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
Jan. 28, 2026 KS SB 244 Requires Individuals to Use Restrooms in Government Buildings According to Their Biological Sex Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Jan. 28, 2026 KS SB 244 Requires Individuals to Use Restrooms in Government Buildings According to Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (87 - 36)
Jan. 28, 2026 KS SB 254 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants From Receiving Public Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Jan. 28, 2026 WA SB 5855 Prohibits Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement From Wearing Face Coverings Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Jan. 28, 2026 VA HB 222 Requires the Board of Health to Govern Public Swimming Pools Bill Passed - House (87 - 10)
Jan. 27, 2026 NY S 135 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Abortion Care Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2026 National S 3627 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 45)
Jan. 27, 2026 CA SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Jan. 27, 2026 AL HB 41 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Certain Sex Crimes Against a Minor Bill Passed - House (73 - 6)
Jan. 27, 2026 IN SB 182 Requires State Detention Facilities and School Bathrooms to be Designated for Use Based on Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
Jan. 27, 2026 WV HB 4433 Expands the State Definition of Human Smuggling to Include Harboring and Assisting Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 9)
Jan. 27, 2026 IN SB 91 Establishes Additional Regulations on Indiana's County Needle Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
Jan. 26, 2026 IN SB 76 Expands Requirements for State and Local Government Entities to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
Jan. 26, 2026 SD HB 1015 Establishes a Pilot Program for Pretrial Release Bill Failed - House (33 - 34)
Jan. 22, 2026 National HR 6359 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Bill Passed - House (217 - 211)
Jan. 21, 2026 SC S 287 Establishes Regulations on the Sale of Nicotine Vapes Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
Jan. 21, 2026 National HR 6945 Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act Bill Passed - House (215 - 209)
Jan. 16, 2026 VA HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 15, 2026 National HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 15)
Jan. 15, 2026 National HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 14)
Jan. 15, 2026 FL HB 197 Requires Businesses of All Sizes to Use the E-Verify System to Check Worker Eligibility Bill Passed - House (80 - 30)
Jan. 15, 2026 FL HB 133 Authorizes Individuals 18 Years and Older to Purchase Firearms Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
Jan. 15, 2026 FL HB 289 Authorizes Parents to File Wrongful Death Lawsuits Following the Loss of a Fetus Bill Passed - House (76 - 34)
Jan. 14, 2026 VA HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (65 - 33)
Jan. 13, 2026 GA SB 204 Prohibits Local Regulation on Gun Storage for Legal Gun Owners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
Jan. 13, 2026 GA SB 204 Prohibits Local Regulation on Gun Storage for Legal Gun Owners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
Jan. 13, 2026 TN HB 884 Defines Businesses as Adult-Oriented if They Hold Drag Shows Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
Jan. 13, 2026 WI AB 677 Establishes a Crime of Grooming a Child for Sexual Activity Bill Passed - House (93 - 6)
Jan. 12, 2026 National HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (80 - 13)
Jan. 8, 2026 National HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (397 - 28)
Jan. 7, 2026 NH SB 15 Authorizes a Sentence of Hard Labor for Individuals Convicted of Capital Murder or Serious Sexual Assaults on Children "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (179 - 159)
Jan. 6, 2026 National PN 373 Nomination of Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
Dec. 18, 2025 MI HB 4262 Establishes a $5,000 Civil Penalty for Circumventing Ticket Scalping Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 3)
Dec. 18, 2025 MI SB 158 Establishes Regulations to Prevent Scalping of Event Tickets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
Dec. 18, 2025 MI HB 4262 Establishes a $5,000 Civil Penalty for Circumventing Ticket Scalping Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
Dec. 18, 2025 National PN 373 Nomination of Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 42)
Dec. 18, 2025 National HR 845 Pet and Livestock Protection Act Bill Passed - House (211 - 204)
Dec. 17, 2025 PA HB 150 Authorizes Terminally Ill Inmates to Receive Care in the Community or Spend Their End-of-Life at Home Bill Passed - House (111 - 92)
