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
May 20, 2025 MI SB 260 Specifies that Public Universities, Colleges, and School Districts May be Held Liable for Criminal Sexual Conduct of an Employee or Agent Committed During the Course of Employment or Service Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 20, 2025 MI SB 259 Exempts Claims for Damages Resulting from Criminal Sexual Conduct from the Statute of Limitations on Claims Made Against the State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 20, 2025 MI SB 258 Expands the Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions against Criminal Sexual Conduct Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 20, 2025 MI SB 257 Expands the Statute of Limitations for Civil Action Against Criminal Sexual Conduct Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
May 19, 2025 NV AB 48 Requires Schools to Investigate Race-Based Bullying Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
May 14, 2025 NE LB 140 Prohibits Student Cell Phone Use in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
May 14, 2025 IA HF 889 Establishes Paid Parental Leave for State Employees in Iowa Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 1)
May 14, 2025 OH SB 158 Prohibits Cell-Phone Use by Students During the School Day Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
May 13, 2025 NY A 2123 Authorizes Additional Credits for the Children and Siblings of Deceased Sanitation Workers Related to the 9/11 Terror Attacks Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 0)
May 13, 2025 CT SB 6 Requires Municipal Camps to be Licensed by the State Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 13, 2025 RI S 771 Requires Each Public School to have a Policy Regarding the Use of Personal Electronic Devices on School Grounds and During School-Sponsored Activities Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
May 9, 2025 TX HB 353 Establishes Criminal Penalty for Trespassing Near Schools or Day-Care Centers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
May 8, 2025 SC S 29 Amends Laws on Sexual Exploitation of Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 0)
May 8, 2025 RI S 387 Requires the Installation of Universal Changing Stations in All Newly Constructed, Reconstructed or Remodeled Public Buildings (Senate Version) Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
May 7, 2025 AL HB 166 Prohibits Students from Using Cell Phones During Classes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
May 7, 2025 NC SB 442 Amends Child Abuse and Neglect Statutes to Exempt Conduct Described as Raising a Child "Consistent with the Juvenile's Biological Sex" and Prohibits Adoptive Parents from Being Screened Based on Whether They Would Deny Their Child Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
May 6, 2025 AZ HB 2112 Requires Commercial Pornography Websites to Verify a User's Age Before Granting Access Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
May 6, 2025 AL HB 8 Increases Regulations on Tobacco and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
May 5, 2025 AK SB 96 Establishes a New Grant Program for Child Care and Expands the Number of Families Eligible for Child Care Assistance from the State. Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 1)
May 1, 2025 AL SB 140 Requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to Enforce the Coach Safely Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
April 29, 2025 MO HB 737 Amends State Foster Care System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 1)
April 29, 2025 ND SB 2354 Requires All Public and Private Schools to Follow the Statewide Student Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
April 28, 2025 CO SB 25-144 Establishes 12 Additional Weeks for Families of Infants who have to Stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 25, 2025 CO SB 25-086 Establishes Minor Social Media Protections Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
April 23, 2025 IN SB 442 Requires Any Materials Used to Teach "Human Sexuality" for Grades 4-12 be Approved by a School Board and Posted Online Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/20 SB 260 Specifies that Public Universities, Colleges, and School Districts May be Held Liable for Criminal Sexual Conduct of an Employee or Agent Committed During the Course of Employment or Service Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/20 SB 259 Exempts Claims for Damages Resulting from Criminal Sexual Conduct from the Statute of Limitations on Claims Made Against the State Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/20 SB 258 Expands the Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions against Criminal Sexual Conduct Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/20 SB 257 Expands the Statute of Limitations for Civil Action Against Criminal Sexual Conduct Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
5/19 AB 48 Requires Schools to Investigate Race-Based Bullying Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0)
5/14 LB 140 Prohibits Student Cell Phone Use in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
5/14 HF 889 Establishes Paid Parental Leave for State Employees in Iowa Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 1)
5/14 SB 158 Prohibits Cell-Phone Use by Students During the School Day Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
5/13 A 2123 Authorizes Additional Credits for the Children and Siblings of Deceased Sanitation Workers Related to the 9/11 Terror Attacks Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 0)
5/13 SB 6 Requires Municipal Camps to be Licensed by the State Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/13 S 771 Requires Each Public School to have a Policy Regarding the Use of Personal Electronic Devices on School Grounds and During School-Sponsored Activities Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
5/09 HB 353 Establishes Criminal Penalty for Trespassing Near Schools or Day-Care Centers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
5/08 S 29 Amends Laws on Sexual Exploitation of Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 0)
5/08 S 387 Requires the Installation of Universal Changing Stations in All Newly Constructed, Reconstructed or Remodeled Public Buildings (Senate Version) Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
5/07 HB 166 Prohibits Students from Using Cell Phones During Classes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
5/07 SB 442 Amends Child Abuse and Neglect Statutes to Exempt Conduct Described as Raising a Child "Consistent with the Juvenile's Biological Sex" and Prohibits Adoptive Parents from Being Screened Based on Whether They Would Deny Their Child Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
5/06 HB 2112 Requires Commercial Pornography Websites to Verify a User's Age Before Granting Access Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
5/06 HB 8 Increases Regulations on Tobacco and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
5/05 SB 96 Establishes a New Grant Program for Child Care and Expands the Number of Families Eligible for Child Care Assistance from the State. Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 1)
5/01 SB 140 Requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to Enforce the Coach Safely Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
4/29 HB 737 Amends State Foster Care System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 1)
4/29 SB 2354 Requires All Public and Private Schools to Follow the Statewide Student Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
4/28 SB 25-144 Establishes 12 Additional Weeks for Families of Infants who have to Stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/25 SB 25-086 Establishes Minor Social Media Protections Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
4/23 SB 442 Requires Any Materials Used to Teach "Human Sexuality" for Grades 4-12 be Approved by a School Board and Posted Online Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 12)

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