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 10, 2017 TX HB 3859 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (93 - 49)
May 10, 2017 WI AB 242 Requires Drug Screening for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
May 9, 2017 AZ SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
May 9, 2017 DE HB 125 Authorizes Capital Punishment Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 9, 2017 DE SB 5 Authorizes Abortions Before the Point of Viability Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7)
May 8, 2017 AZ SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
May 8, 2017 MO SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - House (98 - 30)
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 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 4, 2017 IL SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
May 2, 2017 NE LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
May 2, 2017 CT HB 6695 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - House (141 - 8)
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 SB 4 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (94 - 53)
April 27, 2017 TX HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 27, 2017 AL SB 60 Prohibits Alteration or Removal of Historic Markers Bill Passed - House (72 - 29)
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 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 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 26, 2017 IL HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - House (91 - 24)
April 25, 2017 AL HB 315 Authorizes Midwives to Practice in Alabama Bill Passed - House (84 - 11)
April 25, 2017 IL HB 40 Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (62 - 55)
April 24, 2017 NE LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
April 24, 2017 TX SB 260 Amends Regulations Related to Immigration and Refugee Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 24, 2017 MN HF 809 Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Services Bill Passed - House (77 - 54)
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 IA HF 653 Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
April 20, 2017 FL HB 743 Prohibits Anabolic Steroids in Greyhounds Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
April 19, 2017 IA HF 653 Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
April 19, 2017 LA SB 22 Redefines Hunting Supplies for Purposes of Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
April 17, 2017 ND HB 1221 Establishes Protective Measures of Drug Informants Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 0)
April 17, 2017 AZ SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
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 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 VT HB 492 Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing Bill Passed - House (120 - 25)
April 12, 2017 IA SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 12, 2017 CO SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
April 12, 2017 VT HB 492 Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing Bill Passed - House (120 - 25)
April 11, 2017 AZ SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 11, 2017 HI SB 501 Requires Certain Disclosures from Limited Service Pregnancy Centers (41 - 10)
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
5/10 HB 3859 Authorizes Child-Placement Agencies to Deny Services Based on Religion Bill Passed - House (93 - 49)
5/10 AB 242 Requires Drug Screening for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
5/09 SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
5/09 HB 125 Authorizes Capital Punishment Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/09 SB 5 Authorizes Abortions Before the Point of Viability Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 7)
5/08 SB 1384 Prohibits Censorship of Student Media Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
5/08 SB 43 Requires Certain Changes to Discrimination Lawsuit Proceedings Bill Passed - House (98 - 30)
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)
5/04 SB 9 Prohibits the Use of Victim's Past Sexual Activity as Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases Bill Passed - House (328 - 30)
5/04 SB 31 Establishes the Illinois TRUST Act. Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
5/02 LB 427 Requires Schools to Accommodate Pregnant and Parenting Students Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
5/02 HB 6695 Prohibits Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - House (141 - 8)
5/01 SB 719 Prohibits Individuals with Risk of Suicide from Owning Deadly Weapons Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
4/27 SB 4 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (94 - 53)
4/27 HB 89 Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/27 SB 60 Prohibits Alteration or Removal of Historic Markers Bill Passed - House (72 - 29)
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 HB 671 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances Bill Passed - House (134 - 53)
4/26 HB 527 Establishes Sanctions for Disruptive Student Protest (88 - 32)
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)
4/26 HB 2462 Prohibits Screening Job Applicants Based on Wage or Salary History Bill Passed - House (91 - 24)
4/25 HB 315 Authorizes Midwives to Practice in Alabama Bill Passed - House (84 - 11)
4/25 HB 40 Amends Restrictions on Publicly Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (62 - 55)
4/24 LB 75 Restores Voting Rights Upon Completion of a Felony Sentence Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
4/24 SB 260 Amends Regulations Related to Immigration and Refugee Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/24 HF 809 Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Services Bill Passed - House (77 - 54)
4/21 H 333 Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Bill Passed - House (123 - 19)
4/20 SB 5037 Classifies 4th DUI as a Felony Bill Passed - House (85 - 11)
4/20 HF 653 Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
4/20 HB 743 Prohibits Anabolic Steroids in Greyhounds Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
4/19 HF 653 Reduces Government Fund Allocations to Planned Parenthood Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
4/19 SB 22 Redefines Hunting Supplies for Purposes of Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
4/17 HB 1221 Establishes Protective Measures of Drug Informants Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 0)
4/17 SB 1406 Limits Applicability of Disability Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/17 AB 118 Revises Provisions Governing the Issuance of Permits to Carry Concealed Firearms Bill Passed - House (34 - 4)
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 HB 492 Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing Bill Passed - House (120 - 25)
4/12 SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/12 SB 192 Authorizes Transfers of Retail Marijuana to Medical Marijuana Licensees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
4/12 HB 492 Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing Bill Passed - House (120 - 25)
4/11 SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/11 SB 501 Requires Certain Disclosures from Limited Service Pregnancy Centers (41 - 10)
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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