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
May 14, 2015 CA SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 13, 2015 LA HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
May 12, 2015 MI HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 7, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
May 7, 2015 CT HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - House (86 - 56)
May 7, 2015 CA SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 7, 2015 KS HB 2049 Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession Bill Passed - House (81 - 36)
May 7, 2015 MI HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
May 7, 2015 MN SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
May 6, 2015 NH SB 40 Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - House (193 - 159)
May 5, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
May 5, 2015 NV SB 37 Authorizes GPS Capable Supervision of Parolees Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
May 5, 2015 CT HB 6863 Limits Police Pursuit for Municipal Ordinance Violations Bill Passed - House (109 - 38)
May 1, 2015 HI HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (34 - 16)
May 1, 2015 HI HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
April 29, 2015 NY A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
April 28, 2015 OK HB 1518 Establishes the Justice Safety Valve Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 31)
April 28, 2015 MN SF 1458 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 60)
April 28, 2015 CO SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 27, 2015 MT SB 416 Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects Bill Failed - House (66 - 33)
April 27, 2015 TX SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
April 23, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 22)
April 23, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 22)
April 23, 2015 IL HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
April 23, 2015 TX SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 23, 2015 MN SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 22, 2015 ND SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
April 22, 2015 TN SB 612 Exempts Certain Students from Out-of-State Tuition Bill Failed - House (49 - 47)
April 22, 2015 CO HB 1290 Prohibits a Peace Office from Seizing a Recording Device Without Consent or Warrant Bill Passed - House (47 - 16)
April 21, 2015 MO SB 239 Limits Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Awards Bill Passed - House (125 - 27)
April 21, 2015 TX HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
April 21, 2015 NV AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
April 20, 2015 MT SB 411 Requires the Closure of the Montana Developmental Center Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
April 16, 2015 TN SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 16, 2015 NC HB 540 Requests Billy Graham Statue in National Statuary Hall Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
April 16, 2015 National HR 1105 Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 179)
April 15, 2015 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
April 14, 2015 WA SB 5501 Amends Animal Cruelty Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
April 14, 2015 CO HB 1288 Amends Law Enforcing "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
April 14, 2015 National HR 650 Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (263 - 162)
April 9, 2015 WA SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
April 9, 2015 TX SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 7, 2015 TX SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 3, 2015 VT S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
April 2, 2015 GA SB 94 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 65)
April 2, 2015 GA SB 94 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 65)
April 2, 2015 AZ SB 1185 Authorizes Landlords to Evict Guests Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
April 2, 2015 ND HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 31, 2015 MS SB 2804 Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58)
March 31, 2015 NY S 4610 2015-2016 Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 47)
March 30, 2015 AZ HB 2318 Authorizes the State to Adopt the Interstate Compact on the Transfer of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 27, 2015 GA SB 134 Amends Speeding Fine Revenue Reporting Bill Passed - House (104 - 54)
March 27, 2015 National S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
March 26, 2015 AZ SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
March 26, 2015 NJ A 4326 Requires Governor to Forecast State Revenue Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1445 Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1145 Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
March 23, 2015 MD HB 121 Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses Bill Passed - House (85 - 55)
March 19, 2015 MD HB 124 Authorizes Expungement of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
March 19, 2015 NY S 3709 Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15)
March 17, 2015 ID S 1095 Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 17, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
March 17, 2015 IA SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 16, 2015 ID S 1044 Prohibits the Use of Eminent Domain for Trails Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
March 16, 2015 ID S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 16, 2015 MD SB 340 Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 16, 2015 NJ S 1593 Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 14, 2015 WV HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Concurrence Vote Failed - House (49 - 49)
March 14, 2015 WV SB 286 Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
March 14, 2015 WV HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 12, 2015 UT HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
March 12, 2015 UT HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 12, 2015 ID H 75 Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/14 SB 277 Amends School Immunization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/13 HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
5/12 HB 4038 Authorizes Electronic Notification of Eviction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/07 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
5/07 HB 6949 Expands Requirements for Vaccine Exemptions Bill Passed - House (86 - 56)
5/07 SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/07 HB 2049 Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession Bill Passed - House (81 - 36)
5/07 HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
5/07 SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
5/06 SB 40 Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses Bill Passed - House (193 - 159)
5/05 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48)
5/05 SB 37 Authorizes GPS Capable Supervision of Parolees Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
5/05 HB 6863 Limits Police Pursuit for Municipal Ordinance Violations Bill Passed - House (109 - 38)
5/01 HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (34 - 16)
5/01 HB 1075 Authorizes Public-private Partnership of Hospital Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 1)
4/29 A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
4/28 HB 1518 Establishes the Justice Safety Valve Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 31)
4/28 SF 1458 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - House (72 - 60)
4/28 SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/27 SB 416 Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects Bill Failed - House (66 - 33)
4/27 SB 900 Amends Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
4/23 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 22)
4/23 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 22)
4/23 HB 373 Authorizes Construction of Presidential Libraries and Museums on Park Land Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
4/23 SB 158 Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/23 SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/22 SB 2304 Appropriates Funds for New Governor's Residence Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 19)
4/22 SB 612 Exempts Certain Students from Out-of-State Tuition Bill Failed - House (49 - 47)
4/22 HB 1290 Prohibits a Peace Office from Seizing a Recording Device Without Consent or Warrant Bill Passed - House (47 - 16)
4/21 SB 239 Limits Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Awards Bill Passed - House (125 - 27)
4/21 HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
4/21 AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
4/20 SB 411 Requires the Closure of the Montana Developmental Center Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
4/16 SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/16 HB 540 Requests Billy Graham Statue in National Statuary Hall Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
4/16 HR 1105 Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (240 - 179)
4/15 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
4/14 SB 5501 Amends Animal Cruelty Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
4/14 HB 1288 Amends Law Enforcing "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
4/14 HR 650 Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (263 - 162)
4/09 SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
4/09 SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/07 SB 267 Prohibits Local Regulations that Prohibit Refusal of Tenants Based on Source of Income Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/03 S 20 Establish and Regulate Dental Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
4/02 SB 94 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 65)
4/02 SB 94 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 65)
4/02 SB 1185 Authorizes Landlords to Evict Guests Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
4/02 HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/31 SB 2804 Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58)
3/31 S 4610 2015-2016 Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 47)
3/30 HB 2318 Authorizes the State to Adopt the Interstate Compact on the Transfer of Public Lands Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/27 SB 134 Amends Speeding Fine Revenue Reporting Bill Passed - House (104 - 54)
3/27 S Con Res 11 An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46)
3/26 SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
3/26 A 4326 Requires Governor to Forecast State Revenue Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
3/24 SB 1445 Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/24 SB 1145 Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
3/24 SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
3/23 HB 121 Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses Bill Passed - House (85 - 55)
3/19 HB 124 Authorizes Expungement of Certain Crimes Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
3/19 S 3709 Limits Property Tax Increases for New York City Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 15)
3/17 S 1095 Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/17 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
3/17 SF 334 Prohibits Sexual-Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/16 S 1044 Prohibits the Use of Eminent Domain for Trails Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
3/16 S 1092 Prohibits Local Knife Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/16 SB 340 Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/16 S 1593 Establishes Interest-Free Housing Loans for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/14 HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Concurrence Vote Failed - House (49 - 49)
3/14 SB 286 Amends Exemption Procedure for Compulsory Immunizations Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
3/14 HB 2688 Authorizes Petroleum Drilling Without Consent of all Property Owners Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/12 HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
3/12 HB 454 Authorizes Construction of New State Prison Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/12 H 75 Exempts Prescription Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses from Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)

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