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 24, 2018 MI HB 6043 Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days Bill Passed - House (88 - 21)
May 23, 2018 IL SB 2428 Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students Bill Passed - House (66 - 44)
May 23, 2018 IL HB 2354 Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals Bill Passed - House (80 - 32)
May 23, 2018 IL HB 2354 Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals Bill Passed - House (80 - 32)
May 23, 2018 MA H 4517 Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - House (139 - 14)
May 23, 2018 RI S 2678 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
May 23, 2018 MA H 4517 Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - House (139 - 14)
May 22, 2018 National S 204 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (250 - 169)
May 22, 2018 National HR 5682 FIRST STEP Act Bill Passed - House (360 - 59)
May 16, 2018 LA SB 184 Amends Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 14)
May 16, 2018 LA HB 88 Establishes Crime of Government Benefits Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 16, 2018 National HR 5698 Protect and Serve Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (382 - 35)
May 16, 2018 National S J Res 52 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Restoring Internet Freedom" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
May 16, 2018 NY A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
May 15, 2018 LA SB 243 Establishes Constitutional Amendment for Unanimous Consent on Juries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
May 15, 2018 LA SB 389 Amends Probation Regulations Bill Passed - House (81 - 6)
May 15, 2018 LA SB 316 Amend State Riverboat Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (53 - 42)
May 15, 2018 MI HB 5901 Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System Bill Passed - House (69 - 39)
May 14, 2018 LA SB 236 Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
May 14, 2018 LA SB 236 Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
May 10, 2018 CA SB 785 Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 9, 2018 SC S 109 Prohibits Flying Drones Over Military Installations Bill Passed - House (88 - 1)
May 9, 2018 LA HB 484 Authorizes Fantasy Sports Contests Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 9, 2018 National HR 2152 Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (221 - 197)
May 8, 2018 CT HB 5542 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
May 8, 2018 National S J Res 57 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" Bill Passed - House (234 - 175)
May 7, 2018 LA SB 160 Prohibits Tying Up Pets During Hurricanes Bill Passed - House (67 - 25)
May 3, 2018 OK SB 1098 Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31)
May 3, 2018 KS SB 284 Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
May 3, 2018 KS SB 284 Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 58)
May 3, 2018 VT H 25 Amends State Domestic Terrorism Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
May 3, 2018 OK SB 1140 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (57 - 24)
May 3, 2018 OK SB 1140 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (57 - 24)
May 2, 2018 OK SB 1212 Establishes a State Firearm Constitutional Carry Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
May 2, 2018 NH SB 569 Amends Pet Vendor Regulations "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (222 - 111)
May 2, 2018 NH HB 1319 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
May 2, 2018 IL SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
May 2, 2018 IL SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
May 1, 2018 HI SB 270 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 5)
May 1, 2018 HI HB 1489 Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 0)
May 1, 2018 MI HB 5010 Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
May 1, 2018 HI HB 2131 Establishes A Sexual Assault Training Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0)
May 1, 2018 LA SB 534 Amends "Crime of Violence" to Include Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
May 1, 2018 MN HF 2856 Amends Public Safety Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 35)
May 1, 2018 CT HB 5542 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - House (114 - 35)
April 30, 2018 MO HB 2499 Amends Parole Hearing Procedures Bill Passed - House (114 - 30)
April 27, 2018 National H Res 856 Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House Bill Tabled - House (215 - 171)
April 26, 2018 NH SB 593 Repeals Death Penalty "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116)
April 26, 2018 CO SB 18-166 Amends Sentencing Requirements for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
April 26, 2018 IL HB 5599 Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code Bill Passed - House (75 - 31)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/24 HB 6043 Requires School Districts to Report Inappropriate Conduct within 60 Days Bill Passed - House (88 - 21)
5/23 SB 2428 Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students Bill Passed - House (66 - 44)
5/23 HB 2354 Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals Bill Passed - House (80 - 32)
5/23 HB 2354 Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals Bill Passed - House (80 - 32)
5/23 H 4517 Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - House (139 - 14)
5/23 S 2678 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
5/23 H 4517 Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - House (139 - 14)
5/22 S 204 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (250 - 169)
5/22 HR 5682 FIRST STEP Act Bill Passed - House (360 - 59)
5/16 SB 184 Amends Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 14)
5/16 HB 88 Establishes Crime of Government Benefits Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/16 HR 5698 Protect and Serve Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (382 - 35)
5/16 S J Res 52 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Restoring Internet Freedom" Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
5/16 A 3557 Requires Public Education about Veterans' Mental Health Bill Passed - House (137 - 0)
5/15 SB 243 Establishes Constitutional Amendment for Unanimous Consent on Juries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
5/15 SB 389 Amends Probation Regulations Bill Passed - House (81 - 6)
5/15 SB 316 Amend State Riverboat Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (53 - 42)
5/15 HB 5901 Extends Funding for Statewide Trauma System Bill Passed - House (69 - 39)
5/14 SB 236 Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
5/14 SB 236 Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
5/10 SB 785 Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/09 S 109 Prohibits Flying Drones Over Military Installations Bill Passed - House (88 - 1)
5/09 HB 484 Authorizes Fantasy Sports Contests Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/09 HR 2152 Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (221 - 197)
5/08 HB 5542 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/08 S J Res 57 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" Bill Passed - House (234 - 175)
5/07 SB 160 Prohibits Tying Up Pets During Hurricanes Bill Passed - House (67 - 25)
5/03 SB 1098 Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31)
5/03 SB 284 Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
5/03 SB 284 Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 58)
5/03 H 25 Amends State Domestic Terrorism Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
5/03 SB 1140 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (57 - 24)
5/03 SB 1140 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (57 - 24)
5/02 SB 1212 Establishes a State Firearm Constitutional Carry Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
5/02 SB 569 Amends Pet Vendor Regulations "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (222 - 111)
5/02 HB 1319 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
5/02 SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
5/02 SB 3249 Requires LGBT History in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
5/01 SB 270 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 5)
5/01 HB 1489 Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 0)
5/01 HB 5010 Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
5/01 HB 2131 Establishes A Sexual Assault Training Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0)
5/01 SB 534 Amends "Crime of Violence" to Include Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
5/01 HF 2856 Amends Public Safety Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 35)
5/01 HB 5542 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - House (114 - 35)
4/30 HB 2499 Amends Parole Hearing Procedures Bill Passed - House (114 - 30)
4/27 H Res 856 Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House Bill Tabled - House (215 - 171)
4/26 SB 593 Repeals Death Penalty "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116)
4/26 SB 18-166 Amends Sentencing Requirements for Certain Crimes Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
4/26 HB 5599 Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code Bill Passed - House (75 - 31)

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