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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Aug. 19, 2026 NH HB 1422 Authorizes Additional Time to Petition for a New Trial in Certain Circumstances Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
Aug. 8, 2026 National PN 1078 Nomination of Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General, vice Pamela Bondi Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 49)
June 11, 2026 National PN 904-1 Nomination of Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State, vice Reed Rubinstein Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
June 3, 2026 RI H 7200 Authorizes Expired Civil Claims of Sexual Abuse to be Brought to Court Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
April 14, 2026 VT H 849 Authorizes Citizens to Sue Federal Officials for Constitutional Rights Violations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 2, 2026 TN HB 1971 Repeals Individuals' Ability to Sue the State for Claims of Unconstitutional Laws in Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 1, 2026 VT S 193 Establishes a Facility for Individuals Charged With Violent Crimes Found Temporarily Incompetent to Stand Trial Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 24, 2026 National PN 786-9 Nomination of Colin McDonald, of California, to be an Assistant Attorney General, vice Todd Sunhwae Kim Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
March 24, 2026 IA HF 2527 Limits the Liability of Defendants for Damages Caused by Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 23, 2026 National PN 786-9 Nomination of Colin McDonald, of California, to be an Assistant Attorney General, vice Todd Sunhwae Kim Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 45)
March 19, 2026 KS HB 2444 Amends Certain Provisions Related to Criminal Sentencing and Release Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
March 19, 2026 KS HB 2593 Limits Local Governments' Authority to Contract Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 10, 2026 OK SB 1439 Prohibits Certain Climate-Related Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
Feb. 18, 2026 KS SB 413 Prohibits Attorneys From Suggesting Dollar Amounts for Noneconomic Damages Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2026 WI SB 276 Requires Attorney Fees to be Awarded to Those Who Successfully Challenge State Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Jan. 27, 2026 CA SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Nov. 12, 2025 OH SB 295 Extends the Timeline for Restoring Mental Competency of Defendants in Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Oct. 8, 2025 OH SB 55 Establishes a Stricter Standard of Prosecution for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
Sept. 13, 2025 CA SB 245 Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Certify that a Defendant Successfully Participated in Certain Programs Prior to their Release Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Sept. 12, 2025 CA AB 1108 Requires 3rd Party Medical Examiners to Determine Cause of Death for Police Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Sept. 10, 2025 CA SB 312 Requires Dog Importers to Submit Health Certifications to the CDFA Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Sept. 9, 2025 CA SB 642 Establishes the State Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions Brought Under Section 1197.5 of the California Labor Code at 3 Years Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Sept. 9, 2025 CA AB 250 Establishes a 2-Year Window to Revive Civil Claims for Sexual Assault Even if the Statute of Limitations has Expired Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
Sept. 9, 2025 CA AB 260 Establishes Protections for Pharmacists, Doctors and Hospitals from Penalties for Dispensing the Abortion Pill Mifepristone to Out-of-State Patients, and Removes the Names of Patients and Providers from Abortion Medication Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Sept. 8, 2025 CA AB 316 Prohibits Artificial Intelligence Developers or Deployers from Asserting that AI "Autonomously" Caused Harm as a Legal Defense Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Sept. 3, 2025 TX HB 7 Increases Restrictions on Abortion Pills Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
Sept. 3, 2025 CA AB 406 Prohibits Employers from Taking Action Against an Employee who is the Victim of Certain Crimes Taking Time off for Judicial Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
June 30, 2025 NJ A 3802 Establishes Differences Between Certain Legal Services and Traditional Insurance Products Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 30, 2025 NJ A 5447 Prohibits Sweepstakes Model of Wagering Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
June 30, 2025 DE HB 142 Prohibits Private Individuals from Arresting Someone Accused of a Felony by Another State Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
June 30, 2025 NJ A 4603 Authorizes Commercial Farmers to be Awarded Legal Fees for Defending Against Bad Faith Complaints Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
June 25, 2025 DE HB 154 Authorizes Immunity to Nonprofit Organizations Who Distribute New Secure Gun Storage and Safety Devices Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 25, 2025 OR SB 875 Expands Protections for Oregon's Foster Youth Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
June 25, 2025 ME LD 1126 Prohibits the Manufacture, Possession, Importation, Sale, or Transfer of Undetectable Firearms in the State "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
June 25, 2025 MI SB 226 Prohibits Firearms in the Michigan State Capitol Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
June 23, 2025 OR SB 1173 Prohibits Lawsuits Against Hospitals for Injury Caused by Drugs That the Hospital Did Not Design, Manufacture, or Sell Commercially Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
June 18, 2025 WI AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
June 18, 2025 OH SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
June 17, 2025 ME LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
June 17, 2025 NC HB 612 Requires Counties and Cities to have Criminal History Record Checks for Applicants Offered a Position that Requires the Applicant to Work with Children in Any Capacity Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
June 12, 2025 NY S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
June 11, 2025 National S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
June 11, 2025 National S J Res 54 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
June 11, 2025 NY S 3967 Authorizes Legal Immunity for Sex Workers Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
June 9, 2025 ME LD 259 Establishes the Criminal Records Review Commission "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
June 8, 2025 LA HB 496 Establishes Protections for Policyholders Against Any Rate Increases Tied to a Lapse in Auto Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 381 Expands Protections and Penalties Related to Animal Cruelty and Rescue Situations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
June 2, 2025 CA SB 245 Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Certify that a Defendant Successfully Participated in Certain Programs Prior to their Release Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
June 1, 2025 IL SB 328 Specifies that the Transaction of any Business Within the State Submits any Person to the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Illinois Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
