Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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.


Page 1 of 11
results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
June 9, 2026 PA SB 1313 Extends Resident Rates for Hunting Licenses to Pennsylvania Natives Living Out-of-State Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
May 27, 2026 CA SB 1305 Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to Publish an Evaluation of the Possible Reintroduction of the Grizzly Bear Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
May 22, 2026 CA SB 1135 Establishes the Wildlife Coexistence Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
May 8, 2026 CO HB 26-1342 Increases Penalties for Luring Wild Bears Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 8, 2026 AL SB 361 Establishes Requirements for the Wellbeing of Dogs Kept Outside Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 1)
March 23, 2026 LA SB 244 Authorizes a Recreational Hunting Season for Alligators Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
March 19, 2026 MA S 3028 Establishes New Protections for Pets Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Oct. 29, 2025 National S J Res 69 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Record of Decision for the Barred Owl Management Strategy; Washington, Oregon, and California" Motion Rejected - Senate (25 - 72)
Oct. 21, 2025 MI SB 277 Appropriates Annually a Portion of the Revenue from the State Sales Tax to the Game and Fish Protection Account Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Oct. 21, 2025 MI SB 276 Increases Fees for Fishing and Hunting Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Sept. 18, 2025 MI SB 294 Increases Penalties and Authorizes Restitution in Animal Abuse Cases Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
Sept. 11, 2025 CA AB 1 Requires Wildfire Regulations to be Updated Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Sept. 10, 2025 CA SB 312 Requires Dog Importers to Submit Health Certifications to the CDFA Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Sept. 9, 2025 CA AB 14 Establishes a New Program that Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Sept. 8, 2025 CA AB 764 Authorizes Hunters and Landowners to Kill Invasive Species Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Sept. 8, 2025 CA AB 506 Expands Requirements for Disclosures Included in Pet Sales Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Sept. 3, 2025 CA AB 1042 Authorizes the Department of Food and Agriculture to Establish and Oversee the Managed Honeybee Health Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Sept. 2, 2025 CA AB 516 Authorizes Registered Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants to Perform Certain Animal Health Care Services Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 1, 2025 National PN 25-35 Nomination of Brian Nesvik to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
June 26, 2025 PA HB 1431 Repeals the Prohibition on Sunday Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
June 19, 2025 NC HB 442 Establishes Longer Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 2)
June 18, 2025 OH HB 64 Reduces the Age of Eligibility for Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses From 66 to 65 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
June 11, 2025 NY A 6556 Authorizes Cruelty to Animals to be Considered as a Factor for a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 1)
June 11, 2025 NY S 6573 Requires Municipal Employees to Attempt to Identify and Notify the Owners of a Deceased Dog or Cat Recovered on Public Roads Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
June 8, 2025 LA HB 581 Prohibits the Outdoor Release of Lighter-Than-Air Balloons Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/09 SB 1313 Extends Resident Rates for Hunting Licenses to Pennsylvania Natives Living Out-of-State Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
5/27 SB 1305 Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to Publish an Evaluation of the Possible Reintroduction of the Grizzly Bear Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
5/22 SB 1135 Establishes the Wildlife Coexistence Program Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2)
5/08 HB 26-1342 Increases Penalties for Luring Wild Bears Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/08 SB 361 Establishes Requirements for the Wellbeing of Dogs Kept Outside Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 1)
3/23 SB 244 Authorizes a Recreational Hunting Season for Alligators Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
3/19 S 3028 Establishes New Protections for Pets Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
10/29 S J Res 69 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to "Record of Decision for the Barred Owl Management Strategy; Washington, Oregon, and California" Motion Rejected - Senate (25 - 72)
10/21 SB 277 Appropriates Annually a Portion of the Revenue from the State Sales Tax to the Game and Fish Protection Account Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
10/21 SB 276 Increases Fees for Fishing and Hunting Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
9/18 SB 294 Increases Penalties and Authorizes Restitution in Animal Abuse Cases Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
9/11 AB 1 Requires Wildfire Regulations to be Updated Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
9/10 SB 312 Requires Dog Importers to Submit Health Certifications to the CDFA Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
9/09 AB 14 Establishes a New Program that Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
9/08 AB 764 Authorizes Hunters and Landowners to Kill Invasive Species Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
9/08 AB 506 Expands Requirements for Disclosures Included in Pet Sales Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
9/03 AB 1042 Authorizes the Department of Food and Agriculture to Establish and Oversee the Managed Honeybee Health Program Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
9/02 AB 516 Authorizes Registered Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants to Perform Certain Animal Health Care Services Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/01 PN 25-35 Nomination of Brian Nesvik to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 43)
6/26 HB 1431 Repeals the Prohibition on Sunday Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
6/19 HB 442 Establishes Longer Flounder/Red Snapper Seasons and Shrimp Trawl Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 2)
6/18 HB 64 Reduces the Age of Eligibility for Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses From 66 to 65 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
6/11 A 6556 Authorizes Cruelty to Animals to be Considered as a Factor for a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 1)
6/11 S 6573 Requires Municipal Employees to Attempt to Identify and Notify the Owners of a Deceased Dog or Cat Recovered on Public Roads Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
6/08 HB 581 Prohibits the Outdoor Release of Lighter-Than-Air Balloons Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)

Page 1 of 11
arrow_upward