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 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 5, 2016 IL SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
April 5, 2016 AL SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 5, 2016 IL SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 24, 2016 TN HB 1679 Requires a Claimant to Pay for Defendant Attorney Fees in Certain Legal Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 16, 2016 ID S 1389 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 15, 2016 KY HB 160 Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 11, 2016 VA HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
March 11, 2016 GA HB 859 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
March 10, 2016 IN HB 1127 Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 10)
March 9, 2016 FL HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 8, 2016 IA SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 3, 2016 MS SB 2306 Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
March 3, 2016 AZ SB 1257 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 2, 2016 UT SB 107 Amends Definition of a Hate Crime Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
March 2, 2016 UT SB 189 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12)
March 1, 2016 MS SB 2237 Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Feb. 29, 2016 VA HB 560 Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 29, 2016 VA HB 560 Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 26, 2016 ID S 1276 Expands List of Crimes that Prohibit an Individual from Possessing Firearm Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2016 ID S 1276 Expands List of Crimes that Prohibit an Individual from Possessing Firearm Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 29)
Feb. 25, 2016 IA SF 2289 Expands Criminal Offenses for Animal Mistreatment Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/05 SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
4/05 SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/05 SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
4/04 HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/24 HB 1679 Requires a Claimant to Pay for Defendant Attorney Fees in Certain Legal Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/16 S 1389 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/15 HB 160 Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/11 HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
3/11 HB 859 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
3/10 HB 1127 Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 10)
3/09 HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/08 SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/03 SB 2306 Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14)
3/03 SB 1257 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/02 SB 107 Amends Definition of a Hate Crime Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
3/02 SB 189 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12)
3/01 SB 2237 Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
2/29 HB 560 Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/29 HB 560 Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/26 S 1276 Expands List of Crimes that Prohibit an Individual from Possessing Firearm Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 29)
2/26 S 1276 Expands List of Crimes that Prohibit an Individual from Possessing Firearm Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 29)
2/25 SF 2289 Expands Criminal Offenses for Animal Mistreatment Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)

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