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
May 28, 2019 CA AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
May 28, 2019 CT HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
May 27, 2019 IL HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
May 26, 2019 TX HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
May 26, 2019 TX HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49)
May 24, 2019 TX HB 3285 Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18)
May 24, 2019 IL HB 94 Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
May 24, 2019 CA AB 1593 Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
May 24, 2019 MI HB 4434 Amends Fines and Sentences for Conceal Carry Violations Bill Passed - House (90 - 19)
May 23, 2019 OK HB 1269 Amends Criminal Sentencing Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 16 Establishes Requirements for Abortions Resulting in Premature Birth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 57)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
May 23, 2019 IL HB 3606 Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
May 23, 2019 IL SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
May 23, 2019 CT HB 7223 Prohibits Unlocked Vehicle Storage of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 23, 2019 OR HB 2023 Requires Inclusive Education on Certain Classifications of Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 5)
May 23, 2019 OR SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
May 23, 2019 IL HB 246 Requires Public Schools to Teach about Prominent LGBTQ Figures Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
May 23, 2019 IL SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
May 23, 2019 CT HB 7218 Amends Firearm Storage Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
May 23, 2019 CT HB 7219 Establishes Regulations on Manufacturing Guns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 132 Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 132 Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 23, 2019 ME LD 264 Authorizes Certain EMS Personnel to Draw Blood at the Scene of Fatal Accidents Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 23, 2019 CA AB 44 Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 627 Authorizes Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Animals Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
May 23, 2019 CA AB 32 Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (61 - 13)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 55 Expands List of Persons Prohibited from Owning Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
May 23, 2019 CA AB 1254 Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats Bill Passed - House (54 - 21)
May 23, 2019 CA AB 454 Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds Bill Passed - House (55 - 21)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 329 Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 22, 2019 TX HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
May 22, 2019 TX HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
May 22, 2019 TX HB 2536 Establishes Drug-Pricing Transparency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
May 22, 2019 OR HB 2303 Repeals Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine as Class 3 Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
May 22, 2019 IL HB 834 Requires Equal Pay Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14)
May 22, 2019 NV AB 431 Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
May 22, 2019 NV AB 431 Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
May 22, 2019 CA SB 61 Prohibits Purchasing More than One Gun per Month Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 175 Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 175 Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
May 22, 2019 CA SB 172 Amends Firearm Storage Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
May 22, 2019 CT SB 1 Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 22, 2019 LA HB 506 Establishes Task Force for Law Enforcement Data Collection Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
May 22, 2019 CA SB 206 Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
May 21, 2019 TX SB 1978 Prohibits Government Action Against Businesses that Donate to Religious Organizations Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
May 21, 2019 IL SB 241 Prohibits Use of Animal Testing on Manufacturer Products Sold in the State Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/28 AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
5/28 HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
5/27 HB 1637 Establishes the Keep Illinois Families Together Act Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
5/26 HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12)
5/26 HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49)
5/24 HB 3285 Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18)
5/24 HB 94 Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
5/24 AB 1593 Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
5/24 HB 4434 Amends Fines and Sentences for Conceal Carry Violations Bill Passed - House (90 - 19)
5/23 HB 1269 Amends Criminal Sentencing Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
5/23 HB 16 Establishes Requirements for Abortions Resulting in Premature Birth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 57)
5/23 HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
5/23 HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
5/23 HB 3606 Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17)
5/23 SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
5/23 HB 7223 Prohibits Unlocked Vehicle Storage of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/23 HB 2023 Requires Inclusive Education on Certain Classifications of Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 5)
5/23 SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
5/23 HB 246 Requires Public Schools to Teach about Prominent LGBTQ Figures Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
5/23 SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
5/23 HB 7218 Amends Firearm Storage Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2)
5/23 HB 7219 Establishes Regulations on Manufacturing Guns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
5/23 SB 132 Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/23 SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/23 SB 132 Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/23 LD 264 Authorizes Certain EMS Personnel to Draw Blood at the Scene of Fatal Accidents Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/23 AB 44 Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
5/23 SB 627 Authorizes Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Animals Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
5/23 AB 32 Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (61 - 13)
5/23 SB 55 Expands List of Persons Prohibited from Owning Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/23 AB 1254 Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats Bill Passed - House (54 - 21)
5/23 AB 454 Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds Bill Passed - House (55 - 21)
5/23 SB 329 Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/22 HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
5/22 HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
5/22 HB 2536 Establishes Drug-Pricing Transparency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
5/22 HB 2303 Repeals Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine as Class 3 Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
5/22 HB 834 Requires Equal Pay Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14)
5/22 AB 431 Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
5/22 AB 431 Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
5/22 SB 61 Prohibits Purchasing More than One Gun per Month Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
5/22 AB 175 Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
5/22 AB 175 Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
5/22 SB 172 Amends Firearm Storage Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
5/22 AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
5/22 SB 1 Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/22 HB 506 Establishes Task Force for Law Enforcement Data Collection Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
5/22 SB 206 Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
5/21 SB 1978 Prohibits Government Action Against Businesses that Donate to Religious Organizations Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
5/21 SB 241 Prohibits Use of Animal Testing on Manufacturer Products Sold in the State Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)

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