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
April 12, 2017 CO SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
April 11, 2017 AZ SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 7, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
April 7, 2017 WA HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
April 6, 2017 IN HB 1438 Authorizes Counties or Municipalities to Approve Syringe Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 6, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
April 4, 2017 IA HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
March 30, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
March 29, 2017 MT HB 494 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 29, 2017 OH SB 1 Increases Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Drug Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 28, 2017 MS HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 28, 2017 MN SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
March 28, 2017 MN SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 27, 2017 TN HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 27, 2017 TN HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 27, 2017 TX SB 16 Reduces Fee for Firearm Carry Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 23, 2017 IA HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/12 SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
4/11 SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/07 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
4/07 HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
4/06 HB 1438 Authorizes Counties or Municipalities to Approve Syringe Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/06 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
4/04 HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
3/30 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
3/29 HB 494 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/29 SB 1 Increases Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Drug Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/28 HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/28 SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
3/28 SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
3/27 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/27 HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/27 HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/27 SB 16 Reduces Fee for Firearm Carry Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/23 HF 516 Requires Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)

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