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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2018 | VT | S 55 | Amends Various State Gun Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| March 26, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 26, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 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 | National | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| March 19, 2018 | KY | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 18, 2018 | IL | HB 1465 | Establishes Age Limit for Purchase of Assault-Style Weapons | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 22) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 649 | Amends Drug Use Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 16, 2018 | ID | H 649 | Amends Drug Use Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| March 15, 2018 | KS | HB 2042 | Authorizes Individuals Aged 18-20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| March 15, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 15, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 12, 2018 | IN | SB 12 | Specifies Rules of Sex Offender Residency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| March 9, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 9, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 9, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 8, 2018 | WA | HB 3003 | Amends Various Police 'Use of Force' Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/30 | S 55 | Amends Various State Gun Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 3/30 | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| 3/30 | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
| 3/26 | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 3/26 | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 3/22 | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 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 | HR 1865 | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
| 3/19 | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 3/18 | HB 1465 | Establishes Age Limit for Purchase of Assault-Style Weapons | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 22) |
| 3/16 | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 3/16 | H 649 | Amends Drug Use Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 3/16 | H 665 | Increases Penalties for Threats Against Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 3/16 | H 649 | Amends Drug Use Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 3/15 | HB 2042 | Authorizes Individuals Aged 18-20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 3/15 | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/15 | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/12 | SB 12 | Specifies Rules of Sex Offender Residency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
| 3/12 | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| 3/12 | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| 3/09 | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 3/09 | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 3/09 | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 3/08 | HB 3003 | Amends Various Police 'Use of Force' Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |