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 1, 2015 CO SB 213 Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
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 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 OR SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
April 28, 2015 CO SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
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 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 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 MT SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
April 21, 2015 MT SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 21, 2015 NV AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
April 21, 2015 TX HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
April 21, 2015 NV AB 375 Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Failed - House (20 - 22)
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 16, 2015 TN SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 16, 2015 NV SB 443 Authorizes Businesses to Place Sports Bets Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 15, 2015 MT SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
April 15, 2015 MT SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
April 15, 2015 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
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 IN HB 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
April 14, 2015 WA SB 5501 Amends Animal Cruelty Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
April 14, 2015 FL HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
April 14, 2015 FL HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
April 14, 2015 OR SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 14, 2015 CO HB 1288 Amends Law Enforcing "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
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 IN HB 1540 Authorizes Riverboat Casinos to Relocate Inland Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
April 9, 2015 WA SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
April 9, 2015 FL SB 290 Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
April 9, 2015 FL HB 7111 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 38)
April 9, 2015 TX SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 9, 2015 FL HB 7111 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 38)
April 8, 2015 MD SB 743 Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
April 8, 2015 MD SB 190 Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations Bill Passed - House (84 - 56)
April 6, 2015 ID S 1011 Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
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)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/01 SB 213 Limits Immunity for Public Schools in Incidents of School Violence Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
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 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 SB 913 Prohibits Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
4/28 SB 268 Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
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 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 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 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
4/21 SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/21 AB 244 Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony Bill Passed - House (24 - 18)
4/21 HB 1690 Requires Texas Rangers to Investigate Public Corruption Bill Passed - House (95 - 49)
4/21 AB 375 Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Failed - House (20 - 22)
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)
4/16 SB 612 Authorizes Certain Students to be Charged In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/16 SB 443 Authorizes Businesses to Place Sports Bets Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/15 SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
4/15 SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
4/15 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - House (55 - 38)
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 1453 Authorizes Deer Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
4/14 SB 5501 Amends Animal Cruelty Regulations Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
4/14 HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
4/14 HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
4/14 SB 941 Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/14 HB 1288 Amends Law Enforcing "Profiling" Regulations Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
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 HB 1540 Authorizes Riverboat Casinos to Relocate Inland Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
4/09 SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
4/09 SB 290 Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations Bill Passed - House (86 - 26)
4/09 HB 7111 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 38)
4/09 SB 10 Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/09 HB 7111 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (75 - 38)
4/08 SB 743 Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
4/08 SB 190 Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations Bill Passed - House (84 - 56)
4/06 S 1011 Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
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)

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