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
March 3, 2016 AZ SB 1257 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
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. 23, 2016 CO SB 17 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Firearm Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2016 WV HB 4145 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2016 VA SB 610 Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 1, 2016 VA SB 48 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
Jan. 28, 2016 FL SB 344 Amends Burden of Proof in Self-Defense Immunity Claims Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2016 IN SB 259 Authorizes General Assembly Employees to Carry Handguns in the Statehouse Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2915 Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
Dec. 3, 2015 National S Amdt 2910 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
June 30, 2015 ME LD 652 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 24, 2015 NC HB 640 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15)
June 9, 2015 WI SB 70 Authorizes Certain Officers to Carry Firearms in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 1, 2015 CA SB 707 Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 28, 2015 NC HB 640 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
May 22, 2015 TX HB 910 Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 21, 2015 IL HB 352 Authorizes Bobcat Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
April 29, 2015 MI HB 4151 Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 23, 2015 MN SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
April 16, 2015 TN HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
April 14, 2015 OR SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 13, 2015 TN SB 874 Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
April 1, 2015 TN HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 25, 2015 CO SB 86 Repeals Background Check Requirement for Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/03 SB 1257 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms in Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
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)
2/23 SB 17 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Firearm Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/22 HB 4145 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/04 SB 610 Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/01 SB 48 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
1/28 SB 344 Amends Burden of Proof in Self-Defense Immunity Claims Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
1/26 SB 259 Authorizes General Assembly Employees to Carry Handguns in the Statehouse Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
12/03 S Amdt 2915 Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45)
12/03 S Amdt 2910 Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
6/30 LD 652 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/24 HB 640 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15)
6/09 SB 70 Authorizes Certain Officers to Carry Firearms in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/01 SB 707 Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/28 HB 640 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
5/22 HB 910 Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/21 HB 352 Authorizes Bobcat Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
4/29 HB 4151 Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/23 SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
4/16 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
4/14 SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/13 SB 874 Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
4/01 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/25 SB 86 Repeals Background Check Requirement for Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)

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