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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2018 | RI | S 2678 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| May 16, 2018 | LA | SB 184 | Amends Video Draw Poker Devices Control Law | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 16, 2018 | LA | HB 88 | Establishes Crime of Government Benefits Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| May 16, 2018 | National | S J Res 52 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to "Restoring Internet Freedom" | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 243 | Establishes Constitutional Amendment for Unanimous Consent on Juries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 14, 2018 | LA | SB 236 | Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| May 14, 2018 | LA | SB 236 | Amends Laws Concerning Sexual Abuse of Animals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| May 10, 2018 | CA | SB 785 | Prohibits Irrelevant Disclosures of Immigration Status in Open Court | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| May 9, 2018 | LA | HB 484 | Authorizes Fantasy Sports Contests | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 8, 2018 | CT | HB 5542 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| May 3, 2018 | KS | SB 284 | Authorizes Child Placement Agencies to Deny Service Based on Religion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 3, 2018 | VT | H 25 | Amends State Domestic Terrorism Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| May 2, 2018 | OK | SB 1212 | Establishes a State Firearm Constitutional Carry Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| May 2, 2018 | NH | HB 1319 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| May 2, 2018 | IL | SB 3249 | Requires LGBT History in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| May 1, 2018 | HI | HB 1489 | Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 0) |
| May 1, 2018 | MI | HB 5010 | Extends Statute of Limitations for Armed Robbery | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| May 1, 2018 | HI | HB 2131 | Establishes A Sexual Assault Training Program | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 0) |
| May 1, 2018 | LA | SB 534 | Amends "Crime of Violence" to Include Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0) |
| April 23, 2018 | TN | HB 2381 | Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| April 23, 2018 | TN | HB 2381 | Authorizes 'Monument to the Unborn' | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| April 23, 2018 | MN | SF 3673 | Amends Prison Release Requirements for Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 0) |
| April 19, 2018 | NH | HB 587 | Prohibits Providing Conversion Therapy to Minors | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| April 19, 2018 | MN | HF 3157 | Prohibits Misrepresentation of a Service Animal | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 0) |
| April 18, 2018 | VA | HB 83 | Requires Feminine Hygiene Products to be Provided to Prisons Inmates | (39 - None) |
| April 18, 2018 | VT | H 333 | Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms | Bill Passed - Senate |
| April 18, 2018 | ME | LD 912 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 18, 2018 | National | S J Res 57 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| April 18, 2018 | CT | SB 4 | Authorizes Financial Aid for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| April 18, 2018 | PA | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| April 17, 2018 | OK | HB 2692 | Amends Child Care Licensing | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| April 17, 2018 | CO | SB 18-220 | Prohibits Jurisdictions From Establishing Sanctuary Status | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | S 122 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Film Production | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3686 | Increases State Protections for Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| April 12, 2018 | MI | SB 741 | Prohibits Breed-Specific Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 11, 2018 | OH | SB 231 | Establishes Database of Violent Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
| April 6, 2018 | OK | HB 3375 | Authorizes Sports Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 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 - 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 | MD | SB 101 | Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 447 | Establishes Pretrial Services Program Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| March 30, 2018 | VT | S 55 | Amends Various State Gun Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| March 30, 2018 | MD | HB 908 | Requires Insurance Companies to Cover Fertility Treatments for Cancer Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| 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) |