Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
April 4, 2016 TN HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
April 4, 2016 TN HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 30, 2016 MS HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 30, 2016 MS HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 28, 2016 CO HB 1296 Increases Penalties for Unlicensed Car Dealers Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 24, 2016 AZ HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 24, 2016 MI HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 43)
March 24, 2016 NH SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
March 23, 2016 NH HB 1661 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (299 - 99)
March 23, 2016 NC HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
March 21, 2016 ID S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
March 21, 2016 MD HB 1016 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
March 17, 2016 National H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
March 17, 2016 MD SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 17, 2016 CO HB 1210 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 65)
March 16, 2016 GA HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 65)
March 16, 2016 KS SB 175 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Associations Bill Passed - House (81 - 41)
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 15, 2016 KY SB 180 Authorizes Businesses to Decline to Perform Artistic or Spiritual Services Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 12, 2016 MD HB 1002 Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (81 - 54)
March 11, 2016 GA HB 859 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
March 10, 2016 MO SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
March 10, 2016 MO SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
March 10, 2016 OK HB 2504 Expands Punishments for Theft of Domestic Animals Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
March 10, 2016 OK HB 3098 Amends License and Training Requirements for Gun Possession Bill Passed - House (73 - 15)
March 9, 2016 FL HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 40)
March 9, 2016 FL HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 9, 2016 FL HB 4027 Prohibits Traffic Infraction Detectors Bill Passed - House (83 - 33)
March 8, 2016 WA HB 2362 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39)
March 8, 2016 FL SB 668 Amends Divorce and Child Custody Procedures Bill Passed - House (74 - 38)
March 8, 2016 IA SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 8, 2016 HI SB 2615 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
March 8, 2016 IA SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 7, 2016 VA HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
March 7, 2016 UT SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
March 4, 2016 WV HB 4145 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Veto Override Passed - House (64 - 33)
March 4, 2016 IN SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10)
March 3, 2016 SD HB 1008 Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29)
March 3, 2016 RI H 7228 Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
March 3, 2016 RI S 2081 Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton Bill Passed - House (66 - 3)
March 3, 2016 FL HB 43 Authorizes Churches to Decline to Provide Certain Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
March 3, 2016 FL HB 43 Authorizes Churches to Decline to Provide Certain Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/04 HB 615 Establishes the Bible as the Official State Book Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
4/04 HB 1416 Prohibits Driving in Left Lane without Passing Other Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/30 HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/30 HB 1523 Establishes Protections for Religious Beliefs or Moral Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/28 HB 1296 Increases Penalties for Unlicensed Car Dealers Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/24 HB 2451 Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/24 HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 43)
3/24 SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
3/23 HB 1661 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (299 - 99)
3/23 HB 2 Requires Individuals to Use Bathroom of Biological Sex Bill Passed - House (82 - 26)
3/21 S 1342 Authorizes Bibles in Schools as Educational References Bill Passed - House (54 - 15)
3/21 HB 1016 Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures Bill Passed - House (92 - 44)
3/17 H Res 639 Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186)
3/17 SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/17 HB 1210 Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 65)
3/16 HB 757 Authorizes Religious Officials to Decline to Perform Certain Ceremonies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 65)
3/16 SB 175 Prohibits Discrimination Against Religious Student Associations Bill Passed - House (81 - 41)
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)
3/15 SB 180 Authorizes Businesses to Decline to Perform Artistic or Spiritual Services Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/12 HB 1002 Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (81 - 54)
3/11 HB 859 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
3/10 SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
3/10 SJR 39 Prohibits Penalties for Declining Participation in Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
3/10 HB 2504 Expands Punishments for Theft of Domestic Animals Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
3/10 HB 3098 Amends License and Training Requirements for Gun Possession Bill Passed - House (73 - 15)
3/09 HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 40)
3/09 HB 1411 Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/09 HB 4027 Prohibits Traffic Infraction Detectors Bill Passed - House (83 - 33)
3/08 HB 2362 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39)
3/08 SB 668 Amends Divorce and Child Custody Procedures Bill Passed - House (74 - 38)
3/08 SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/08 SB 2615 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2)
3/08 SF 2284 Amends Definition of Hate Crime to Include Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/07 HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
3/07 SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
3/04 HB 4145 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Veto Override Passed - House (64 - 33)
3/04 SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10)
3/03 HB 1008 Prohibits Students from Using School Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Biological Sex Veto Override Failed - House (36 - 29)
3/03 H 7228 Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
3/03 S 2081 Authorizes a Gambling Facility in Tiverton Bill Passed - House (66 - 3)
3/03 HB 43 Authorizes Churches to Decline to Provide Certain Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
3/03 HB 43 Authorizes Churches to Decline to Provide Certain Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)

arrow_upward