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
May 9, 2017 AZ SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
May 8, 2017 NE LB 259 Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3)
May 5, 2017 VT S 22 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
May 5, 2017 VT S 22 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
May 5, 2017 IL SB 1761 Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
May 5, 2017 IL SB 1761 Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
May 4, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
May 1, 2017 OR SB 719 Prohibits Individuals with Risk of Suicide from Owning Deadly Weapons Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
April 27, 2017 TX HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 27, 2017 MI SB 163 Authorizes "Choose Life" License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 27, 2017 IL SB 1657 Requires State-Level License to Sell Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 21)
April 26, 2017 LA SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 26, 2017 LA SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 24, 2017 NE LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
April 19, 2017 LA SB 22 Redefines Hunting Supplies for Purposes of Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 18, 2017 AL SB 12 Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
April 17, 2017 AZ SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 13, 2017 MO HB 90 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
April 12, 2017 AZ HB 2244 Establishes Reciprocity for Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 12, 2017 CO SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
April 12, 2017 CO SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
April 11, 2017 AZ SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 11, 2017 TX SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/09 SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
5/08 LB 259 Authorizes Release Options for Inmates Unable to Pay for Bail Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 3)
5/05 S 22 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
5/05 S 22 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
5/05 SB 1761 Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
5/05 SB 1761 Prohibits "Gay Panic" Defense Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
5/04 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
5/01 SB 719 Prohibits Individuals with Risk of Suicide from Owning Deadly Weapons Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
4/27 HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/27 SB 163 Authorizes "Choose Life" License Plates Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/27 SB 1657 Requires State-Level License to Sell Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 21)
4/26 SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/26 SB 16 Provides Parole Eligibility to Juveniles Sentenced to Life in Prison Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/24 LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
4/19 SB 22 Redefines Hunting Supplies for Purposes of Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/18 SB 12 Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
4/17 SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/13 HB 90 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
4/12 HB 2244 Establishes Reciprocity for Concealed Weapons Permits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/12 SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
4/12 SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
4/11 SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/11 SB 75 Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)

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