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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 14, 2017 | National | HR 4324 | Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act | Bill Passed - House (252 - 167) |
| Dec. 6, 2017 | National | HR 38 | Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (231 - 198) |
| Nov. 8, 2017 | MI | SB 586 | Prohibits Localities from Placing Restrictions on Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Nov. 8, 2017 | MI | SB 366 | Authorizes 18-Year-Olds to Obtain Concealed Carry Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| Oct. 26, 2017 | IL | HB 4117 | Prohibits Possession of "Bump Stocks" | Bill Failed - House (48 - 54) |
| Oct. 26, 2017 | National | HR 1698 | Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act | Bill Passed - House (423 - 2) |
| Oct. 26, 2017 | MA | S 2200 | Amends Various Criminal Justice Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Oct. 24, 2017 | National | HR 3898 | Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act | Bill Passed - House (415 - 2) |
| Oct. 24, 2017 | National | HR 2142 | International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology Act | Bill Passed - House (412 - 3) |
| Oct. 11, 2017 | OH | HB 79 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Carry Firearms while on Duty | Bill Passed - House (90 - 7) |
| Oct. 11, 2017 | MA | Amdt 1 | Prohibits Sale or Possession of "Bump Stocks" | Bill Passed - House (152 - 3) |
| Sept. 28, 2017 | National | HR 2792 | Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 171) |
| Sept. 15, 2017 | CA | SB 394 | Authorizes Parole for Juvenile Offenders with Life Sentences | Bill Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| Sept. 15, 2017 | CA | AJR 24 | Recommends Congress Refrain from Concealed Carry Reciprocity | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Sept. 12, 2017 | CA | AJR 24 | Recommends Congress Refrain from Concealed Carry Reciprocity | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Sept. 11, 2017 | CA | AB 424 | Amends School Gun Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 27) |
| July 27, 2017 | National | HR 3364 | Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act | Bill Passed - Senate (98 - 2) |
| July 25, 2017 | National | HR 3364 | Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 3) |
| July 6, 2017 | OR | SB 719 | Authorizes Court to Prohibit Suicidal Individuals from Owning Guns | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| July 6, 2017 | OR | HB 2355 | Reduces Criminal Charges for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| July 6, 2017 | OH | HB 233 | Amends Regulations of Gun-Free Zones | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| July 5, 2017 | OR | HB 2355 | Reduces Criminal Charges for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3004 | Kate's Law | Bill Passed - House (257 - 167) |
| June 29, 2017 | National | HR 3003 | No Sanctuary for Criminals Act | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
| June 28, 2017 | PA | SB 383 | Authorizes Teachers to Carry Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| June 28, 2017 | National | HR 1215 | Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 210) |
| June 26, 2017 | RI | HB 5510A | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Restraining Order from Possessing a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (56 - 13) |
| June 26, 2017 | RI | HB 5510A | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Restraining Order from Possessing a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (56 - 13) |
| June 21, 2017 | WI | AB 299 | Authorizes Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| June 21, 2017 | MA | H 3768 | Authorizes Reforms to Recreational Marijuana Laws | Bill Passed - House (126 - 28) |
| June 19, 2017 | NY | S 5512A | Establishes Harsher Penalties for Bomb Threats Against Community Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
| June 19, 2017 | NJ | S 3067 | Prohibits Transgender Discrimination in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| June 15, 2017 | NY | S 5682 | Authorizes Phone Call After Prison Transfer | Bill Passed - House (107 - 29) |
| June 15, 2017 | RI | S 237A | Authorizes Parole Eligibility for Juveniles with Life Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 7, 2017 | MI | HB 4416 | Authorizes Individuals to Carry Firearms Without Permits | Bill Passed - House (59 - 49) |
| June 6, 2017 | LA | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 6, 2017 | LA | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| June 1, 2017 | NH | SB 66 | Authorizes Murder Charges for an Individual Who Causes the Death of a Fetus | Bill Passed - House (186 - 170) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 1578 | Prohibits State Law Enforcement from Cooperating with Federal Marijuana Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 42 | Amends Money Bail Procedures | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| June 1, 2017 | CA | AB 42 | Amends Money Bail Procedures | Bill Failed - House (35 - 37) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 31 | Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | HB 1785 | Authorizes Birth Certificate Changes for Transgender People | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 639 | Authorizes Drug Crime Prosecutions Across State Lines | Bill Passed - House (105 - 2) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 639 | Authorizes Drug Crime Prosecutions Across State Lines | Bill Passed - House (105 - 2) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 639 | Authorizes Drug Crime Prosecutions Across State Lines | Bill Passed - House (105 - 2) |
| May 31, 2017 | IL | SB 1761 | Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense | Bill Passed - House |