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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | SB 2279 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Failed - House (35 - 56) |
| 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 | CO | HB 1265 | Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| April 1, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| March 31, 2015 | MS | SB 2804 | Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58) |
| March 31, 2015 | AL | HB 85 | Requires Animal Shelters to Compile Monthly Reports | Bill Failed - House (28 - 67) |
| March 30, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Bill Passed - House (65 - 21) |
| March 27, 2015 | AR | HB 1228 | Prohibits the State from Burdening the Exercise of Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| March 27, 2015 | GA | SB 134 | Amends Speeding Fine Revenue Reporting | Bill Passed - House (104 - 54) |
| March 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1094 | Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| March 26, 2015 | ID | S 1011 | Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races | Bill Passed - House (49 - 21) |
| March 26, 2015 | NJ | A 4103 | Establishes Workforce Training Program for Former Casino Workers | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| March 25, 2015 | KS | SB 45 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms Without a License | Bill Passed - House (85 - 39) |
| March 25, 2015 | MI | HB 4015 | Amends Ticket Sale Laws | Bill Passed - House (70 - 40) |
| March 25, 2015 | AR | HB 1426 | Establishes Paid Maternity Leave for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (56 - 28) |
| March 25, 2015 | CO | SB 86 | Repeals Background Check Requirement for Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 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 | IN | SB 101 | Prohibits the Government from Burdening the Exercise of Religion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1445 | Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1094 | Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation | Bill Passed - House (33 - 24) |
| March 24, 2015 | FL | SB 290 | Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 416 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 24, 2015 | NY | S 2159 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 743 | Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 23, 2015 | IN | SB 101 | Prohibits the Government from Burdening the Exercise of Religion | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
| March 23, 2015 | AZ | HB 2150 | Amends Animal Cruelty Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| March 23, 2015 | TN | SB 1058 | Prohibits the Termination of Employees for Storing Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (78 - 14) |
| March 23, 2015 | MD | HB 121 | Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - House (85 - 55) |
| March 23, 2015 | TN | SB 1058 | Prohibits the Termination of Employees for Storing Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| March 23, 2015 | MD | HB 121 | Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - House (85 - 55) |
| March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1195 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 28) |
| March 20, 2015 | ID | HJM 4 | Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary | Bill Passed - House (44 - 25) |
| March 19, 2015 | TX | SB 11 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 19, 2015 | KS | SB 175 | Prohibits Universities from Denying Benefits to Religious Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 19, 2015 | MD | HB 124 | Authorizes Expungement of Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| March 19, 2015 | MO | HB 104 | Prohibits Universities From Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Association | Bill Passed - House (117 - 38) |
| March 18, 2015 | MI | HB 4190 | Prohibits the Department of Human Services from Taking Certain Actions Against Religion-Based Adoption Agencies | Bill Passed - House (65 - 44) |
| March 18, 2015 | MI | HB 4189 | Authorizes Child Placing Agencies to Deny Adoptions Based on Religion | Bill Passed - House (65 - 44) |
| March 18, 2015 | MI | HB 4188 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Services for Religious Reasons | Bill Passed - House (65 - 44) |
| March 17, 2015 | TX | SB 17 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| 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 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 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 12, 2015 | UT | SB 297 | Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| 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 | WV | SB 347 | Repeals the Requirement of a License for Concealed Guns | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 298 | Amends Concealed Weapons Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 203 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 113 | Authorizes Casino Gaming | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
| March 12, 2015 | AZ | HB 2320 | Authorizes Individuals to Carry Concealed Weapons in Public Buildings | Bill Passed - House |
| March 12, 2015 | AZ | HB 2431 | Establishes an Interstate Compact to Regulate Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| March 12, 2015 | IA | SF 166 | Authorizes Fantasy Sports Leagues | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| March 12, 2015 | NH | HB 403 | Repeals Buffer Zone Around Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - House (170 - 159) |
| March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 40 | Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
| March 11, 2015 | UT | SB 297 | Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services | Bill Passed - House (66 - 9) |
| March 11, 2015 | UT | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
| March 11, 2015 | UT | SB 296 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
| March 11, 2015 | MI | HB 4122 | Prohibits Additional Funding for In-State Media Productions | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| March 11, 2015 | MO | HB 187 | Prohibits Undocumented Immigrants from Receiving Student Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (111 - 41) |
| March 11, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 50) |
| March 11, 2015 | FL | HB 7013 | Amends Child Adoption Laws | Bill Passed - House (68 - 50) |
| March 11, 2015 | AZ | SB 1330 | Prohibits State Employees from Enforcing Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 10, 2015 | CO | HB 1175 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| March 10, 2015 | HI | HB 631 | Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 10) |