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 19, 2018 MN HF 3157 Prohibits Misrepresentation of a Service Animal Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 0)
April 12, 2018 MI SB 741 Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
March 22, 2018 NH SB 569 Amends Pet Vendor Regulations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5)
Jan. 31, 2018 MI SB 660 Extends the Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs to 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
June 14, 2017 WI SB 68 Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 3, 2017 TN SB 0519 Provides Certain Health Coverage for Retail Purchased Dogs Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 21, 2017 National H J Res 69 Providing for congressional disapproval of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
Aug. 26, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
May 25, 2016 OH SB 331 Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 2, 2016 OR HB 4040 Authorizes Removal of Gray Wolf from Endangered Species List Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 25, 2016 IA SF 2289 Expands Criminal Offenses for Animal Mistreatment Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2016 HI SB 2647 Prohibits Sale of Endangered Species Parts or Products Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 7)
Sept. 2, 2015 CA AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
April 28, 2015 OR SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
April 21, 2015 MT SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 21, 2015 MT SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
April 14, 2015 IN HB 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
March 23, 2015 AZ HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
March 9, 2015 MT HB 212 Amends Definitions of Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Feb. 24, 2015 IN SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
Feb. 13, 2015 NM SB 253 Prohibits Coyote Hunting Contests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Dec. 9, 2014 OH HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Oct. 15, 2014 PA HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Aug. 13, 2014 MI Initiation of Legislation Authorizes Natural Resources Commission to Manage the Taking of Game Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/19 HF 3157 Prohibits Misrepresentation of a Service Animal Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 0)
4/12 SB 741 Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
3/22 SB 569 Amends Pet Vendor Regulations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5)
1/31 SB 660 Extends the Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs to 2025 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
6/14 SB 68 Amends Prohibition on Baiting and Feeding Deer Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/03 SB 0519 Provides Certain Health Coverage for Retail Purchased Dogs Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/21 H J Res 69 Providing for congressional disapproval of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
8/26 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
5/25 SB 331 Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/02 HB 4040 Authorizes Removal of Gray Wolf from Endangered Species List Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/25 SF 2289 Expands Criminal Offenses for Animal Mistreatment Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/22 SB 2647 Prohibits Sale of Endangered Species Parts or Products Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 7)
9/02 AB 96 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
4/28 SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
4/21 SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/21 SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
4/14 HB 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
3/23 HB 2150 Amends Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
3/09 HB 212 Amends Definitions of Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
2/24 SJR 12 Authorizes the Use of Diverse Farming and Ranching Practices Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 28)
2/13 SB 253 Prohibits Coyote Hunting Contests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
12/09 HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
10/15 HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
8/13 Initiation of Legislation Authorizes Natural Resources Commission to Manage the Taking of Game Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)

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