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 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 24, 2015 FL HB 943 Amends Alimony Law Bill Passed - House (93 - 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 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 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 - House (62 - 25)
April 15, 2015 MT SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
April 15, 2015 MT SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
April 15, 2015 NV AB 121 Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
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 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 13, 2015 TN SB 1110 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
April 9, 2015 ND HB 1241 Expands Locations Where Individuals Can Carry Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 19)
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 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 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 - 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 CO HB 1265 Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
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 GA SB 134 Amends Speeding Fine Revenue Reporting Bill Passed - House (104 - 54)
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 AR HB 1426 Establishes Paid Maternity Leave for State Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 28)
March 25, 2015 MI HB 4015 Amends Ticket Sale Laws Bill Passed - House (70 - 40)
March 24, 2015 AZ SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
March 23, 2015 IN SB 101 Prohibits the Government from Burdening the Exercise of Religion Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
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 MD HB 121 Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses Bill Passed - House (85 - 55)
March 20, 2015 ID HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
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 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)
4/24 HB 943 Amends Alimony Law Bill Passed - House (93 - 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 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)
4/21 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 - House (62 - 25)
4/15 SB 284 Requires County Commissioners to Approve Bison Relocations Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
4/15 SB 245 Authorizes Post-Season Elk Hunting Bill Passed - House (59 - 40)
4/15 AB 121 Prohibits Disciplining Students for Simulating Firearms Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
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 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)
4/13 SB 1110 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
4/09 HB 1241 Expands Locations Where Individuals Can Carry Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 19)
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 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 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 - House (66 - 30)
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 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - House (35 - 56)
4/02 HB 1265 Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
3/31 SB 2804 Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58)
3/31 HB 85 Requires Animal Shelters to Compile Monthly Reports Bill Failed - House (28 - 67)
3/30 HB 995 Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks Bill Passed - House (65 - 21)
3/27 SB 134 Amends Speeding Fine Revenue Reporting Bill Passed - House (104 - 54)
3/26 S 1011 Repeals Authorization of Gambling on Past Horse Races Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
3/26 A 4103 Establishes Workforce Training Program for Former Casino Workers Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
3/25 SB 45 Authorizes Concealed Firearms Without a License Bill Passed - House (85 - 39)
3/25 HB 1426 Establishes Paid Maternity Leave for State Employees Bill Passed - House (56 - 28)
3/25 HB 4015 Amends Ticket Sale Laws Bill Passed - House (70 - 40)
3/24 SB 1094 Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
3/23 SB 101 Prohibits the Government from Burdening the Exercise of Religion Bill Passed - House (63 - 31)
3/23 SB 1058 Prohibits the Termination of Employees for Storing Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - House (78 - 14)
3/23 HB 121 Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses Bill Passed - House (85 - 55)
3/23 HB 121 Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses Bill Passed - House (85 - 55)
3/20 HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)

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