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, 2019 IL HB 2244 Amends Conditions of Parole Bill Passed - House (62 - 51)
April 11, 2019 IL HB 1115 Eliminates Electronic Monitoring for People Who Have Completed Their State Prison Sentences Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
April 11, 2019 IL HB 1587 Amends Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Rules Bill Passed - House (61 - 48)
April 11, 2019 TX HB 793 Prohibits Specific State Contracts with Certain Companies that Boycott Israel Bill Passed - House (105 - 0)
April 10, 2019 NY A 6188 Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17)
April 10, 2019 IL HB 3534 Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs Bill Passed - House (67 - 38)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 10, 2019 IL HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (85 - 26)
April 10, 2019 CO HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 10, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
April 9, 2019 DE SB 34 Establishes a Per-Pill Tax on Prescription Opioid Painkillers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 8, 2019 AR HJR 1008 Establishes Stricter Requirements for Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
April 8, 2019 MD SB 737 Amends Long Gun License Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
April 8, 2019 TN HB 1151 Prohibits Indecent Exposure to Include Restrooms, Locker Rooms, Dressing Rooms, and Showers Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
April 8, 2019 MO HB 575 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (98 - 52)
April 8, 2019 CA AB 12 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - House (53 - 13)
April 5, 2019 KS SB 78 Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Opt Out of Lease Agreements Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 23)
April 4, 2019 HI SB 600 Prohibits Individuals Younger than 21 from Bringing Firearms into the State Bill Passed - House (37 - 12)
April 4, 2019 IL HB 1653 Increases Penalties for Employers Who Commit Wage Theft Bill Passed - House (69 - 43)
April 4, 2019 NH HB 564 Authorizes Law Enforcement Officers to Carry Firearms on School Property Bill Passed - House (213 - 159)
April 4, 2019 MO HB 352 Authorizes Opportunities for Parole for Inmates Aged 65 and Older Bill Passed - House (90 - 60)
April 3, 2019 TX SB 17 Authorizes Protections for Lawyers that Deny Clients Based on Religious Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 3, 2019 TX SB 406 Amends Conceal Carry Regulations for Local School Marshals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
April 3, 2019 NC HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
April 2, 2019 GA HB 470 Requires DNA Collection From Those Charged with a Felony as a First Offender Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 29)
April 2, 2019 IN SB 198 Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
April 2, 2019 ND HB 1332 Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 15)
April 2, 2019 GA SB 15 Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments Bill Passed - House (110 - 56)
April 1, 2019 TN HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - House (67 - 22)
March 31, 2019 MD HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14)
March 31, 2019 MD HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1505 Amends Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - House (92 - 56)
March 31, 2019 NY S 1505 Amends Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
March 30, 2019 MT HB 763 Amends Corrections Law and Establishes Requirements for Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - House (86 - 12)
March 29, 2019 GA HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
March 29, 2019 GA HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
March 29, 2019 ND HB 1381 Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 29, 2019 ND HB 1332 Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 29, 2019 IL HB 3394 Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
March 28, 2019 MD SB 793 Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University Bill Passed - House (94 - 42)
March 28, 2019 CO HB 19-1177 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 28, 2019 IL SB 1786 Prohibits License Suspension for Unpaid Parking Tickets Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 28, 2019 MT SB 65 Amends DUI Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
March 27, 2019 WA HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 27, 2019 CO HB 19-1119 Requires Law Enforcement Internal Investigations to Become Public Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 27, 2019 KS HB 2326 Reduces Concealed Carry Age Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
March 26, 2019 National H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Veto Override Failed - House (248 - 181)
March 26, 2019 IN SB 198 Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
March 26, 2019 DE HB 63 Amends Firearms Storage Regulations Bill Passed - House (22 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/11 HB 2244 Amends Conditions of Parole Bill Passed - House (62 - 51)
4/11 HB 1115 Eliminates Electronic Monitoring for People Who Have Completed Their State Prison Sentences Bill Passed - House (62 - 49)
4/11 HB 1587 Amends Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Rules Bill Passed - House (61 - 48)
4/11 HB 793 Prohibits Specific State Contracts with Certain Companies that Boycott Israel Bill Passed - House (105 - 0)
4/10 A 6188 Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17)
4/10 HB 3534 Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs Bill Passed - House (67 - 38)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/10 HB 2040 Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (85 - 26)
4/10 HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/10 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
4/09 SB 34 Establishes a Per-Pill Tax on Prescription Opioid Painkillers Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/08 HJR 1008 Establishes Stricter Requirements for Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
4/08 SB 737 Amends Long Gun License Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
4/08 HB 1151 Prohibits Indecent Exposure to Include Restrooms, Locker Rooms, Dressing Rooms, and Showers Bill Passed - House (69 - 25)
4/08 HB 575 Authorizes Concealed Carry on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (98 - 52)
4/08 AB 12 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - House (53 - 13)
4/05 SB 78 Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Opt Out of Lease Agreements Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 23)
4/04 SB 600 Prohibits Individuals Younger than 21 from Bringing Firearms into the State Bill Passed - House (37 - 12)
4/04 HB 1653 Increases Penalties for Employers Who Commit Wage Theft Bill Passed - House (69 - 43)
4/04 HB 564 Authorizes Law Enforcement Officers to Carry Firearms on School Property Bill Passed - House (213 - 159)
4/04 HB 352 Authorizes Opportunities for Parole for Inmates Aged 65 and Older Bill Passed - House (90 - 60)
4/03 SB 17 Authorizes Protections for Lawyers that Deny Clients Based on Religious Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/03 SB 406 Amends Conceal Carry Regulations for Local School Marshals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
4/03 HB 370 Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
4/02 HB 470 Requires DNA Collection From Those Charged with a Felony as a First Offender Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 29)
4/02 SB 198 Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
4/02 HB 1332 Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 15)
4/02 SB 15 Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments Bill Passed - House (110 - 56)
4/01 HB 836 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Deny Potential Parents Based on Religious Exemption Bill Passed - House (67 - 22)
3/31 HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14)
3/31 HB 994 Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40)
3/31 S 1505 Amends Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - House (92 - 56)
3/31 S 1505 Amends Criminal Justice Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
3/30 HB 763 Amends Corrections Law and Establishes Requirements for Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - House (86 - 12)
3/29 HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
3/29 HB 345 Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1)
3/29 HB 1381 Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/29 HB 1332 Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/29 HB 3394 Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
3/28 SB 793 Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University Bill Passed - House (94 - 42)
3/28 HB 19-1177 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/28 SB 1786 Prohibits License Suspension for Unpaid Parking Tickets Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/28 SB 65 Amends DUI Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
3/27 HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/27 HB 19-1119 Requires Law Enforcement Internal Investigations to Become Public Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/27 HB 2326 Reduces Concealed Carry Age Bill Passed - House (83 - 41)
3/26 H J Res 46 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Veto Override Failed - House (248 - 181)
3/26 SB 198 Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
3/26 HB 63 Amends Firearms Storage Regulations Bill Passed - House (22 - 19)

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