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
June 30, 2020 NH HB 1162 Amends Adoption Laws for Unmarried Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - House (209 - 119)
May 20, 2020 LA HB 109 Prohibits Vaping in Motor Vehicles When a Child Is Present Bill Passed - House (80 - 19)
May 15, 2020 LA HB 173 Expands Parole Eligibility for Certain Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (68 - 22)
May 14, 2020 MO HB 1414 Establishes a State Birth Certificate Program and Medicaid Health Coverage for Missouri's Homeless Youth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 4)
March 5, 2020 WY SF 50 Increases the Legal Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
March 5, 2020 WA SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
March 4, 2020 OK HB 2804 Requires Dyslexia Screening for All K-3rd Grade Students Not Reading at Grade Level Bill Passed - House (92 - 1)
March 3, 2020 WA SB 5434 Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2020 AL SJR 7 Classifies Pornography as a Public Health Crisis Bill Passed - House (67 - 19)
Feb. 20, 2020 FL SB 404 Requires Parental Consent for Minors Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
Feb. 13, 2020 KY HB 37 Requires Visual and Performing Arts Courses be Taught in Elementary and Middle Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2020 WI AB 806 Amends the Age for Juvenile Incarceration Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 10, 2020 NM HB 83 Establishes the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
Feb. 7, 2020 WV HB 4585 Establishes Criminal Immunity for "Good Faith" Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
Jan. 15, 2020 WV HB 3039 Increases Court Discretion When Determining Child Custody Bill Passed - House (87 - 11)
Jan. 9, 2020 NH HB 377 Amends Child Protection Laws to Establish a Study on the Best Interest of the Child "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (255 - 115)
Jan. 8, 2020 NH HB 201 Increases the Penalty for Sexual Contact with Human Trafficking Victims Under 18 Bill Passed - House (316 - 55)
July 31, 2019 NC SB 199 Extends Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Bill Passed - House (92 - 15)
June 20, 2019 DE HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
June 19, 2019 ME LD 1028 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (86 - 49)
June 18, 2019 WI AB 110 Requires State Published Dyslexia Guidebooks in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
June 4, 2019 National HR 6 American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
June 2, 2019 LA SB 172 Requires Individuals to be At Least 16 Years Old to Marry Bill Passed - House (67 - 28)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 448 Requires Children Under 2 Ride in Rear-Facing Car Seats Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 38)
May 23, 2019 OR SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
May 21, 2019 AL HB 379 Requires Chemical Castration for All Child Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (72 - 16)
May 15, 2019 MI SB 106 Prohibits Selling Vaping Products to Minors Bill Passed - House (100 - 9)
May 15, 2019 MI SB 155 Prohibits the Sale of Flavored Nicotine Products Bill Passed - House (99 - 10)
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 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 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 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 3, 2019 MD HB 1169 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 35)
April 2, 2019 GA SB 15 Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments Bill Passed - House (110 - 56)
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 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 19, 2019 NY A 6449 Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones Bill Passed - House (100 - 46)
March 13, 2019 MA H 140 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (148 - 8)
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. 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)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/30 HB 1162 Amends Adoption Laws for Unmarried Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - House (209 - 119)
5/20 HB 109 Prohibits Vaping in Motor Vehicles When a Child Is Present Bill Passed - House (80 - 19)
5/15 HB 173 Expands Parole Eligibility for Certain Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (68 - 22)
5/14 HB 1414 Establishes a State Birth Certificate Program and Medicaid Health Coverage for Missouri's Homeless Youth Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 4)
3/05 SF 50 Increases the Legal Smoking Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
3/05 SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
3/04 HB 2804 Requires Dyslexia Screening for All K-3rd Grade Students Not Reading at Grade Level Bill Passed - House (92 - 1)
3/03 SB 5434 Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - House (56 - 40)
2/27 SJR 7 Classifies Pornography as a Public Health Crisis Bill Passed - House (67 - 19)
2/20 SB 404 Requires Parental Consent for Minors Prior to Abortion Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
2/13 HB 37 Requires Visual and Performing Arts Courses be Taught in Elementary and Middle Schools Bill Passed - House (73 - 16)
2/11 AB 806 Amends the Age for Juvenile Incarceration Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/10 HB 83 Establishes the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
2/07 HB 4585 Establishes Criminal Immunity for "Good Faith" Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Bill Passed - House (69 - 29)
1/15 HB 3039 Increases Court Discretion When Determining Child Custody Bill Passed - House (87 - 11)
1/09 HB 377 Amends Child Protection Laws to Establish a Study on the Best Interest of the Child "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (255 - 115)
1/08 HB 201 Increases the Penalty for Sexual Contact with Human Trafficking Victims Under 18 Bill Passed - House (316 - 55)
7/31 SB 199 Extends Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse Bill Passed - House (92 - 15)
6/20 HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
6/19 LD 1028 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (86 - 49)
6/18 AB 110 Requires State Published Dyslexia Guidebooks in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
6/04 HR 6 American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (237 - 187)
6/02 SB 172 Requires Individuals to be At Least 16 Years Old to Marry Bill Passed - House (67 - 28)
5/23 HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
5/23 HB 448 Requires Children Under 2 Ride in Rear-Facing Car Seats Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 38)
5/23 SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
5/22 AB 163 Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
5/21 HB 379 Requires Chemical Castration for All Child Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (72 - 16)
5/15 SB 106 Prohibits Selling Vaping Products to Minors Bill Passed - House (100 - 9)
5/15 SB 155 Prohibits the Sale of Flavored Nicotine Products Bill Passed - House (99 - 10)
5/06 HB 918 Limits Parental Rights In Regard to Foster Care Bill Passed - House (62 - 54)
5/03 HB 19-1120 Reduces the Age at Which a Child Can Seek Mental Health Treatment Without Parental Consent Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24)
5/01 HB 939 Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 46)
4/30 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
4/27 HB 19-1312 Requires Waivers from Parents Wanting to Exempt their Children from Vaccinations Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
4/23 HB 939 Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
4/23 AB 153 Prohibits the Negligent Storage of Firearms Around Minors Bill Passed - House (32 - 9)
4/17 HB 1335 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Obtain Abortions Bill Passed - House (69 - 44)
4/16 AB 139 Requires Individuals to be At Least 18 Years Old to Marry Bill Passed - House (32 - 8)
4/03 HB 1169 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 35)
4/02 SB 15 Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments Bill Passed - House (110 - 56)
3/28 HB 1553 Authorizes Certain Kinds of Visas for Undocumented Children that are Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment Bill Passed - House (87 - 18)
3/28 HB 2276 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - House (78 - 20)
3/28 HB 836 Authorizes Temporary Guardians for Children Whose Parents Have Been Detained or Deported by ICE Bill Passed - House (89 - 19)
3/19 A 6449 Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones Bill Passed - House (100 - 46)
3/13 H 140 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (148 - 8)
3/05 HB 1638 Prohibits Parental Exemptions of the Measles Vaccine Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
2/28 H 98 Establishes Restrictions on Marriage Involving Minors Bill Failed - House (28 - 39)
2/20 HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - House (66 - 30)
2/05 HB 2384 Prohibits Tobacco and Nicotine Vapor Products at Public Schools Bill Passed - House (83 - 15)

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