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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2022 | NM | HB 68 | Expands Police Training Requirements | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 12, 2022 | NM | HB 99 | Prohibits Threats Against Judges | Bill Passed - House (59 - 7) |
| Feb. 11, 2022 | VA | HB 11 | Reduces Penalties for Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 10, 2022 | WA | HB 1705 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | MS | HB 1367 | Establishes a Process to Remove Discriminatory Provisions from Real Property Documents | Bill Passed - House (115 - 3) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | KY | HB 48 | Increases Penalties for False Emergency Reports | Bill Passed - House (86 - 7) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | MI | HB 5559 | Classifies Performing Research on the Tissue of an Aborted Fetus as a Felony | Bill Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Bill Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Bill Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | National | HR 3485 | Global Respect Act | Bill Passed - House (227 - 206) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | MI | HB 5558 | Prohibits Research on Stem Cells Obtained from an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (55 - 51) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | KY | HB 269 | Prohibits Execution of Persons with Serious Mental Illness | Bill Passed - House (76 - 19) |
| Feb. 9, 2022 | WA | HB 1956 | Prohibits Public Disclosure of Inmate Gender Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 38) |
| Feb. 8, 2022 | NM | HB 81 | Limits Defendant Court Fees | Bill Passed - House (45 - 21) |
| Feb. 7, 2022 | AZ | HB 2397 | Amends Definitions Related to Vulnerable Adults and Emotional Abuse | Bill Passed - House (49 - 9) |
| Feb. 5, 2022 | NM | HB 135 | Establishes Indian Family Protection Act | (52 - 12) |
| Feb. 5, 2022 | NM | HB 52 | Amends Harm Reduction Act | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | GA | HB 218 | Requires the State to Recognize Gun Carry Permits from Other States | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (96 - 70) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | MS | HB 1099 | Prohibits Prisoners from Changing Name or Gender | (84 - 30) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | MS | HB 1099 | Prohibits Prisoners from Changing Name or Gender | (84 - 30) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | MS | HB 1418 | Establishes Second Amendment Preservation Act | (83 - 35) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | AZ | HR 2004 | Establishes Support for Completion of Border Wall | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| Feb. 2, 2022 | VA | HB 4 | Requires School Principals to Report Student Misdemeanors to Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| Feb. 2, 2022 | MS | HB 621 | Increases Penalties for Fleeing Police | Bill Passed - House (84 - 34) |
| Feb. 2, 2022 | UT | HB 161 | Establishes a Working Group on Overdose Harm Reduction | Bill Failed - House (26 - 43) |
| Feb. 1, 2022 | SD | SB 46 | Requires Transgender Student Athletes Play Against Those of Their Biological Sex | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 1, 2022 | SD | HB 1005 | Requires Students to Use School Facilities for Gender Assigned at Birth | Bill Passed - House (38 - 19) |
| Jan. 28, 2022 | UT | HB 112 | Prohibits All Forms of Animal Fighting | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | VT | S 30 | Establishes A Ban On Firearms In Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (97 - 49) |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | IN | HB 1248 | Prohibits Big Cat and Bear Cub Owners from Allowing Public Interaction | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | IN | HB 1041 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| Jan. 26, 2022 | IN | HB 1134 | Prohibits Teaching Certain Concepts on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Jan. 26, 2022 | ME | LD 842 | Authorizes Parole for Certain Prisoners | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | WI | SB 296 | Establishes Penalties for "Rioting" or Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 34) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | WI | AB 831 | Establishes "Pro-Cop" Advertising Campaign | Bill Passed - House (59 - 33) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | WI | AB 828 | Increases Employment Incentives for Correctional Officers | Bill Passed - House (59 - 33) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | MI | HB 4277 | Expands Prohibition on Device Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (75 - 26) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | IN | HB 1122 | Prohibits Sexually Oriented Businesses from Operating Near Child-Oriented Facilities | Bill Passed - House (84 - 8) |
| Jan. 19, 2022 | NY | A 6319 | Amends the State Definition of Rape to Include Additional Forms of Non-Consensual Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (129 - 16) |
| Jan. 11, 2022 | IN | HB 1077 | Repeals Certain Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 29) |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | NJ | S 896 | Exempts Public Defender Fee Requirements for Defendants Under the Age of 18 | (56 - 23) |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | NJ | S 49 | Establishes Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom of Choice | Bill Passed - House (45 - 24) |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | NH | HB 579 | Requires Police Provide Public Notice Before Conducting Immigration Checkpoints | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (254 - 85) |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | NH | HB 579 | Requires Police Provide Public Notice Before Conducting Immigration Checkpoints | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (254 - 85) |
| Jan. 5, 2022 | IL | HB 3512 | Amends Criminal Justice Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42) |
| Dec. 20, 2021 | NJ | S 2834 | Requires Culturally Responsive Training for Teaching Candidates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| Dec. 20, 2021 | NJ | S 3319 | Repeals Certain Juvenile Justice Penalties | Bill Passed - House (50 - 21) |
| Dec. 14, 2021 | National | HR 5665 | Combating International Islamophobia Act | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| Dec. 14, 2021 | National | HR 5665 | Combating International Islamophobia Act | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| Dec. 8, 2021 | OH | HB 29 | Authorizes Sports Betting in Ohio | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 13) |