Dec. 17, 2025 National HR 3492 Protect Children's Innocence Act Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
Dec. 16, 2025 MI SB 158 Establishes Regulations to Prevent Scalping of Event Tickets Bill Passed - House (103 - 2)
Dec. 16, 2025 National HR 4371 To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children Bill Passed - House (225 - 201)
Dec. 9, 2025 National HR 1676 Make State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) Efficient Act of 2025 Bill Passed - House (400 - 0)
Nov. 19, 2025 OH HB 184 Establishes Limitations on Intercollegiate Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Contracts and Amends Appropriations and Regulations for the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 5)
Nov. 19, 2025 OH HB 184 Establishes Limitations on Intercollegiate Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Contracts and Amends Appropriations and Regulations for the State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
Nov. 19, 2025 NV AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 2)
Nov. 19, 2025 PA HB 439 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hair or Hairstyles Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 3)
Nov. 19, 2025 NV AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 2)
Nov. 19, 2025 OH SB 273 Authorizes Firearm Owners to Store Firearms with a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer or Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Nov. 19, 2025 OH HB 486 Authorizes Public Schools and Universities to Teach the Impacts of Judeo-Christian Religion on American History Bill Passed - House (62 - 27)
Nov. 19, 2025 National HR 5107 Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC (CLEAN DC) Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 190)
Nov. 18, 2025 WI AB 308 Prohibits Public Funds From Being Used to Pay for Health Care Services for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Nov. 18, 2025 NV AB 6 Increases Fines for Traffic Violations in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 0)
Nov. 18, 2025 WI AB 265 Establishes a Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 Years for Human Trafficking, and 15 Years if the Victim is a Child Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Nov. 18, 2025 WI SB 394 Classifies Vandalism of Certain Monuments on Public Property as a Class I Felony Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Nov. 18, 2025 WI SB 498 Expands State Requirements Relating to Freedom of Speech at University of Wisconsin System Institutions and Establishes Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Nov. 18, 2025 WI SB 16 Expands Open Records and Open Meetings Laws to Cover the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
Nov. 18, 2025 National HR 4405 Epstein Files Transparency Act Bill Passed - House (427 - 1)
Nov. 17, 2025 National HR 1608 Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025 Bill Passed - House (400 - 15)
Nov. 16, 2025 NV AB 6 Increases Fines for Traffic Violations in School Zones Bill Passed - House (42 - 0)
Nov. 16, 2025 NV AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - House (31 - 11)
Nov. 16, 2025 NV AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - House (31 - 11)
Nov. 15, 2025 NV AB 2 Exempts Casinos from a State Law Requiring Liquor Wholesalers to Take Funds Directly from A Customer's Bank Account Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
Nov. 14, 2025 NV AB 2 Exempts Casinos from a State Law Requiring Liquor Wholesalers to Take Funds Directly from A Customer's Bank Account Bill Passed - House (40 - 2)
Nov. 12, 2025 PA HB 749 Amends the Public Welfare Laws of Pennsylvania Concurrence Vote Passed - House (199 - 4)
Nov. 12, 2025 PA HB 749 Amends the Public Welfare Laws of Pennsylvania Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
Nov. 12, 2025 OH SB 295 Extends the Timeline for Restoring Mental Competency of Defendants in Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Nov. 12, 2025 OH HB 251 Establishes Requirements for the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (94 - 2)
Nov. 12, 2025 OH HB 377 Removes Certain Regulations Governing the Use of Light-Based Medical Devices for Hair Removal Bill Passed - House (95 - 0)
Nov. 6, 2025 MI HB 5079 Increases the Penalty for Disarming a Police Officer Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Nov. 6, 2025 MI HB 5080 Increases the Maximum Sentence for Disarming a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Nov. 6, 2025 MI HB 5080 Increases the Maximum Sentence for Disarming a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Nov. 6, 2025 MI HB 5079 Increases the Penalty for Disarming a Police Officer Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Nov. 5, 2025 OH HB 434 Exempts Individuals With Foreign Drivers Licenses Working With the Military From Certain Drivers Education Requirements, and Makes Various Other Programmatic Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 3)
