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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2021 | OR | SJM 4 | Alleges Congress Should Implement Reparations for African Americans | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| April 15, 2021 | TX | SB 29 | Prohibits Transgender Student's from Playing on Sports Teams That do Not Match their Birth Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| April 9, 2021 | KS | SB 55 | Prohibits Transgender Student Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Sex | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 11) |
| April 8, 2021 | TX | SB 4 | Requires the National Anthem be Played at All Sporting Events | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 2) |
| April 8, 2021 | SC | S 685 | Authorizes College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| March 25, 2021 | CO | SB 21-135 | Prohibits the Use of Certain Animals in Traveling Animal Acts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 17, 2021 | KS | SB 208 | Prohibits Transgender Women and Girls from Participating in Women's Sports | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 16, 2021 | WI | SJR 11 | Extends Honors to Rush Limbaugh | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 16, 2021 | WI | SJR 20 | Establishes February 2021 as Black History Month and Honors Black Legislators | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (11 - 20) |
| March 8, 2021 | SD | HB 1217 | Prohibits Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do not Match Their Birth Sex | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Jan. 6, 2021 | MS | HB 1 | Repeals the State Flag | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| Dec. 2, 2020 | OH | SB 334 | Establishes Juneteenth as a Paid State Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| Sept. 25, 2020 | VA | HB 5052 | Establishes Juneteenth Day as a Legal Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 971 | Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| July 30, 2020 | NJ | S 19 | Establishes Juneteenth Day as a Public Holiday | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| July 28, 2020 | MA | S 2848 | Establishes a Commission to Revise the State Seal and Motto | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| July 8, 2020 | NC | SB 599 | Authorizes the Reopening of Bowling Alleys and Skating Rinks | Veto Override Failed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| June 28, 2020 | MS | HB 1796 | Authorizes the Redesign of the Mississippi State Flag | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 14) |
| June 26, 2020 | NC | SB 681 | Requires Credit in the Arts in Order to Graduate | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 384 | Amends Sports Betting Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| March 12, 2020 | WY | SF 134 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for Events Conducted at Rodeo Arenas | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 1213 | Requires Adding Ocoee Riots to School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 44 | Requires the Observation of Mountain Daylight Time | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | SB 183 | Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| March 6, 2020 | UT | HB 243 | Requires Warning Labels on Pornography | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| March 3, 2020 | RI | S 2326 | Establishes Film Production Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| Feb. 11, 2020 | WV | SB 131 | Establishes the Tim Tebow Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| Jan. 30, 2020 | MI | SB 385 | Repeals Ticket-Scalping Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Jan. 22, 2020 | VA | SB 318 | Reduces Number of Balloons that Can be Released per Hour | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | MI | HB 4687 | Repeals Prohibition of Deer-Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 19, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| July 23, 2019 | National | HR 1327 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| June 26, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 553 | Authorizes Sports Betting | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15) |
| June 14, 2019 | NY | S 5864 | Establishes the Television Diversity Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18) |
| June 12, 2019 | DE | SB 73 | Repeals Daylight Savings | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| June 11, 2019 | NY | S 1637 | Prohibits Possession of Certain Flamethrowers | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13) |
| May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 206 | Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| May 20, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
| May 6, 2019 | AZ | HCR 2009 | Classifies Pornography as a Public Health Crises | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| April 19, 2019 | WA | SB 5001 | Authorizes Composting of Human Remains | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 1074 | Requires Public Access to Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4) |
| May 9, 2018 | LA | HB 484 | Authorizes Fantasy Sports Contests | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| April 23, 2018 | TN | HB 2381 | Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 122 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Film Production | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| March 16, 2018 | MD | SB 790 | Repeals State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| March 9, 2018 | WV | HB 4006 | Repeals Department of Education and Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 455 | Authorizes Children of Any Age to Hunt with Adult Supervision | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| April 7, 2017 | KS | SB 70 | Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| March 29, 2017 | KY | HB 128 | Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| March 27, 2017 | TN | SJR 141 | Authorizes Relocation of President James K. Polk's Body | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| March 23, 2017 | VT | S 96 | Establishes Protections For Journalists | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
| March 23, 2017 | FL | SB 436 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Expression in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 15, 2016 | CA | AB 1687 | Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| April 11, 2016 | ME | LD 1600 | Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 17, 2016 | MD | SB 49 | Amends the State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| March 3, 2016 | AL | SB 13 | Prohibits Removal of Momuments on Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | VA | HB 587 | Prohibits Removal of War Monuments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | KY | SB 200 | Reduces Number of Horse Park Commission Members | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| July 15, 2015 | WI | SB 209 | Appropriates Funds for New Sports and Entertainment Arena | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 10, 2015 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| March 24, 2015 | NY | S 2159 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| June 25, 2014 | DE | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| June 12, 2014 | MA | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| April 7, 2014 | LA | S Amdt 2081 | Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 27, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | GA | SB 318 | Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | SB 339 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol at the Indiana State Fair | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | HB 278 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Limiting the Practice or Celebration of Any Federal Holiday | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 5, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 28, 2013 | NV | SB 165 | Authorizes Film Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| April 29, 2013 | FL | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SJR S | Establishes a Constitutional Authorization for Individuals to Hunt and Fish | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 12, 2013 | WA | HB 1001 | Establishes a Liquor License for Small Theaters | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IN | SB 91 | Establishes Motorsports Investment District | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | SB 1525 | Establishes a Student Athlete Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 14, 2012 | LA | HB 1072 | Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 10, 2012 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| April 18, 2012 | NY | S 1707A | Authorizes Professional Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 14) |
| May 26, 2011 | IL | HB 1490 | Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8) |
| May 23, 2011 | NY | S 1707 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 18) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 14, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| June 16, 2010 | NY | S 2165B | Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 15, 2010 | CO | SB 94 | State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 29, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |