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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 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 - 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 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 | 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) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 30, 2018 | AL | HB 26 | Prohibits Smoking Tobacco in Cars where a Minor is Present | Bill Passed - House (41 - 30) |
| 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) |
| June 8, 2017 | NJ | A 1119 | Prohibits Sale of Certain Toy Guns and Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (57 - 16) |
| 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 8, 2017 | WV | HB 2002 | Amends Notification Requirements for Abortions Performed on Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| 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) |
| Jan. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1578 | Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| 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) |
| March 23, 2016 | NH | HB 1661 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (299 - 99) |
| March 17, 2016 | MO | HB 1370 | Requires All Guardians of a Minor to be Notified Prior to Abortion | Bill Passed - House (121 - 34) |
| March 17, 2016 | CO | HB 1210 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| March 10, 2016 | KS | HB 2369 | Prohibits Minors From Using Tanning Devices | Bill Passed - House (77 - 44) |
| March 7, 2016 | TN | SB 1674 | Amends Child Safety Seat Requirements | Bill Passed - House (68 - 19) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | IA | HF 2281 | Authorizes Individuals Under the age of 14 to Posses a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| Feb. 17, 2016 | GA | HB 555 | Establishes Regulations Regarding Records of Juvenile Petitions for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (119 - 51) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | VA | HB 1348 | Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | UT | HB 136 | Classifies Certain Cases of Human Trafficking as Capital Offense | Bill Passed - House (44 - 28) |
| Feb. 8, 2016 | KY | HB 196 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | KS | SB 133 | Establishes Immunity for Underage Drinkers Who Seek Medical Help | Bill Passed - House (92 - 27) |
| July 3, 2015 | OR | SB 478 | Requires Manufacturers to Disclose Certain Chemicals Used in Children's Products | Bill Passed - House (43 - 17) |
| June 25, 2015 | CA | SB 277 | Amends School Immunization Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| June 16, 2015 | IL | HB 1336 | Establishes Immunity from Underage Drinking Charges in Certain Circumstances | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
| June 10, 2015 | MI | HB 4188 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services for Religious Reasons | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 44) |