Nov. 4, 2025 GA HB 651 Authorizes Regulations over Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 29)
Oct. 30, 2025 IL HB 1836 Establishes an Automatic System for the Sealing of Records for Certain Criminal Convictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 26)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/28 SB 244 Requires Individuals to Use Restrooms in Government Buildings According to Their Biological Sex Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
1/28 SB 244 Requires Individuals to Use Restrooms in Government Buildings According to Their Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (87 - 36)
1/28 SB 254 Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants From Receiving Public Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
1/28 SB 5855 Prohibits Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement From Wearing Face Coverings Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
1/28 HB 222 Requires the Board of Health to Govern Public Swimming Pools Bill Passed - House (87 - 10)
1/27 S 135 Authorizes Financial Assistance for Abortion Care Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
1/27 S 3627 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 45)
1/27 SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
1/27 HB 41 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Certain Sex Crimes Against a Minor Bill Passed - House (73 - 6)
1/27 SB 182 Requires State Detention Facilities and School Bathrooms to be Designated for Use Based on Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
1/27 HB 4433 Expands the State Definition of Human Smuggling to Include Harboring and Assisting Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 9)
1/27 SB 91 Establishes Additional Regulations on Indiana's County Needle Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
1/26 SB 76 Expands Requirements for State and Local Government Entities to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
1/26 HB 1015 Establishes a Pilot Program for Pretrial Release Bill Failed - House (33 - 34)
1/22 HR 6359 Pregnant Students' Rights Act Bill Passed - House (217 - 211)
1/21 S 287 Establishes Regulations on the Sale of Nicotine Vapes Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
1/21 HR 6945 Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act Bill Passed - House (215 - 209)
1/16 HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/15 HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - Senate (82 - 15)
1/15 HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 14)
1/15 HB 197 Requires Businesses of All Sizes to Use the E-Verify System to Check Worker Eligibility Bill Passed - House (80 - 30)
1/15 HB 133 Authorizes Individuals 18 Years and Older to Purchase Firearms Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
1/15 HB 289 Authorizes Parents to File Wrongful Death Lawsuits Following the Loss of a Fetus Bill Passed - House (76 - 34)
1/14 HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (65 - 33)
1/13 SB 204 Prohibits Local Regulation on Gun Storage for Legal Gun Owners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
1/13 SB 204 Prohibits Local Regulation on Gun Storage for Legal Gun Owners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
1/13 HB 884 Defines Businesses as Adult-Oriented if They Hold Drag Shows Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
1/13 AB 677 Establishes a Crime of Grooming a Child for Sexual Activity Bill Passed - House (93 - 6)
1/12 HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Cloture Invoked - Senate (80 - 13)
1/08 HR 6938 Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 Bill Passed - House (397 - 28)
1/07 SB 15 Authorizes a Sentence of Hard Labor for Individuals Convicted of Capital Murder or Serious Sexual Assaults on Children "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (179 - 159)
1/06 PN 373 Nomination of Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
12/18 HB 4262 Establishes a $5,000 Civil Penalty for Circumventing Ticket Scalping Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 3)
12/18 SB 158 Establishes Regulations to Prevent Scalping of Event Tickets Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
12/18 HB 4262 Establishes a $5,000 Civil Penalty for Circumventing Ticket Scalping Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
12/18 PN 373 Nomination of Sara Bailey to be Director of National Drug Control Policy Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 42)
12/18 HR 845 Pet and Livestock Protection Act Bill Passed - House (211 - 204)
12/17 HB 150 Authorizes Terminally Ill Inmates to Receive Care in the Community or Spend Their End-of-Life at Home Bill Passed - House (111 - 92)
