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
July 22, 2020 MI SB 899 Extends Certain Immunities and Liabilities to Healthcare Providers and Facilities Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
July 21, 2020 NY A 5630 Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (95 - 47)
July 21, 2020 NY A 5991 Amends Civil Rights Law in Relation to "Frivolous" Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (116 - 26)
July 20, 2020 NY A 5045 Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - House (97 - 44)
June 30, 2020 LA HB 57 Amends Jury Trial and Seatbelt Lawsuit Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 15)
June 26, 2020 GA SB 402 Prohibits the Use of "Unsecured Judicial Release" Bill Passed - House (99 - 68)
June 12, 2020 CO SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
June 11, 2020 CA AB 3262 Requires Electronic Marketplaces Be Held Liable for Defective Products Bill Passed - House (54 - 14)
May 28, 2020 LA SB 270 Increases Daily Compensation Paid to Jurors in Civil Cases Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
May 14, 2020 OK SB 1947 Exempts from Product Liability Individuals that Manufacture and Supply Personal Protective Equipment or Medications Used for COVID-19 Treatment Bill Passed - House (82 - 15)
May 12, 2020 MO SB 591 Limits Punitive Damage Payouts Bill Passed - House (98 - 51)
April 23, 2020 UT SB 3007 Establishes Immunity from COVID-19 Injury Litigation to Businesses after Reopening Bill Passed - House (54 - 21)
April 17, 2020 UT SB 3002 Establishes Legal Immunity to Doctors who Prescribe Experimental Medications to COVID-19 Patients Bill Passed - House (65 - 7)
March 11, 2020 OK HB 3165 Amends Criminal Law to Shift Burden of Proof from Defendant to Prosecution Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
March 7, 2020 WV HB 2419 Authorizes Release of Certain Individuals Without Bail Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
March 6, 2020 WV SB 275 Establishes an Intermediate Court of Appeals Bill Failed - House (44 - 56)
March 5, 2020 CO SB 20-83 Prohibits Civil Arrests on Courthouse Grounds Bill Passed - House (40 - 24)
March 3, 2020 WA SB 6268 Prohibits Meritless Litigation Against Domestic Abuse Victims Bill Passed - House (90 - 6)
Feb. 20, 2020 SD HB 1133 Establishes a Rebuttable Presumption in Favor of Joint Custody of a Minor Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
Feb. 7, 2020 WV HB 4585 Establishes Criminal Immunity for "Good Faith" Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
Jan. 15, 2020 WV HB 3039 Increases Court Discretion When Determining Child Custody Bill Passed - House (87 - 11)
Dec. 18, 2019 PA HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - House (102 - 95)
Nov. 25, 2019 NJ A 1796 Prohibits a "Gay Panic" Legal Defense Bill Passed - House (74 - 0)
June 1, 2019 IL HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
May 28, 2019 IL SB 1609 Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 51 Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
May 21, 2019 NY S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - House (91 - 54)
May 21, 2019 OK HB 2751 Authorizes Settlement Monies be Allocated to State Treasury Bill Passed - House (73 - 8)
May 9, 2019 TX HB 1739 Prohibits Unfair Settlement Practice Regarding Motorist Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - House (105 - 32)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
April 23, 2019 IA SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
March 7, 2019 GA HB 545 Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 58)
Feb. 20, 2019 WA HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (66 - 30)
June 27, 2018 NC HB 717 Amends Judicial Divisions Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45)
June 25, 2018 PA HB 1037 Limits Punitive Damages in Certain Medical Lawsuits Bill Failed - House (91 - 103)
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 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 3, 2018 OK SB 1098 Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31)
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)
March 22, 2018 KY HB 198 Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 36)
March 15, 2018 MO HB 1578 Limits Circumstances Under Which Lawsuits May Be Joined Bill Passed - House (104 - 47)
March 10, 2018 WY HB 168 Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
March 9, 2018 ID H 665 Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
7/22 SB 899 Extends Certain Immunities and Liabilities to Healthcare Providers and Facilities Bill Passed - House (56 - 51)
7/21 A 5630 Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (95 - 47)
7/21 A 5991 Amends Civil Rights Law in Relation to "Frivolous" Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (116 - 26)
7/20 A 5045 Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - House (97 - 44)
6/30 HB 57 Amends Jury Trial and Seatbelt Lawsuit Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 15)
6/26 SB 402 Prohibits the Use of "Unsecured Judicial Release" Bill Passed - House (99 - 68)
6/12 SB 20-181 Amends Incompetent-to-Proceed Process for Mentally Ill Defendants Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
6/11 AB 3262 Requires Electronic Marketplaces Be Held Liable for Defective Products Bill Passed - House (54 - 14)
5/28 SB 270 Increases Daily Compensation Paid to Jurors in Civil Cases Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
5/14 SB 1947 Exempts from Product Liability Individuals that Manufacture and Supply Personal Protective Equipment or Medications Used for COVID-19 Treatment Bill Passed - House (82 - 15)
5/12 SB 591 Limits Punitive Damage Payouts Bill Passed - House (98 - 51)
4/23 SB 3007 Establishes Immunity from COVID-19 Injury Litigation to Businesses after Reopening Bill Passed - House (54 - 21)
4/17 SB 3002 Establishes Legal Immunity to Doctors who Prescribe Experimental Medications to COVID-19 Patients Bill Passed - House (65 - 7)
3/11 HB 3165 Amends Criminal Law to Shift Burden of Proof from Defendant to Prosecution Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
3/07 HB 2419 Authorizes Release of Certain Individuals Without Bail Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
3/06 SB 275 Establishes an Intermediate Court of Appeals Bill Failed - House (44 - 56)
3/05 SB 20-83 Prohibits Civil Arrests on Courthouse Grounds Bill Passed - House (40 - 24)
3/03 SB 6268 Prohibits Meritless Litigation Against Domestic Abuse Victims Bill Passed - House (90 - 6)
2/20 HB 1133 Establishes a Rebuttable Presumption in Favor of Joint Custody of a Minor Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
2/07 HB 4585 Establishes Criminal Immunity for "Good Faith" Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
1/15 HB 3039 Increases Court Discretion When Determining Child Custody Bill Passed - House (87 - 11)
12/18 HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - House (102 - 95)
11/25 A 1796 Prohibits a "Gay Panic" Legal Defense Bill Passed - House (74 - 0)
6/01 HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
5/28 SB 1609 Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
5/22 AB 51 Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
5/21 S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - House (91 - 54)
5/21 HB 2751 Authorizes Settlement Monies be Allocated to State Treasury Bill Passed - House (73 - 8)
5/09 HB 1739 Prohibits Unfair Settlement Practice Regarding Motorist Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - House (105 - 32)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
4/23 SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
3/07 HB 545 Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 58)
2/20 HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (66 - 30)
6/27 HB 717 Amends Judicial Divisions Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 45)
6/25 HB 1037 Limits Punitive Damages in Certain Medical Lawsuits Bill Failed - House (91 - 103)
6/07 HB 411 Requires Compensation for Wrongfully Imprisoned Individuals Bill Passed - House (77 - 11)
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)
5/03 SB 1098 Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31)
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)
3/22 HB 198 Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 36)
3/15 HB 1578 Limits Circumstances Under Which Lawsuits May Be Joined Bill Passed - House (104 - 47)
3/10 HB 168 Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
3/09 H 665 Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
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)

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