May 30, 2025 CT HB 7042 Authorizes Lawsuits Against the Firearm Industry Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/19 HB 1422 Authorizes Additional Time to Petition for a New Trial in Certain Circumstances Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
8/08 PN 1078 Nomination of Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General, vice Pamela Bondi Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 49)
6/11 PN 904-1 Nomination of Brock Dahl, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State, vice Reed Rubinstein Nomination Confirmed - Senate (49 - 44)
6/03 H 7200 Authorizes Expired Civil Claims of Sexual Abuse to be Brought to Court Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
4/14 H 849 Authorizes Citizens to Sue Federal Officials for Constitutional Rights Violations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/02 HB 1971 Repeals Individuals' Ability to Sue the State for Claims of Unconstitutional Laws in Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/01 S 193 Establishes a Facility for Individuals Charged With Violent Crimes Found Temporarily Incompetent to Stand Trial Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/24 PN 786-9 Nomination of Colin McDonald, of California, to be an Assistant Attorney General, vice Todd Sunhwae Kim Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 47)
3/24 HF 2527 Limits the Liability of Defendants for Damages Caused by Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/23 PN 786-9 Nomination of Colin McDonald, of California, to be an Assistant Attorney General, vice Todd Sunhwae Kim Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 45)
3/19 HB 2444 Amends Certain Provisions Related to Criminal Sentencing and Release Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6)
3/19 HB 2593 Limits Local Governments' Authority to Contract Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/10 SB 1439 Prohibits Certain Climate-Related Lawsuits Against Oil and Gas Companies Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
2/18 SB 413 Prohibits Attorneys From Suggesting Dollar Amounts for Noneconomic Damages Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
2/11 SB 276 Requires Attorney Fees to be Awarded to Those Who Successfully Challenge State Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
1/27 SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
11/12 SB 295 Extends the Timeline for Restoring Mental Competency of Defendants in Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
10/08 SB 55 Establishes a Stricter Standard of Prosecution for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 0)
9/13 SB 245 Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Certify that a Defendant Successfully Participated in Certain Programs Prior to their Release Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
9/12 AB 1108 Requires 3rd Party Medical Examiners to Determine Cause of Death for Police Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/10 SB 312 Requires Dog Importers to Submit Health Certifications to the CDFA Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
9/09 SB 642 Establishes the State Statute of Limitations for Civil Actions Brought Under Section 1197.5 of the California Labor Code at 3 Years Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
9/09 AB 250 Establishes a 2-Year Window to Revive Civil Claims for Sexual Assault Even if the Statute of Limitations has Expired Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
9/09 AB 260 Establishes Protections for Pharmacists, Doctors and Hospitals from Penalties for Dispensing the Abortion Pill Mifepristone to Out-of-State Patients, and Removes the Names of Patients and Providers from Abortion Medication Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
9/08 AB 316 Prohibits Artificial Intelligence Developers or Deployers from Asserting that AI "Autonomously" Caused Harm as a Legal Defense Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
9/03 HB 7 Increases Restrictions on Abortion Pills Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
9/03 AB 406 Prohibits Employers from Taking Action Against an Employee who is the Victim of Certain Crimes Taking Time off for Judicial Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 2)
6/30 A 3802 Establishes Differences Between Certain Legal Services and Traditional Insurance Products Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/30 A 5447 Prohibits Sweepstakes Model of Wagering Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
6/30 HB 142 Prohibits Private Individuals from Arresting Someone Accused of a Felony by Another State Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
6/30 A 4603 Authorizes Commercial Farmers to be Awarded Legal Fees for Defending Against Bad Faith Complaints Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
6/25 HB 154 Authorizes Immunity to Nonprofit Organizations Who Distribute New Secure Gun Storage and Safety Devices Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/25 SB 875 Expands Protections for Oregon's Foster Youth Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
6/25 LD 1126 Prohibits the Manufacture, Possession, Importation, Sale, or Transfer of Undetectable Firearms in the State "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
6/25 SB 226 Prohibits Firearms in the Michigan State Capitol Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17)
6/23 SB 1173 Prohibits Lawsuits Against Hospitals for Injury Caused by Drugs That the Hospital Did Not Design, Manufacture, or Sell Commercially Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
6/18 AB 87 Requires an Individual Convicted of Child Trafficking to Pay Restitution Immediately or Have Assets Seized Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14)
6/18 SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
6/17 LD 1189 Authorizes an Attorney for the State to Determine Whether to Charge Certain Class E Crimes as Civil Violations "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
6/17 HB 612 Requires Counties and Cities to have Criminal History Record Checks for Applicants Offered a Position that Requires the Applicant to Work with Children in Any Capacity Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
6/12 S 54 Repeals the "Voluntary Intoxication" Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
6/11 S J Res 53 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Qatar of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
6/11 S J Res 54 A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services. Motion Rejected - Senate (39 - 56)
6/11 S 3967 Authorizes Legal Immunity for Sex Workers Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 0)
6/09 LD 259 Establishes the Criminal Records Review Commission "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
6/08 HB 496 Establishes Protections for Policyholders Against Any Rate Increases Tied to a Lapse in Auto Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
6/02 AB 381 Expands Protections and Penalties Related to Animal Cruelty and Rescue Situations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
6/02 SB 245 Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Certify that a Defendant Successfully Participated in Certain Programs Prior to their Release Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
6/01 SB 328 Specifies that the Transaction of any Business Within the State Submits any Person to the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Illinois Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
5/30 HB 7042 Authorizes Lawsuits Against the Firearm Industry Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)

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