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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2019 | MI | SB 155 | Prohibits the Sale of Flavored Nicotine Products | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
| May 15, 2019 | MI | SB 106 | Prohibits Selling Vaping Products to Minors | Bill Passed - House (100 - 9) |
| May 6, 2019 | NC | HB 918 | Limits Parental Rights In Regard to Foster Care | Bill Passed - House (62 - 54) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1120 | Reduces the Age at Which a Child Can Seek Mental Health Treatment Without Parental Consent | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24) |
| May 2, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1120 | Reduces the Age at Which a Child Can Seek Mental Health Treatment Without Parental Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 1, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 1, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46) |
| April 30, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1278 | Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| April 29, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1278 | Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 27, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1312 | Requires Waivers from Parents Wanting to Exempt their Children from Vaccinations | Bill Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| April 23, 2019 | TN | HB 939 | Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 153 | Prohibits the Negligent Storage of Firearms Around Minors | Bill Passed - House (32 - 9) |
| April 17, 2019 | WA | HB 1638 | Prohibits Parental Exemptions of the Measles Vaccine | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 17, 2019 | FL | HB 1335 | Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Obtain Abortions | Bill Passed - House (69 - 44) |
| April 16, 2019 | NV | AB 139 | Requires Individuals to be At Least 18 Years Old to Marry | Bill Passed - House (32 - 8) |
| April 16, 2019 | OR | SB 1008 | Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| April 11, 2019 | IL | SB 2075 | Requires 5-Year-Olds to Attend Kindergarten | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| April 9, 2019 | TX | SB 21 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| April 3, 2019 | MD | HB 1169 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 35) |
| April 2, 2019 | MD | HB 1169 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| April 2, 2019 | GA | SB 15 | Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments | Bill Passed - House (110 - 56) |
| March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 2276 | Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present | Bill Passed - House (78 - 20) |
| March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 836 | Authorizes Temporary Guardians for Children Whose Parents Have Been Detained or Deported by ICE | Bill Passed - House (89 - 19) |
| March 28, 2019 | IL | HB 1553 | Authorizes Certain Kinds of Visas for Undocumented Children that are Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment | Bill Passed - House (87 - 18) |
| March 27, 2019 | WA | HB 1074 | Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| March 26, 2019 | GA | HB 83 | Requires Recess for Students in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
| March 19, 2019 | DE | SB 25 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (100 - 46) |
| March 14, 2019 | IL | HB 345 | Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| March 13, 2019 | MA | H 140 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (148 - 8) |
| March 11, 2019 | WA | SB 5434 | Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 5, 2019 | WA | HB 1638 | Prohibits Parental Exemptions of the Measles Vaccine | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| Feb. 28, 2019 | ID | H 98 | Establishes Restrictions on Marriage Involving Minors | Bill Failed - House (28 - 39) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | WV | SB 348 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| Feb. 25, 2019 | MT | SB 21 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Feb. 20, 2019 | WA | HB 1074 | Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | VA | HB 2384 | Prohibits Tobacco and Nicotine Vapor Products at Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (83 - 15) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Aug. 16, 2018 | CA | SB 1192 | Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 20) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 511 | Increases Minimum Age for Marriage | Bill Passed - House (90 - 2) |
| June 27, 2018 | OH | HB 540 | Amends Teacher Evaluation Process | Bill Passed - House (91 - 2) |
| June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 4110 | Requires Seat Belts on School Buses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| June 21, 2018 | NJ | S 2711 | Requires Child Abuse Training for Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| June 20, 2018 | OH | HB 383 | Amends Various Child Care Safety Regulations | Bill Passed - House (91 - 2) |
| June 7, 2018 | OH | HB 366 | Updates Child Support Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 0) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3489 | Amends the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 880 | Increases Penalty for Not Reporting Child Abuse | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
| May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 874 | Increases Penalties for Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect | Bill Passed - House (107 - 2) |
| May 9, 2018 | CT | HB 5170 | Authorizes Schools to Search Student Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0) |
