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
April 11, 2017 AL SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
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 7, 2017 KS SB 70 Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
April 7, 2017 WA HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
April 6, 2017 IN HB 1438 Authorizes Counties or Municipalities to Approve Syringe Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
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 FL HB 7037 Amends Casino and Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
April 5, 2017 FL HB 7037 Amends Casino and Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
April 5, 2017 PA HB 741 Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences Bill Passed - House (122 - 67)
April 5, 2017 FL HB 969 Provides Pregnancy Support and Wellness Services Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
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 5, 2017 PA HB 741 Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences Bill Passed - House (122 - 67)
April 4, 2017 IA HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 4, 2017 AL SB 16 Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
April 4, 2017 TX SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
April 4, 2017 PA HB 271 Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations Bill Passed - House (142 - 56)
April 3, 2017 MO HB 90 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - House (102 - 54)
April 3, 2017 CA SB 54 Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
April 3, 2017 NE LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
April 3, 2017 TN SB 0519 Provides Certain Health Coverage for Retail Purchased Dogs Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 31, 2017 MT HB 622 Revises Programs, Funds, and Regulations Related to Invasive Species Bill Passed - House (100 - 0)
March 30, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 54)
March 30, 2017 MN HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
March 30, 2017 NC HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 30, 2017 National H J Res 43 Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Relating to Compliance with Title X Requirements by Project Recipients in Selecting Subrecipients Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
March 30, 2017 TX SB 258 Authorizes Burial or Cremation of Fetal Tissue After Abortion or Miscarriage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
March 30, 2017 MO HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Enacting Ordinances that Oppose State Law Bill Passed - House (118 - 36)
March 30, 2017 GA HB 280 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (96 - 70)
March 29, 2017 KY HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
March 29, 2017 KY HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
March 29, 2017 MT HB 494 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 29, 2017 OH SB 1 Increases Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Drug Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 28, 2017 MS HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 28, 2017 ND HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
March 28, 2017 AZ SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - House (32 - 23)
March 28, 2017 MN SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
March 27, 2017 TN HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 27, 2017 TN HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
March 27, 2017 TN SJR 141 Authorizes Relocation of President James K. Polk's Body Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
March 27, 2017 TX SB 16 Reduces Fee for Firearm Carry Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
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 25, 2017 MT SB 329 Prohibits Abortion 20 Weeks After Fertilization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
March 24, 2017 MD SB 1081 Establishes Funds to Support Family Planning Services Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 SB 193 Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/10 HB 2477 Requires Prosecutors to Provide Evidence before Seizing Property Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 1)
4/10 HB 109 Amends Marijuana Possession Laws Bill Failed - House (44 - 45)
4/07 SB 70 Amends Ride Inspection Laws for Amusement Parks Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
4/07 HB 1595 Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4)
4/06 HB 1438 Authorizes Counties or Municipalities to Approve Syringe Exchange Programs Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/05 HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34)
4/05 HB 1852 Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34)
4/05 SB 1366 Establishes Stricter Penalties for Assaulting Off-Duty Police Officers Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
4/05 HB 7037 Amends Casino and Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
4/05 HB 7037 Amends Casino and Gaming Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 40)
4/05 HB 741 Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences Bill Passed - House (122 - 67)
4/05 HB 969 Provides Pregnancy Support and Wellness Services Bill Passed - House (79 - 38)
4/05 H 3930 Amends Handgun Carry Rules Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
4/05 H 3930 Amends Handgun Carry Rules Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
4/05 HB 741 Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences Bill Passed - House (122 - 67)
4/04 HF 517 Authorizes Use of Deadly Force when Deemed Necessary Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/04 SB 16 Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions Bill Passed - House (78 - 19)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
4/04 SB 576 Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1)
4/04 HB 271 Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations Bill Passed - House (142 - 56)
4/03 HB 90 Establishes Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - House (102 - 54)
4/03 SB 54 Establishes a Statewide Sanctuary Policy Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/03 LB 46 Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to Create a "Choose Life" Specialty License Plate Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
4/03 SB 0519 Provides Certain Health Coverage for Retail Purchased Dogs Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/31 HB 622 Revises Programs, Funds, and Regulations Related to Invasive Species Bill Passed - House (100 - 0)
3/30 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 54)
3/30 HF 3 Requires REAL ID Compliance Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 7)
3/30 HB 142 Establishes Provisions Related to Gender-Based Bathroom Use Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/30 H J Res 43 Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Relating to Compliance with Title X Requirements by Project Recipients in Selecting Subrecipients Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 50)
3/30 SB 258 Authorizes Burial or Cremation of Fetal Tissue After Abortion or Miscarriage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
3/30 HB 174 Prohibits Local Governments from Enacting Ordinances that Oppose State Law Bill Passed - House (118 - 36)
3/30 HB 280 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (96 - 70)
3/29 HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
3/29 HB 128 Establishes Regulations for Elective Courses on Religious Literature Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4)
3/29 HB 494 Authorizes Concealed Carry in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/29 SB 1 Increases Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Drug Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/28 HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/28 HB 1310 Amends Concealed Carry Laws Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27)
3/28 SB 1122 Authorizes Sale of Firearms without Background Checks Bill Passed - House (32 - 23)
3/28 SF 803 Appropriates Funds to Various Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 15)
3/27 HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/27 HB 173 Prohibits Local Government from Enacting Drug-Related Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/27 SJR 141 Authorizes Relocation of President James K. Polk's Body Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
3/27 SB 16 Reduces Fee for Firearm Carry Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
3/26 HB 638 Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 43)
3/26 HB 174 Authorizes Concealed Handguns at Certain Church Services Bill Passed - House (82 - 34)
3/25 SB 329 Prohibits Abortion 20 Weeks After Fertilization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
3/24 SB 1081 Establishes Funds to Support Family Planning Services Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)

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