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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 19, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
| June 19, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
| June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
| June 19, 2019 | NY | S 3909 | Establishes a Hate Crimes Training Program for Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
| June 19, 2019 | NY | S 3909 | Establishes a Hate Crimes Training Program for Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 82) |
| June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 82) |
| June 17, 2019 | NY | S 6209 | Expands the Definition of Race and Prohibits Racial Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16) |
| June 14, 2019 | NY | S 5864 | Establishes the Television Diversity Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| June 11, 2019 | DE | HB 5 | Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
| June 11, 2019 | DE | HB 5 | Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 777 | Establishes a Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1529 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees Sign Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1529 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees Sign Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 5, 2019 | LA | HB 518 | Exempts Certain Non-Violent Crimes From Habitual Offender Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 235 | Establishes a Human Resources Office to Investigate Sexual Harassment Complaints in Legislature | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (207 - 139) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 263 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Schools | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 141) |
| June 5, 2019 | CT | SB 380 | Requires the Release of Police Camera Video | Bill Passed - House (86 - 60) |
| June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 795 | Amends State Constitution to Include a Right to Food | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| June 5, 2019 | OH | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
| June 5, 2019 | OH | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
| June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 665 | Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 420 | Establishes Procedures for the Expungement of Marijuana Related Convictions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 910 | Expands Access to Substances That Can Stop Overdoses and Treat Addiction | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 731 | Authorizes College and University Student Governments to Take Positions on Initiatives and Ballot Measures | Bill Passed - House (42 - 13) |
| June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 795 | Amends State Constitution to Include a Right to Food | Bill Passed - House (93 - 47) |
| June 3, 2019 | National | HR 2157 | Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (354 - 58) |
| June 3, 2019 | OR | HB 3216 | Prohibits Discriminatory 911 Calls | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| June 3, 2019 | OR | HB 3216 | Prohibits Discriminatory 911 Calls | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
| June 3, 2019 | ME | LD 665 | Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 51) |
| May 31, 2019 | NV | AB 291 | Establishes Various Provisions to Increase Gun Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8) |
| May 30, 2019 | AL | HB 225 | Prohibits Pay Discrimination Based on Sex and Race | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 94 | Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 52) |
| May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 608 | Expands Definition of Gender Discrimination | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
| May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 637 | Establishes Online Criminal Record Database | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9) |
| May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
| May 30, 2019 | CT | SB 992 | Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies | Bill Passed - House (79 - 61) |
| May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 105 | Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 3534 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 19) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" | Bill Passed - House (78 - 0) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1246 | Requires Large Group Health Plans to Cover Medically Necessary Prescription Drugs | (58 - 19) |
| May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 144 | Repeals Various Administrative Fees Within the Criminal Justice System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |