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 26, 2016 MO HB 1679 Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives Bill Passed - House (97 - 50)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 25, 2016 LA HB 863 Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations Bill Failed - House (33 - 51)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 22, 2016 IA HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 21, 2016 IL HB 5576 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
April 21, 2016 DE HB 325 Amends Requirements for Purchasing a Firearm Bill Passed - House (22 - 17)
April 20, 2016 NE LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
April 20, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50)
April 20, 2016 TN SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - House (69 - 24)
April 20, 2016 IA HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
April 20, 2016 CT SB 147 Authorizes Students Qualifying for In-State Tuition to Receive Financial Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 19, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 19, 2016 TN SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
April 18, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
April 14, 2016 MO HB 2069 Prohibits Donation of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - House (120 - 34)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
April 13, 2016 OH HB 425 Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
April 11, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 9, 2016 MD HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 33)
April 7, 2016 MD HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
April 7, 2016 HI SB 2954 Requires Gun Owners to Register in Database Bill Passed - House (26 - 21)
April 7, 2016 AK SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
April 7, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - House (77 - 73)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 6, 2016 TN SB 1556 Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services Bill Passed - House (68 - 22)
April 6, 2016 AZ SB 1248 Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
April 5, 2016 AL SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 5, 2016 IL SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
March 30, 2016 MS HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 30, 2016 MS HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 28, 2016 CO HB 1296 Increases Penalties for Unlicensed Car Dealers Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 24, 2016 NH SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
March 24, 2016 MI HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 43)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
March 23, 2016 NH HB 1661 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (299 - 99)
March 21, 2016 ID S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
March 21, 2016 MD HB 1016 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
March 17, 2016 MD SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 17, 2016 CO HB 1210 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
March 17, 2016 National H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/26 HB 1679 Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives Bill Passed - House (97 - 50)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/25 HB 863 Prohibits Schools from Holding Membership in Certain Associations or Organizations Bill Failed - House (33 - 51)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/22 HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/21 HB 5576 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Birth Control Bill Passed - House (61 - 52)
4/21 HB 325 Amends Requirements for Purchasing a Firearm Bill Passed - House (22 - 17)
4/20 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/20 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 50)
4/20 SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - House (69 - 24)
4/20 HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
4/20 SB 147 Authorizes Students Qualifying for In-State Tuition to Receive Financial Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/19 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/19 SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
4/18 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
4/14 HB 2069 Prohibits Donation of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - House (120 - 34)
4/13 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
4/13 HB 425 Authorizes Religious Expression in Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
4/11 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/09 HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 33)
4/07 HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
4/07 SB 2954 Requires Gun Owners to Register in Database Bill Passed - House (26 - 21)
4/07 SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
4/07 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - House (77 - 73)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/06 SB 1556 Authorizes Therapists to Decline to Provide Services Bill Passed - House (68 - 22)
4/06 SB 1248 Prohibits Pet Stores from Selling Commercially Bred Animals Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
4/05 SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/05 SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
4/04 HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
4/04 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
3/30 HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/30 HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/28 HB 1296 Increases Penalties for Unlicensed Car Dealers Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/24 SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
3/24 HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 43)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
3/23 HB 1661 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (299 - 99)
3/21 S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
3/21 HB 1016 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
3/17 SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/17 HB 1210 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
3/17 H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)

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