 SB 94 Increases Penalties for Acts of Violence and Other Actions Which Contribute to a Riot Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 SB 278 Extends the Governmental Grant Program for Community-Oriented Policing-House Programs to July 1, 2027 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
6/18 SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
6/17 LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
6/17 LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
6/17 HB 612 Requires Counties and Cities to have Criminal History Record Checks for Applicants Offered a Position that Requires the Applicant to Work with Children in Any Capacity Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
6/13 LD 1062 Repeals Private Sale Firearm Background Checks in Maine "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
6/13 LD 1062 Repeals Private Sale Firearm Background Checks in Maine "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
6/12 LD 1120 Prohibits Certain Forms of Firearm Storage Defined as Negligent "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
6/12 LD 1120 Prohibits Certain Forms of Firearm Storage Defined as Negligent "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
6/12 LD 424 Reduces the Age Requirement for an Individual to Carry a Firearm Without a Permit "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
6/12 LD 424 Reduces the Age Requirement for an Individual to Carry a Firearm Without a Permit "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17)
6/12 LD 998 Authorizes Employers to Prohibit Employees From Storing Firearms in Their Vehicle While at Work "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
6/12 LD 677 Prohibits the Posession of Certain Rapid-Fire Devices in Maine "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (16 - 19)
6/12 S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
6/12 S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
6/11 A 1894 Repeals Provisions Requiring Reporting of a Patient's Drug Use Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
6/11 A 1894 Repeals Provisions Requiring Reporting of a Patient's Drug Use Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 20)
6/11 A 6556 Authorizes Cruelty to Animals to be Considered as a Factor for a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 1)
6/11 S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)

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