12/17 HR 3492 Protect Children's Innocence Act Bill Passed - House (216 - 211)
12/16 SB 158 Establishes Regulations to Prevent Scalping of Event Tickets Bill Passed - House (103 - 2)
12/16 HR 4371 To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children Bill Passed - House (225 - 201)
12/09 HR 1676 Make State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) Efficient Act of 2025 Bill Passed - House (400 - 0)
11/19 HB 184 Establishes Limitations on Intercollegiate Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Contracts and Amends Appropriations and Regulations for the State Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 5)
11/19 HB 184 Establishes Limitations on Intercollegiate Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Contracts and Amends Appropriations and Regulations for the State Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
11/19 AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 2)
11/19 HB 439 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hair or Hairstyles Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 3)
11/19 AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 2)
11/19 SB 273 Authorizes Firearm Owners to Store Firearms with a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer or Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
11/19 HB 486 Authorizes Public Schools and Universities to Teach the Impacts of Judeo-Christian Religion on American History Bill Passed - House (62 - 27)
11/19 HR 5107 Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC (CLEAN DC) Act Bill Passed - House (233 - 190)
11/18 AB 308 Prohibits Public Funds From Being Used to Pay for Health Care Services for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
11/18 AB 6 Increases Fines for Traffic Violations in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 0)
11/18 AB 265 Establishes a Mandatory Minimum Sentence of 10 Years for Human Trafficking, and 15 Years if the Victim is a Child Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
11/18 SB 394 Classifies Vandalism of Certain Monuments on Public Property as a Class I Felony Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
11/18 SB 498 Expands State Requirements Relating to Freedom of Speech at University of Wisconsin System Institutions and Establishes Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
11/18 SB 16 Expands Open Records and Open Meetings Laws to Cover the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
11/18 HR 4405 Epstein Files Transparency Act Bill Passed - House (427 - 1)
11/17 HR 1608 Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025 Bill Passed - House (400 - 15)
11/16 AB 6 Increases Fines for Traffic Violations in School Zones Bill Passed - House (42 - 0)
11/16 AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - House (31 - 11)
11/16 AB 4 Requires Detention Centers to Maintain Real-Time and Publicly Available Lists of Those who are Detained Bill Passed - House (31 - 11)
11/15 AB 2 Exempts Casinos from a State Law Requiring Liquor Wholesalers to Take Funds Directly from A Customer's Bank Account Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
11/14 AB 2 Exempts Casinos from a State Law Requiring Liquor Wholesalers to Take Funds Directly from A Customer's Bank Account Bill Passed - House (40 - 2)
11/12 HB 749 Amends the Public Welfare Laws of Pennsylvania Concurrence Vote Passed - House (199 - 4)
11/12 HB 749 Amends the Public Welfare Laws of Pennsylvania Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3)
11/12 SB 295 Extends the Timeline for Restoring Mental Competency of Defendants in Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
11/12 HB 251 Establishes Requirements for the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (94 - 2)
11/12 HB 377 Removes Certain Regulations Governing the Use of Light-Based Medical Devices for Hair Removal Bill Passed - House (95 - 0)
11/06 HB 5079 Increases the Penalty for Disarming a Police Officer Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
11/06 HB 5080 Increases the Maximum Sentence for Disarming a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
11/06 HB 5080 Increases the Maximum Sentence for Disarming a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
11/06 HB 5079 Increases the Penalty for Disarming a Police Officer Under Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
11/05 HB 434 Exempts Individuals With Foreign Drivers Licenses Working With the Military From Certain Drivers Education Requirements, and Makes Various Other Programmatic Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 3)
11/04 HB 651 Authorizes Regulations over Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 29)
10/30 HB 1836 Establishes an Automatic System for the Sealing of Records for Certain Criminal Convictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 26)

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