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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 2020 | MI | HB 4332 | Authorizes Use of Pneumatic Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 15, 2020 | SC | H 4831 | Prohibits the Release of Non-Native Species Into the Wild | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | S 4234 | Prohibits the Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits by Retail Pet Shops | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 13) |
| June 26, 2020 | CA | SB 1175 | Prohibits Importation and Possession of Wild Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 10, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1343 | Requires Colorado Eggs to be Cage-Free by 2025 | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 3, 2020 | VA | SB 1030 | Prohibits Dangerous Captive Animal Exhibits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Jan. 23, 2020 | DE | SB 139 | Establishes Requirements for the Treatment of Dogs in Cold Weather | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | MI | HB 4687 | Repeals Prohibition of Deer-Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Nov. 7, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| Oct. 24, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| June 4, 2019 | NY | S 5532 | Prohibits Declawing Cats | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 12) |
| May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 627 | Authorizes Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| April 30, 2019 | NY | S 5098 | Prohibits the Sale of Anything Made from "Vulnerable Species", Including Giraffe Products | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 14) |
| April 10, 2019 | WA | HB 1579 | Increases Catch Limits for Bass, Walleye, and Catfish | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| April 10, 2019 | MT | HB 291 | Establishes a Voluntary Wolf Mitigation Account | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| March 26, 2019 | MD | HB 298 | Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | ND | SB 2315 | Establishes Hunters Access Advisory Group | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| June 6, 2018 | OH | HB 506 | Amends Laws Related to High-Volume Dog Breeding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | S 7415 | Prohibits Leasing Plans for Pets | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 0) |
| May 14, 2018 | LA | SB 236 | Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |