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 12, 2018 NJ A 764 Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (66 - 6)
April 11, 2018 MO SJR 27 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 11, 2018 PA HB 1419 Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (188 - 2)
April 11, 2018 PA HB 456 Establishes Regulations for Tattoo Industry Bill Passed - House (173 - 17)
April 11, 2018 OH SB 231 Establishes Database of Violent Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
April 7, 2018 KS HB 2482 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32)
April 7, 2018 KS HB 2028 Establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
April 5, 2018 MD SB 639 Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49)
April 5, 2018 MD SB 639 Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49)
April 5, 2018 MD HB 1782 Establishes Individual Market Stabilization within Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 48)
April 4, 2018 IA SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
April 4, 2018 MA S 2371 Amends Criminal Justice Law Conference Report Adopted - House (148 - 5)
April 4, 2018 TN SB 1631 Prohibits Renting Hotel Rooms for Less than 7 Hours Bill Failed - House (38 - 45)
April 4, 2018 MA S 2372 Establishes the Garden of Peace Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (152 - 0)
April 4, 2018 MA S 2371 Amends Criminal Justice Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 0)
April 3, 2018 MD SB 101 Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
April 3, 2018 IA SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
April 3, 2018 RI S 2299 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
April 3, 2018 MO HB 1486 Establishes Work Requirements for SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (107 - 43)
April 2, 2018 MD HB 1243 Authorizes Workers to Sue for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
April 2, 2018 TN SB 1796 Establishes Process to Remove Domestic Abusers from Cell Phone Plans Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
March 30, 2018 MD HB 908 Requires Insurance Companies to Cover Fertility Treatments for Cancer Patients Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
March 30, 2018 MD SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
March 30, 2018 NY S 8121 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 34)
March 30, 2018 NY S 8121 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
March 29, 2018 HI HB 2739 Authorizes Medical Aid in Dying Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 28, 2018 AL HB 317 Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
March 28, 2018 AL HB 317 Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
March 27, 2018 CO SB 18-200 Amends Public Retirement System Policies Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 26, 2018 MD SB 859 Establishes State Parental Leave Bill Passed - House (96 - 41)
March 26, 2018 MD SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 26, 2018 NJ S 1036 Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 26, 2018 NJ S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
March 25, 2018 MS HB 1593 Appropriates Funds for Educational Television Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 16)
March 22, 2018 MI SB 727 Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 22, 2018 NH HB 628 Requires Paid Family and Medical Leave "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (171 - 162)
March 22, 2018 KY HB 2 Amends Workers' Compensation Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 22, 2018 MD HB 1017 Requires Equal Access to Collective Bargaining New Employee Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 22, 2018 KS HB 2457 Establishes the Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
March 21, 2018 MI HB 5456 Establishes Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 25)
March 21, 2018 IA SF 2117 Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 21, 2018 ID H 658 Amends Trespassing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
March 21, 2018 ID H 658 Amends Trespassing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
March 21, 2018 National HR 1865 Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
March 21, 2018 MI SB 727 Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements Bill Passed - House (85 - 23)
March 21, 2018 NY S 3698 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
March 21, 2018 OH HB 410 Establishes Monetary Penalties for Red Light Camera Tickets Going to Trial Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
March 21, 2018 National HR 5247 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (259 - 140)
March 20, 2018 IA SF 2117 Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
March 20, 2018 National S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/12 A 764 Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (66 - 6)
4/11 SJR 27 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/11 HB 1419 Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (188 - 2)
4/11 HB 456 Establishes Regulations for Tattoo Industry Bill Passed - House (173 - 17)
4/11 SB 231 Establishes Database of Violent Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
4/07 HB 2482 Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 32)
4/07 HB 2028 Establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 14)
4/05 SB 639 Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49)
4/05 SB 639 Establishes Disciplinary Hearing Procedures for Public School Employees Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 49)
4/05 HB 1782 Establishes Individual Market Stabilization within Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 48)
4/04 SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
4/04 S 2371 Amends Criminal Justice Law Conference Report Adopted - House (148 - 5)
4/04 SB 1631 Prohibits Renting Hotel Rooms for Less than 7 Hours Bill Failed - House (38 - 45)
4/04 S 2372 Establishes the Garden of Peace Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (152 - 0)
4/04 S 2371 Amends Criminal Justice Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 0)
4/03 SB 101 Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
4/03 SF 481 Requires Law Enforcement for Comply with ICE Detainer Requests Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
4/03 S 2299 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
4/03 HB 1486 Establishes Work Requirements for SNAP Benefits Bill Passed - House (107 - 43)
4/02 HB 1243 Authorizes Workers to Sue for Unpaid Wages Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
4/02 SB 1796 Establishes Process to Remove Domestic Abusers from Cell Phone Plans Bill Passed - House (94 - 0)
3/30 HB 908 Requires Insurance Companies to Cover Fertility Treatments for Cancer Patients Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0)
3/30 SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
3/30 S 8121 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - House (94 - 34)
3/30 S 8121 Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
3/29 HB 2739 Authorizes Medical Aid in Dying Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/28 HB 317 Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
3/28 HB 317 Exempts Certain Individuals from Registering as Lobbyists Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
3/27 SB 18-200 Amends Public Retirement System Policies Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/26 SB 859 Establishes State Parental Leave Bill Passed - House (96 - 41)
3/26 SB 654 Requires Extension of Union Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/26 S 1036 Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/26 S 699 Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
3/25 HB 1593 Appropriates Funds for Educational Television Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 16)
3/22 SB 727 Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/22 HB 628 Requires Paid Family and Medical Leave "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (171 - 162)
3/22 HB 2 Amends Workers' Compensation Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/22 HB 1017 Requires Equal Access to Collective Bargaining New Employee Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/22 HB 2457 Establishes the Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency Act Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
3/21 HB 5456 Establishes Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 25)
3/21 SF 2117 Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/21 H 658 Amends Trespassing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
3/21 H 658 Amends Trespassing Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
3/21 HR 1865 Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2)
3/21 SB 727 Amends Certain Education Teaching Requirements Bill Passed - House (85 - 23)
3/21 S 3698 Prohibits Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
3/21 HB 410 Establishes Monetary Penalties for Red Light Camera Tickets Going to Trial Bill Passed - House (71 - 24)
3/21 HR 5247 Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 Bill Passed - House (259 - 140)
3/20 SF 2117 Amends Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 Bill Passed - House (59 - 41)
3/20 S J Res 54 To Direct the Removal of United States Armed Forces from Hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been Authorized by Congress Bill Tabled - Senate (55 - 44)

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