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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.

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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 1, 2026 KY SB 251 Authorizes the Department of Corrections to Establish Internal Rules for Implementing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
March 16, 2026 KY SB 251 Authorizes the Department of Corrections to Establish Internal Rules for Implementing the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Feb. 5, 2026 AL HB 41 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Certain Sex Crimes Against a Minor Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
Sept. 22, 2025 NC HB 307 Amends Various Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
June 30, 2025 DE HB 35 Prohibits the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 26, 2025 TX SB 990 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Killing Children Aged 10-15 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 24, 2025 ID H 380 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
March 11, 2025 AR HB 1489 Authorizes the Use of Nitrogen Gas in State Executions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 5, 2025 ID H 37 Establishes Firing Squads as the Primary Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
June 27, 2024 DE HB 70 Repeals the Death Penalty in Delaware Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
April 22, 2024 LA SB 430 Repeals the Use of Nitrogen Gas as a Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 11, 2024 OK SB 1702 Authorizes Protections for Businesses and Individuals Involved in the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
Feb. 29, 2024 LA HB 6 Establishes Methods of Execution and Requires Confidentiality of Records of Information Related to the Execution of a Death Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 4, 2023 SC S 120 Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
May 4, 2023 IL HB 3762 Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
March 20, 2023 ID H 186 Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 2, 2021 SC S 200 Establishes the Electric Chair as the Default Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
Feb. 3, 2021 VA SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Aug. 13, 2020 NE LB 238 Requires Witnesses of Executions to Watch the Entire Proceeding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Jan. 31, 2020 CO SB 20-100 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
May 21, 2019 OR SB 1013 Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
April 11, 2019 NH HB 455 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Jan. 29, 2019 SC S 176 Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
April 18, 2017 AL SB 12 Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
April 20, 2016 VA HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
March 11, 2016 VA HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
March 2, 2016 UT SB 189 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12)
March 1, 2016 MS SB 2237 Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
July 27, 2015 NC HB 774 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
May 27, 2015 NE LB 268 Repeals the Death Penalty Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 2, 2015 DE SB 40 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
March 10, 2015 UT HB 11 Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Feb. 12, 2015 WY SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 12)
Feb. 10, 2015 VA SB 1393 Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Jan. 16, 2015 WY SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Dec. 11, 2014 OH HB 663 Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 17, 2014 TN SB 2580 Authorizes the Use of Certain Execution Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
April 17, 2014 NH HB 1170 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2014 KS HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
June 12, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
April 29, 2013 FL HB 7083 Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 26, 2013 DE SB 19 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
March 6, 2013 MD SB 276 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
July 2, 2012 NC SB 416 Death Penalty Discrimination Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
June 20, 2012 NC SB 416 Death Penalty Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
April 4, 2012 CT SB 280 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Jan. 4, 2012 NC SB 9 Death Penalty Discrimination Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Nov. 28, 2011 NC SB 9 Death Penalty Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/01 SB 251 Authorizes the Department of Corrections to Establish Internal Rules for Implementing the Death Penalty Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
3/16 SB 251 Authorizes the Department of Corrections to Establish Internal Rules for Implementing the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
2/05 HB 41 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Certain Sex Crimes Against a Minor Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
9/22 HB 307 Amends Various Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
6/30 HB 35 Prohibits the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/26 SB 990 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Killing Children Aged 10-15 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/24 H 380 Authorizes the Death Penalty for Individuals Convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
3/11 HB 1489 Authorizes the Use of Nitrogen Gas in State Executions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/05 H 37 Establishes Firing Squads as the Primary Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
6/27 HB 70 Repeals the Death Penalty in Delaware Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
4/22 SB 430 Repeals the Use of Nitrogen Gas as a Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/11 SB 1702 Authorizes Protections for Businesses and Individuals Involved in the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
2/29 HB 6 Establishes Methods of Execution and Requires Confidentiality of Records of Information Related to the Execution of a Death Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/04 S 120 Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
5/04 HB 3762 Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
3/20 H 186 Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/02 S 200 Establishes the Electric Chair as the Default Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
2/03 SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
8/13 LB 238 Requires Witnesses of Executions to Watch the Entire Proceeding Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
1/31 SB 20-100 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
5/21 SB 1013 Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
4/11 HB 455 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
1/29 S 176 Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
4/18 SB 12 Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
4/20 HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
3/11 HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
3/02 SB 189 Repeals Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 12)
3/01 SB 2237 Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
7/27 HB 774 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
5/27 LB 268 Repeals the Death Penalty Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/02 SB 40 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
3/10 HB 11 Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
2/12 SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 12)
2/10 SB 1393 Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
1/16 SF 13 Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
12/11 HB 663 Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/17 SB 2580 Authorizes the Use of Certain Execution Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
4/17 HB 1170 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12)
2/13 HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
6/12 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
4/29 HB 7083 Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/26 SB 19 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
3/06 SB 276 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
7/02 SB 416 Death Penalty Discrimination Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 11)
6/20 SB 416 Death Penalty Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
4/04 SB 280 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
1/04 SB 9 Death Penalty Discrimination Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
11/28 SB 9 Death Penalty Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
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