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
March 11, 2020 WY HB 118 Establishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14)
March 11, 2020 FL HB 199 Extends Sexual Battery Prosecution Time Limitations Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
March 11, 2020 MS SB 2459 Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
March 11, 2020 OK SB 1674 Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
March 11, 2020 OK SB 1674 Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
March 10, 2020 SD SB 151 Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
March 10, 2020 FL SB 70 Establishes Alert Systems in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
March 10, 2020 MD SB 35 Amends Various Gun Laws Including Making Theft of a Firearm a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
March 9, 2020 WA SB 6561 Establishes a Student Loan Program for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
March 9, 2020 MD HB 4 Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 9, 2020 MS SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
March 8, 2020 VA HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
March 8, 2020 VA HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 812 Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
March 7, 2020 VA SB 183 Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 16)
March 7, 2020 WV HB 4615 Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 6, 2020 UT SB 67 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Remains Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 6)
March 6, 2020 FL HB 43 Amends Child Welfare Training Standards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
March 6, 2020 UT HB 243 Requires Warning Labels on Pornography Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 1783 Establishes the Washington State Office of Equity Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2638 Authorizes Sports Betting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2467 Establishes a Background Check System for Firearms Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 5, 2020 WA HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/11 HB 118 Establishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14)
3/11 HB 199 Extends Sexual Battery Prosecution Time Limitations Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
3/11 SB 2459 Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
3/11 SB 1674 Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
3/11 SB 1674 Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
3/10 SB 151 Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
3/10 SB 70 Establishes Alert Systems in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
3/10 SB 35 Amends Various Gun Laws Including Making Theft of a Firearm a Felony Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
3/09 SB 6561 Establishes a Student Loan Program for Undocumented Students Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
3/09 HB 4 Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/09 SB 2112 Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17)
3/08 HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
3/08 HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
3/07 HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
3/07 HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
3/07 HB 812 Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
3/07 SB 183 Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 16)
3/07 HB 4615 Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/06 SB 67 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Remains Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 6)
3/06 HB 43 Amends Child Welfare Training Standards Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
3/06 HB 243 Requires Warning Labels on Pornography Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
3/05 HB 1783 Establishes the Washington State Office of Equity Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/05 HB 2638 Authorizes Sports Betting Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/05 HB 2467 Establishes a Background Check System for Firearms Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/05 HB 2614 Amends the Paid Family Medical Leave Program for Union Employees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)

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