| May 7, 2018 | CA | AB 2741 | Limits Amount of Opioids that can be Prescribed to Minors | Bill Passed - House (58 - 0) |
| May 3, 2018 | KS | SB 284 | Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 3, 2018 | KS | SB 284 | Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 58) |
| May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1140 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (57 - 24) |
| April 25, 2018 | RI | S 2353 | Requires Educators to Report Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0) |
| April 19, 2018 | VT | S 103 | Requires Regulations of Toxic Substances in Products | Veto Override Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 19, 2018 | DE | HB 337 | Prohibits Underage Marriage | Bill Passed - House (23 - 11) |
| April 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4891 | Authorizes Parents to Monitor Child's Communications | Bill Passed - House (105 - 3) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | SB 82 | Requires Schools to Contact Parents for Unexcused Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | HB 318 | Requires New Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |
| April 9, 2018 | CA | AB 1976 | Amends Lactation Accommodation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (57 - 1) |
| April 4, 2018 | TN | HB 2331 | Requires Schools to Report on Use of Corporal Punishment | Bill Passed - House (80 - 1) |
| April 3, 2018 | RI | S 2299 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
| March 21, 2018 | National | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| March 13, 2018 | OK | SB 1140 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| Feb. 27, 2018 | National | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (388 - 25) |
| Feb. 14, 2018 | SD | HB 1106 | Authorizes Hunting Preference Points to be Granted to Individuals age 10 Years or Older | Bill Passed - House (54 - 10) |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | UT | SB 65 | Amends Definition of Child Neglect | Bill Passed - House (66 - 0) |
| Feb. 5, 2018 | VA | SB 168 | Reduces Penalties for Minors Charged with Sexting Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5) |
| Feb. 1, 2018 | MD | SB 120 | Authorizes Mutual-Consent Divorce for Parents without Year Separation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Jan. 30, 2018 | AL | HB 26 | Prohibits Smoking Tobacco in Cars where a Minor is Present | Bill Passed - House (41 - 30) |
| Jan. 26, 2018 | UT | SB 65 | Amends Definition of Child Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 455 | Authorizes Children of Any Age to Hunt with Adult Supervision | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 3, 2017 | National | HR 3922 | Community Health and Medical Professionals Improve Our Nation Act of 2017 (CHAMPION Act) | Bill Passed - House (242 - 174) |
| Nov. 2, 2017 | WI | AB 455 | Authorizes Children of Any Age to Hunt with Adult Supervision | Bill Passed - House (57 - 32) |
| Sept. 26, 2017 | National | HR 2824 | Increasing Opportunity and Success for Children and Parents through Evidence Based Home Visiting Act | Bill Passed - House (214 - 209) |
| Sept. 5, 2017 | CA | AB 841 | Restricts Marketing of Unhealthy Foods in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 3, 2017 | OR | SB 558 | Expands Health Care Coverage for Children | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| June 8, 2017 | NJ | A 1119 | Prohibits Sale of Certain Toy Guns and Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (57 - 16) |
| May 30, 2017 | CA | SB 328 | Amends School Start Time | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 25, 2017 | National | HR 1761 | Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (368 - 51) |
| May 11, 2017 | TX | HB 39 | Prohibits Vaccination of New Foster Children | Bill Passed - House (132 - 11) |
| May 10, 2017 | TX | HB 3859 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (93 - 49) |
| May 2, 2017 | WI | AB 25 | Authorizes Minors Over Age 16 to Work without Permits | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| April 26, 2017 | LA | SB 16 | Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 11, 2017 | TX | SB 75 | Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| April 8, 2017 | WV | HB 2002 | Amends Notification Requirements for Abortions Performed on Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| April 8, 2017 | WV | HB 2002 | Amends Notification Requirements for Abortions Performed on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | HB 241 | Establishes New Standards of Evaluation for Teachers | Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 31) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - House (60 - 0) |
| March 13, 2017 | NJ | A 3091 | Prohibits Marriage for Individuals Under 18 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| March 9, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Feb. 22, 2017 | SD | SB 149 | Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Jan. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1578 | Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| Jan. 19, 2017 | MT | SB 26 | Reduces Penalty for Non-Violent Sexual Assault | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2017 | MT | SB 22 | Authorizes Termination of Parental Rights in Cases of Sexual Assault | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| Aug. 18, 2016 | CA | SB 1322 | Exempts Minors from Prostitution Charges | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| May 26, 2016 | LA | HB 67 | Prohibits Minors from Possessing Alcohol on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (48 - 37) |