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
June 20, 2019 NY S 5248 Prohibits Class-Based Wage Differentials Bill Passed - House (138 - 9)
June 20, 2019 NJ A 5455 Amends Ammunition Sale Regulations Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
June 20, 2019 NJ A 5452 Amends Firearm Identification and Training Requirements Bill Passed - House (45 - 24)
June 20, 2019 NJ A 5453 Increases Penalties for Illegal Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
June 20, 2019 NJ A 314 Amends Solitary Confinement Procedures Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
June 19, 2019 ME LD 1811 Requires Judicial Hearings and Evaluations for Individuals in Protective Custody Regarding Risk of Harm and Restricting Access to Dangerous Weapons "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (135 - 9)
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 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 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 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 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 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 ME LD 665 Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
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 CT SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - House (79 - 61)
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 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)
May 28, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 28, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 28, 2019 CA AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
May 28, 2019 CT HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
May 28, 2019 CA AB 1669 Increases Firearm Purchasing Fees Bill Passed - House (49 - 22)
May 28, 2019 CA AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
May 26, 2019 TX HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49)
May 24, 2019 TX HB 3285 Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18)
May 24, 2019 MI HB 4434 Amends Fines and Sentences for Conceal Carry Violations Bill Passed - House (90 - 19)
May 23, 2019 NH HB 455 Repeals the Death Penalty Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123)
May 23, 2019 TX HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
May 23, 2019 IL SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
May 23, 2019 OR SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
May 23, 2019 CA AB 32 Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (61 - 13)
May 22, 2019 TX HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
May 22, 2019 LA HB 506 Establishes Task Force for Law Enforcement Data Collection Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
May 22, 2019 CA AB 51 Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
May 21, 2019 NY S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - House (91 - 54)
May 21, 2019 TX SB 535 Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (86 - 53)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/20 S 5248 Prohibits Class-Based Wage Differentials Bill Passed - House (138 - 9)
6/20 A 5455 Amends Ammunition Sale Regulations Bill Passed - House (51 - 18)
6/20 A 5452 Amends Firearm Identification and Training Requirements Bill Passed - House (45 - 24)
6/20 A 5453 Increases Penalties for Illegal Firearm Transfers Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
6/20 A 314 Amends Solitary Confinement Procedures Bill Passed - House (49 - 24)
6/19 LD 1811 Requires Judicial Hearings and Evaluations for Individuals in Protective Custody Regarding Risk of Harm and Restricting Access to Dangerous Weapons "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (135 - 9)
6/19 SB 1013 Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
6/19 SB 1013 Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
6/19 A 8421 Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims Bill Passed - House (128 - 20)
6/18 LD 1312 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 82)
6/18 LD 1312 Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (61 - 82)
6/11 HB 5 Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently Bill Passed - House (30 - 10)
6/11 HB 5 Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently Bill Passed - House (30 - 10)
6/05 SB 235 Establishes a Human Resources Office to Investigate Sexual Harassment Complaints in Legislature "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (207 - 139)
6/05 SB 263 Prohibits Discrimination in Public Schools "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 141)
6/05 SB 380 Requires the Release of Police Camera Video Bill Passed - House (86 - 60)
6/05 HB 136 Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death Bill Passed - House (76 - 18)
6/05 HB 136 Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death Bill Passed - House (76 - 18)
6/04 SB 420 Establishes Procedures for the Expungement of Marijuana Related Convictions Bill Passed - House (41 - 16)
6/04 SB 910 Expands Access to Substances That Can Stop Overdoses and Treat Addiction Bill Passed - House (36 - 21)
6/04 SB 731 Authorizes College and University Student Governments to Take Positions on Initiatives and Ballot Measures Bill Passed - House (42 - 13)
6/04 LD 795 Amends State Constitution to Include a Right to Food Bill Passed - House (93 - 47)
6/03 HR 2157 Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (354 - 58)
6/03 LD 665 Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (87 - 51)
5/30 HB 94 Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 52)
5/30 SB 992 Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies Bill Passed - House (79 - 61)
5/29 HB 834 Requires Equal Pay Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 19)
5/29 AB 1550 Establishes the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" Bill Passed - House (78 - 0)
5/29 AB 1246 Requires Large Group Health Plans to Cover Medically Necessary Prescription Drugs (58 - 19)
5/28 SB 1609 Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
5/28 SB 1609 Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
5/28 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/28 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/28 AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
5/28 HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
5/28 AB 1669 Increases Firearm Purchasing Fees Bill Passed - House (49 - 22)
5/28 AB 767 Establishes Restitution for Victims of Police Violence Bill Passed - House (59 - 10)
5/26 HB 3557 Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49)
5/24 HB 3285 Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18)
5/24 HB 4434 Amends Fines and Sentences for Conceal Carry Violations Bill Passed - House (90 - 19)
5/23 HB 455 Repeals the Death Penalty Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123)
5/23 HB 888 Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43)
5/23 SB 1610 Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 32)
5/23 SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
5/23 AB 32 Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers Bill Passed - House (61 - 13)
5/22 HB 1528 Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39)
5/22 HB 506 Establishes Task Force for Law Enforcement Data Collection Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
5/22 AB 51 Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
5/21 S 4572 Establishes Parameters for Exemptions to Presidential Pardons Bill Passed - House (91 - 54)
5/21 SB 535 Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (86 - 53)

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