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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2017 | MO | SB 43 | Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (98 - 30) |
| May 4, 2017 | NH | SB 9 | Prohibits the Use of Victim's Past Sexual Activity as Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases | Bill Passed - House (328 - 30) |
| May 2, 2017 | CT | HB 6695 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (141 - 8) |
| May 1, 2017 | OR | HB 2597 | Increases Penalties for Distracted Driving | Bill Passed - House (46 - 13) |
| April 27, 2017 | NC | HB 330 | Limits Liability for Motorists Involved in Accidents with Protesters | Bill Passed - House (67 - 48) |
| April 26, 2017 | IL | HB 2462 | Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History | Bill Passed - House (91 - 24) |
| April 26, 2017 | PA | HB 671 | Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (134 - 53) |
| April 26, 2017 | NC | HB 527 | Establishes Sanctions for Disruptive Student Protest | (88 - 32) |
| April 21, 2017 | VT | H 333 | Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms | Bill Passed - House (123 - 19) |
| April 20, 2017 | WA | SB 5037 | Classifies 4th DUI as a Felony | Bill Passed - House (85 - 11) |
| April 20, 2017 | WA | SB 5037 | Classifies 4th DUI as a Felony | Bill Passed - House (85 - 11) |
| April 17, 2017 | ND | HB 1221 | Establishes Protective Measures of Drug Informants | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 0) |
| April 17, 2017 | NV | AB 118 | Revises Provisions Governing the Issuance of Permits to Carry Concealed Firearms | Bill Passed - House (34 - 4) |
| April 13, 2017 | AZ | SB 1236 | Establishes Regulations for Statewide Initiatives and Referendum Petitions | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| April 12, 2017 | VT | HB 492 | Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing | Bill Passed - House (120 - 25) |
| April 12, 2017 | VT | HB 492 | Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing | Bill Passed - House (120 - 25) |
| April 10, 2017 | AZ | HB 2477 | Requires Prosecutors to Provide Evidence before Seizing Property | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 1) |
| April 10, 2017 | TN | HB 109 | Amends Marijuana Possession Laws | Bill Failed - House (44 - 45) |
| April 10, 2017 | NC | H 467 | Limits Penalties for Agricultural Operations | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
| April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
| April 5, 2017 | AZ | SB 1366 | Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers | Bill Passed - House (34 - 25) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| April 5, 2017 | SC | H 3930 | Amends Handgun Carry Rules | Bill Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| April 5, 2017 | SC | H 3930 | Amends Handgun Carry Rules | Bill Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 16 | Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 16 | Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| April 3, 2017 | MO | HB 90 | Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (102 - 54) |
| March 30, 2017 | MN | HF 3 | Requires REAL ID Compliance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 54) |
| March 30, 2017 | GA | HB 280 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (96 - 70) |
| March 30, 2017 | MO | HB 151 | Requires REAL ID Compliance | Bill Passed - House (99 - 40) |
| March 28, 2017 | AZ | SB 1122 | Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks | Bill Passed - House (32 - 23) |
| March 26, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 43) |
| March 26, 2017 | NC | HB 174 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns at Certain Church Services | Bill Passed - House (82 - 34) |
| March 22, 2017 | VT | HB 422 | Requires Law Enforcement to Remove Firearms from the Scene of an Alleged Domestic Assault | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
| March 22, 2017 | VT | HB 422 | Requires Law Enforcement to Remove Firearms from the Scene of an Alleged Domestic Assault | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
| March 20, 2017 | IA | HF 539 | Reduces the Deadline to File Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 17, 2017 | NM | SB 374 | Prohibits Public Shaming of Students Who Can't Pay for Lunch | Bill Passed - House (60 - 0) |
| March 16, 2017 | IA | HF 518 | Requires Certain Restrictions Regarding Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (55 - 38) |
| March 16, 2017 | National | HR 1181 | Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (240 - 175) |
| March 16, 2017 | TN | HB 688 | Authorizes Carry of Firearms on Boats | Bill Passed - House (79 - 12) |
| March 15, 2017 | NM | SB 259 | Prohibits Certain Individuals from Possessing or Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (43 - 22) |
| March 15, 2017 | NM | SB 121 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (44 - 23) |
| March 13, 2017 | MO | HB 441 | Establishes Protections for Student Journalists | Bill Passed - House (148 - 6) |
| March 10, 2017 | National | HR 720 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 188) |
| March 10, 2017 | SC | H 3643 | Requires Public Universities to Adopt Antisemitism Policy | Bill Passed - House (103 - 3) |
| March 9, 2017 | National | HR 985 | Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 201) |
| March 9, 2017 | IA | HF 516 | Requires Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 7, 2017 | IA | HF 517 | Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |