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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2018 | NJ | S 121 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements Regarding Workplace Harassment | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 411 | Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
| June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
| May 23, 2018 | NC | SB 470 | Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 14, 2018 | MN | HF 390 | Establishes Penalties for Obstructing a Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
| May 1, 2018 | MI | HB 5010 | Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| April 26, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
| April 23, 2018 | NY | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
| April 18, 2018 | PA | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| March 22, 2018 | KY | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| March 19, 2018 | KY | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 15, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 15, 2018 | MO | HB 1578 | Limits Circumstances Under Which Lawsuits May Be Joined | Bill Passed - House (104 - 47) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| March 10, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11) |
| March 9, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 9, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
| Feb. 22, 2018 | WA | SB 6052 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| Feb. 20, 2018 | ID | H 419 | Prohibits Courts from Ruling Based on Foreign Law | Bill Passed - House (44 - 24) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | KY | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| Jan. 12, 2018 | FL | HB 6001 | Repeals Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (83 - 18) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| Oct. 17, 2017 | NC | S 656 | Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 40) |
| Oct. 16, 2017 | NC | S 656 | Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| June 28, 2017 | National | HR 1215 | Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 210) |
| June 15, 2017 | RI | S 237A | Authorizes Parole Eligibility for Juveniles with Life Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 6, 2017 | LA | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 6, 2017 | LA | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 42 | Amends Money Bail Procedures | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 639 | Authorizes Drug Crime Prosecutions Across State Lines | Bill Passed - House (105 - 2) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 1761 | Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense | Bill Passed - House |
| May 30, 2017 | LA | HB 27 | Extends Domestic Abuse Laws to Dating Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 29, 2017 | IL | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| May 24, 2017 | MA | H 3034 | Limits the Use of Prison Labor | Bill Passed - House (120 - 35) |
| May 18, 2017 | NV | SB 176 | Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras | Bill Passed - House (33 - 9) |
| May 16, 2017 | NE | LB 289 | Authorizes Life Prison Terms for Sex Traffickers and Solicitors | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| May 10, 2017 | PA | SB 560 | Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| May 8, 2017 | NE | LB 259 | Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3) |
| May 5, 2017 | IL | SB 1761 | Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0) |
| May 4, 2017 | IL | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
| May 1, 2017 | OR | HB 2597 | Increases Penalties for Distracted Driving | Bill Passed - House (46 - 13) |
| April 27, 2017 | NC | HB 330 | Limits Liability for Motorists Involved in Accidents with Protesters | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 26, 2017 | NC | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/07 | S 121 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements Regarding Workplace Harassment | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1) |
| 6/07 | HB 411 | Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals | Bill Passed - House (77 - 11) |
| 6/05 | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14) |
| 6/05 | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
| 5/23 | SB 470 | Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| 5/15 | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| 5/15 | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| 5/14 | HF 390 | Establishes Penalties for Obstructing a Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| 5/03 | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
| 5/01 | HB 5010 | Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 4/26 | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
| 4/23 | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
| 4/18 | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| 3/22 | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 3/19 | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 3/16 | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 3/15 | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/15 | HB 1578 | Limits Circumstances Under Which Lawsuits May Be Joined | Bill Passed - House (104 - 47) |
| 3/12 | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| 3/10 | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11) |
| 3/09 | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 3/09 | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
| 2/22 | SB 6052 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 2/20 | H 419 | Prohibits Courts from Ruling Based on Foreign Law | Bill Passed - House (44 - 24) |
| 2/15 | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| 1/12 | HB 6001 | Repeals Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (83 - 18) |
| 11/07 | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| 10/17 | S 656 | Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 40) |
| 10/16 | S 656 | Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections | Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 15) |
| 6/29 | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| 6/28 | HR 1215 | Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 210) |
| 6/15 | S 237A | Authorizes Parole Eligibility for Juveniles with Life Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 6/06 | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 6/06 | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 6/01 | AB 42 | Amends Money Bail Procedures | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| 5/31 | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| 5/31 | SB 639 | Authorizes Drug Crime Prosecutions Across State Lines | Bill Passed - House (105 - 2) |
| 5/31 | SB 1761 | Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense | Bill Passed - House |
| 5/30 | HB 27 | Extends Domestic Abuse Laws to Dating Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 5/29 | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
| 5/24 | H 3034 | Limits the Use of Prison Labor | Bill Passed - House (120 - 35) |
| 5/18 | SB 176 | Requires Police Officers to Wear Body Cameras | Bill Passed - House (33 - 9) |
| 5/16 | LB 289 | Authorizes Life Prison Terms for Sex Traffickers and Solicitors | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| 5/10 | SB 560 | Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| 5/08 | LB 259 | Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3) |
| 5/05 | SB 1761 | Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0) |
| 5/04 | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
| 5/01 | HB 2597 | Increases Penalties for Distracted Driving | Bill Passed - House (46 - 13) |
| 4/27 | HB 330 | Limits Liability for Motorists Involved in Accidents with Protesters | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| 4/26 | H 239 | Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |