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
Feb. 12, 2015 NH SB 116 Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
Feb. 10, 2015 VA SB 1393 Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2015 WV HB 2002 Amends Liability Standards Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 5, 2015 MT SB 143 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Feb. 3, 2015 IN SB 433 Authorizes Possession of Sawed-off Shotguns Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6)
Feb. 3, 2015 MI SB 34 Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
Feb. 2, 2015 MT SB 154 Amends Requirement to Wear Hunter Orange while Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 23, 2015 WY SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
Jan. 16, 2015 WY SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Dec. 11, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Dec. 11, 2014 OH HB 663 Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Dec. 11, 2014 MI SB 1156 Prohibits Actions that Coerce a Woman to Get an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 9, 2014 OH HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI SB 1130 Amends Public Health Code to Include Hepatitis C Virus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Nov. 19, 2014 OH SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Nov. 18, 2014 National S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
Nov. 18, 2014 National S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
Oct. 16, 2014 PA HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Oct. 16, 2014 PA HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Oct. 15, 2014 PA HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Sept. 15, 2014 NH SB 391 Increases Oversight of Juvenile Justice Programs Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 28, 2014 CA SB 199 Requires Certain Replica Guns to be Sold in Fluorescent Colors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Aug. 28, 2014 CA SB 199 Requires Certain Replica Guns to be Sold in Fluorescent Colors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 26, 2014 CA AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Aug. 26, 2014 CA AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Aug. 21, 2014 CA SB 968 Authorizes Public Access Route to Martins Beach Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Aug. 21, 2014 CA SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Aug. 21, 2014 CA SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
July 31, 2014 MA H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
July 31, 2014 MA H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
July 31, 2014 MA H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
July 16, 2014 MA H 4184 Requires Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
July 1, 2014 MA Amdt 17 Limits Use of Non-Competition Agreements Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 7)
June 10, 2014 MI SB 789 Amends Firearm Licensing Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
May 30, 2014 LA SB 469 Prohibits Government Entities from Pursuing Cause of Action under the Coastal Management Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 28, 2014 CA SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 28, 2014 CA SB 968 Requires Public Access Route to Martin's Beach Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 28, 2014 CA SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 22, 2014 IL SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
May 15, 2014 MO SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 8)
May 12, 2014 NJ A 2777 Amends Firearm Transportation Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 12, 2014 NJ A 2006 Reduces the Maximum Capacity of Ammunition Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 5, 2014 CA SB 1038 Amends Juvenile Court Records Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 1, 2014 IA SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 30, 2014 MO HB 1439 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/12 SB 116 Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
2/10 SB 1393 Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
2/09 HB 2002 Amends Liability Standards Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/05 SB 143 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
2/03 SB 433 Authorizes Possession of Sawed-off Shotguns Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6)
2/03 SB 34 Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
2/02 SB 154 Amends Requirement to Wear Hunter Orange while Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/23 SF 14 Amends Property Forfeiture Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
1/16 SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
12/11 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets Unless Officer is Present Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
12/11 HB 663 Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
12/11 SB 1156 Prohibits Actions that Coerce a Woman to Get an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/09 HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
12/03 SB 1130 Amends Public Health Code to Include Hepatitis C Virus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
11/19 SB 342 Prohibits Use of Traffic Cameras to Issue Tickets unless an Officer is Present Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
11/18 S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
11/18 S 2685 USA FREEDOM Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42)
10/16 HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
10/16 HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
10/15 HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
9/15 SB 391 Increases Oversight of Juvenile Justice Programs Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9)
9/10 SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/28 SB 199 Requires Certain Replica Guns to be Sold in Fluorescent Colors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
8/28 SB 199 Requires Certain Replica Guns to be Sold in Fluorescent Colors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
8/27 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/27 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/26 AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
8/26 AB 1327 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
8/21 SB 968 Authorizes Public Access Route to Martins Beach Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
8/21 SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
8/21 SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
7/31 H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
7/31 H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
7/31 H 4278 Amends Firearm Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
7/16 H 4184 Requires Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
7/01 Amdt 17 Limits Use of Non-Competition Agreements Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 7)
6/10 SB 789 Amends Firearm Licensing Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
5/30 SB 469 Prohibits Government Entities from Pursuing Cause of Action under the Coastal Management Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/28 SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/28 SB 968 Requires Public Access Route to Martin's Beach Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/28 SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/22 SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
5/15 SB 656 Authorizes School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 8)
5/12 A 2777 Amends Firearm Transportation Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/12 A 2006 Reduces the Maximum Capacity of Ammunition Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/05 SB 1038 Amends Juvenile Court Records Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/01 SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/30 HB 1439 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)

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