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
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 15, 2019 IA SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
March 27, 2019 WA HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 19, 2019 MS SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
March 14, 2019 NH SB 311 Amends Annulment Laws for Certain Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
March 12, 2019 IA SF 237 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 7, 2019 SD SB 189 Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
Feb. 27, 2019 WV SB 348 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 7, 2019 MS SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Dec. 11, 2018 National PN 2117 Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court (51 - 50)
Nov. 29, 2018 National PN 2117 Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
Oct. 6, 2018 National PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States (50 - 48)
Oct. 5, 2018 National PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
July 18, 2018 National PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit (50 - 49)
July 17, 2018 National PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
June 28, 2018 NC HB 717 Amends Judicial Divisions Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
June 7, 2018 NJ S 121 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements Regarding Workplace Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
June 5, 2018 NC SB 757 Requires Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14)
May 14, 2018 MN HF 390 Establishes Penalties for Obstructing a Highway Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
May 1, 2018 MI HB 5010 Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
April 18, 2018 PA SB 961 Increases OWI Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
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 12, 2018 MD SB 122 Amends Criminal Law Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8)
March 9, 2018 WY HB 168 Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 22, 2018 WA SB 6052 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Nov. 7, 2017 WI SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Oct. 16, 2017 NC S 656 Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
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)
May 31, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
May 30, 2017 LA HB 27 Extends Domestic Abuse Laws to Dating Partners Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
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)
April 26, 2017 NC H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 12, 2017 CO SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 7, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
April 7, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
April 6, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
April 6, 2017 National PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
April 5, 2017 DE SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
March 28, 2017 MN SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
March 27, 2017 IA HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/15 SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
3/27 HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/19 SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20)
3/14 SB 311 Amends Annulment Laws for Certain Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
3/12 SF 237 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/07 SB 189 Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
2/27 SB 348 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/07 SB 2901 Amends Landowner Liability Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
12/11 PN 2117 Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court (51 - 50)
11/29 PN 2117 Nomination of Jonathan A. Kobes to the Eighth Circuit Court Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
10/06 PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States (50 - 48)
10/05 PN 2259 Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49)
7/18 PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit (50 - 49)
7/17 PN 1645 Nomination of Andrew S. Oldham to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5th Circuit Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 49)
6/28 HB 717 Amends Judicial Divisions Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
6/07 S 121 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements Regarding Workplace Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
6/05 SB 757 Requires Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14)
5/14 HF 390 Establishes Penalties for Obstructing a Highway Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
5/01 HB 5010 Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
4/18 SB 961 Increases OWI Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
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)
3/12 SB 122 Amends Criminal Law Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8)
3/09 HB 168 Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/22 SB 6052 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
11/07 SB 54 Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
10/16 S 656 Prohibits Part Primaries for Certain 2018 Court Elections Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
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)
5/31 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
5/30 HB 27 Extends Domestic Abuse Laws to Dating Partners Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
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)
4/26 H 239 Reduces Court of Appeals Caseload Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/12 SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/07 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
4/07 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (54 - 45)
4/06 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
4/06 PN 55 Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
4/05 SB 27 Establishes Bipartisan Commission for Drawing Legislative Districts Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 7)
3/28 SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
3/27 HF 518 Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)

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