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 15, 2015 MO SB 199 Amends the Justifications for Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - House (111 - 43)
May 13, 2015 LA HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
May 13, 2015 WI AB 191 Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
May 12, 2015 DE SB 75 Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
May 7, 2015 MN SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
May 7, 2015 MI HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
May 7, 2015 CA SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
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 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 CO SB 213 Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
April 30, 2015 TX SB 1628 Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
April 29, 2015 NH SB 116 Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns Bill Passed - House (212 - 150)
April 29, 2015 MI HB 4151 Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 29, 2015 NC HB 774 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions Bill Passed - House (84 - 33)
April 28, 2015 OK HB 1518 Establishes the Justice Safety Valve Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 31)
April 28, 2015 CO SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 24, 2015 FL HB 943 Amends Alimony Law Bill Passed - House (93 - 22)
April 23, 2015 National PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
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 23, 2015 MN SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
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 TX HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
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 TX HB 910 Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns Bill Passed - House (101 - 42)
April 16, 2015 TN HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
April 16, 2015 TN HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 25)
April 15, 2015 NV AB 121 Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
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 OR SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 13, 2015 TN SB 1110 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
April 13, 2015 TN SB 874 Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
April 9, 2015 ND HB 1241 Expands Locations Where Individuals Can Carry Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 19)
April 9, 2015 FL SB 290 Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
April 9, 2015 TX SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 6, 2015 TN HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 17)
April 6, 2015 NV AB 148 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (24 - 15)
April 2, 2015 IN SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16)
April 2, 2015 IN SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 30)
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 ND HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 2, 2015 ND HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 2, 2015 DE SB 40 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/15 SB 199 Amends the Justifications for Use of Deadly Force Bill Passed - House (111 - 43)
5/13 HB 149 Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion Bill Passed - House (54 - 37)
5/13 AB 191 Requires Drug Testing for Job Training Programs Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
5/12 SB 75 Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
5/07 SF 86 Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19)
5/07 HB 4467 Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
5/07 SB 227 Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
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)
5/06 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 SB 213 Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
4/30 SB 1628 Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
4/29 SB 116 Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns Bill Passed - House (212 - 150)
4/29 HB 4151 Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/29 HB 774 Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions Bill Passed - House (84 - 33)
4/28 HB 1518 Establishes the Justice Safety Valve Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 31)
4/28 SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/24 HB 943 Amends Alimony Law Bill Passed - House (93 - 22)
4/23 PN 4 Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43)
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)
4/23 SF 878 Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22)
4/22 HB 1290 Prohibits a Peace Office from Seizing a Recording Device Without Consent or Warrant Bill Passed - House (47 - 16)
4/21 HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
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 HB 910 Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns Bill Passed - House (101 - 42)
4/16 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6)
4/16 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 25)
4/15 AB 121 Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
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 SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/13 SB 1110 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
4/13 SB 874 Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
4/09 HB 1241 Expands Locations Where Individuals Can Carry Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 19)
4/09 SB 290 Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
4/09 SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/06 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 17)
4/06 AB 148 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (24 - 15)
4/02 SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16)
4/02 SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 30)
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 HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/02 HB 1328 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/02 SB 40 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)

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