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
March 9, 2017 NM SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 8, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 38)
March 7, 2017 KY HB 14 Classifies First-Responders as a Protected Class Under Hate Crimes Law Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
March 7, 2017 IA HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
March 7, 2017 WA HB 1371 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
March 6, 2017 KY SB 17 Authorizes Expression of Religious or Political Viewpoints in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
March 4, 2017 NM SB 259 Prohibits Certain Individuals from Possessing or Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 2, 2017 MS HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
March 2, 2017 UT HB 259 Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
March 2, 2017 UT HB 259 Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
March 2, 2017 WA SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 2, 2017 MO SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 2, 2017 WA SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 2, 2017 ID HB 202 Amends Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
March 2, 2017 ID HB 202 Amends Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
March 1, 2017 GA HB 51 Classifies University Staff as Mandated Reporters Bill Passed - House (115 - 55)
March 1, 2017 AZ SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2017 AZ HB 1243 Authorizes Gun Show Sales Without Background Checks Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
Feb. 28, 2017 WA SB 5008 Modifies Legislation Related to REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
Feb. 24, 2017 VA HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2017 VA HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 23, 2017 UT HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
Feb. 23, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (72 - 58)
Feb. 23, 2017 SD HB 1072 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without Permit Bill Passed - House (37 - 30)
Feb. 22, 2017 NV IP 1 Requires Automatic Voter Registration when Applying for Driver's License Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/09 SB 374 Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/08 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Failed - Senate (29 - 38)
3/07 HB 14 Classifies First-Responders as a Protected Class Under Hate Crimes Law Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
3/07 HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
3/07 HB 1371 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 45)
3/06 SB 17 Authorizes Expression of Religious or Political Viewpoints in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
3/04 SB 259 Prohibits Certain Individuals from Possessing or Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/02 HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
3/02 HB 259 Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
3/02 HB 259 Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (53 - 15)
3/02 SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/02 SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/02 SB 5223 Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/02 HB 202 Amends Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
3/02 HB 202 Amends Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Bill Passed - House (58 - 10)
3/01 HB 51 Classifies University Staff as Mandated Reporters Bill Passed - House (115 - 55)
3/01 SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/28 HB 1243 Authorizes Gun Show Sales Without Background Checks Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
2/28 SB 5008 Modifies Legislation Related to REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
2/24 HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
2/24 HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
2/23 HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
2/23 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - House (72 - 58)
2/23 HB 1072 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without Permit Bill Passed - House (37 - 30)
2/22 IP 1 Requires Automatic Voter Registration when Applying for Driver's License Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)

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