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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Sept. 28, 2016 National S 2040 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act Veto Override Passed - Senate (97 - 1)
Sept. 14, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Aug. 31, 2016 CA SB 1241 Amends Current Provisions of Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 16, 2016 CA AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
July 6, 2016 National S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
June 30, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 27, 2016 NJ A 3689 Requires Justifiable Need for Firearm Permits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
June 27, 2016 NJ S 51 Authorizes Restrictions on Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4749 Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4749 Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4720 Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4750 Fix Gun Checks Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (44 - 56)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4751 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
June 20, 2016 National S Amdt 4720 Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
May 25, 2016 MI HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 24, 2016 OH HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 24, 2016 OH HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 21, 2016 MN SF 498 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 17)
May 19, 2016 CA AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 13, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
May 13, 2016 AK SB 91 Amends Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
May 5, 2016 NH HR 582 Repeals Permit Requirements for Concealed Carry of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
May 4, 2016 LA SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 2, 2016 CA SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 20, 2016 VA HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 19, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 19, 2016 TN SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
April 14, 2016 MO SR 1793 Requires Mary Kogut to Appear Before the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 14, 2016 MO SR 1794 Requires Dr. James Miller to Appear Before the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
April 7, 2016 AK SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 5, 2016 IL SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
April 5, 2016 IL SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
April 5, 2016 AL SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 24, 2016 TN HB 1679 Requires a Claimant to Pay for Defendant Attorney Fees in Certain Legal Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 16, 2016 ID S 1389 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 15, 2016 KY HB 160 Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 11, 2016 VA HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/28 S 2040 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act Veto Override Passed - Senate (97 - 1)
9/14 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
8/31 SB 1241 Amends Current Provisions of Labor Contracts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/16 AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
7/06 S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
6/30 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/30 AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/27 A 3689 Requires Justifiable Need for Firearm Permits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
6/27 S 51 Authorizes Restrictions on Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/20 S Amdt 4749 Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
6/20 S Amdt 4749 Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
6/20 S Amdt 4720 Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
6/20 S Amdt 4750 Fix Gun Checks Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (44 - 56)
6/20 S Amdt 4751 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
6/20 S Amdt 4720 Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
5/25 HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/24 HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/24 HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/21 SF 498 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 17)
5/19 AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/19 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/19 SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/13 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
5/13 SB 91 Amends Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
5/05 HR 582 Repeals Permit Requirements for Concealed Carry of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
5/04 SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/02 SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/20 HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/19 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/19 SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
4/14 SR 1793 Requires Mary Kogut to Appear Before the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/14 SR 1794 Requires Dr. James Miller to Appear Before the Senate Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
4/07 SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/05 SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
4/05 SB 2465 Prohibits Certain Lawsuits against Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19)
4/05 SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/04 HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/24 HB 1679 Requires a Claimant to Pay for Defendant Attorney Fees in Certain Legal Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/16 S 1389 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/15 HB 160 Establishes 1-for-1 Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/11 HB 815 Amends Death Penalty Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)

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