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
Feb. 7, 2019 AR SB 149 Establishes The Arkansas Human Life Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
Feb. 4, 2019 VA SB 1502 Requires School Boards to Offer Classes on the Bible Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Jan. 31, 2019 NJ S 1784 Expands State Medicaid Program to Include Doula Maternity Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 2451 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 2448 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 2451 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 2449 Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 13)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 2374 Amends Background Check Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Jan. 29, 2019 NY S 101 Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
Jan. 23, 2019 DE HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
Jan. 22, 2019 VA SB 1012 Amends Conceal Carry Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Jan. 22, 2019 SD SB 47 Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 576 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY S 1047 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)
Jan. 11, 2019 KY SB 50 Requires Reporting of Abortion Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
Dec. 27, 2018 OH HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Dec. 18, 2018 National S 756 First Step Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
Dec. 6, 2018 OH HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Dec. 6, 2018 OH SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Nov. 28, 2018 MI SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Oct. 29, 2018 NJ S 2465 Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 3, 2018 PA HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/07 SB 149 Establishes The Arkansas Human Life Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
2/04 SB 1502 Requires School Boards to Offer Classes on the Bible Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
1/31 S 1784 Expands State Medicaid Program to Include Doula Maternity Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
1/29 S 2451 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21)
1/29 S 2448 Prohibits Bump Stocks Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 14)
1/29 S 2451 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 21)
1/29 S 2449 Establishes a Firearm Buyback Program Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 13)
1/29 S 2374 Amends Background Check Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
1/29 S 101 Prohibits Firearms on School Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
1/23 HB 2 Establishes Protections for Federal Workers During a Shutdown Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
1/22 SB 1012 Amends Conceal Carry Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
1/22 SB 47 Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/15 A 576 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4)
1/15 S 1047 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19)
1/14 S 1250 Expands Aid For Higher Education to Undocumented Children Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 20)
1/11 SB 50 Requires Reporting of Abortion Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
12/27 HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
12/18 S 756 First Step Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
12/06 HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
12/06 SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
11/28 SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
10/29 S 2465 Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
10/17 SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/17 SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/03 HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)

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