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
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
Oct. 2, 2020 LA HB 32 Requires Bars and Restaurants be Treated the Same during a Disaster Declaration Bill Passed - House (68 - 25)
Oct. 2, 2020 LA HB 1 Establishes Parole Eligibility for Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (81 - 10)
Oct. 1, 2020 National HR 925 The Heroes Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207)
Sept. 30, 2020 National HR 6270 Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (253 - 163)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5035 Authorizes Localities to Establish Law-Enforcement Civilian Oversight Bodies Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5013 Authorizes Individuals Charged with Marijuana Possession to Prepay Civil Penalty Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 4982 Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 4980 Establishes a System to Automatically Set Aside Certain Convictions Under Certain Circumstances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 12)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI SB 977 Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (77 - 26)
Sept. 24, 2020 NJ S 2519 Authorizes Public Health Emergency Credits for Certain Inmates Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 5881 Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Absentee Voting Law Violations Bill Passed - House (74 - 29)
Sept. 22, 2020 VT S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
Sept. 22, 2020 VT S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
Sept. 17, 2020 National H Res 908 Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (243 - 164)
Sept. 17, 2020 National HR 2694 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Bill Passed - House (329 - 73)
Sept. 16, 2020 National HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
Sept. 16, 2020 National HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
Sept. 15, 2020 National HR 2639 Strength in Diversity Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (248 - 167)
Sept. 15, 2020 PA HB 2530 Prohibits Governor from Disallowing Gatherings at Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (149 - 53)
Sept. 10, 2020 VA HB 5043 Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
Sept. 10, 2020 VA HB 5049 Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Sept. 10, 2020 VA HB 5148 Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
Sept. 10, 2020 MI HB 4488 Limits the Use of Criminal Background Checks to Prohibit Occupational Licensure Bill Passed - House (106 - 0)
Sept. 9, 2020 VA HB 5146 Establishes a Process for Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records for Certain Convictions Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
Sept. 8, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
Sept. 8, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
Sept. 8, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5098 Increases Penalty for Filing a False Police Report Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Sept. 4, 2020 VA HB 5069 Prohibits Use of Chokeholds by Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Sept. 1, 2020 OH HB 272 Prohibits State Officials From Changing the Time and Place of an Election Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 3070 Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 3070 Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 2542 Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 2542 Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 1185 Authorizes Counties to Establish a Sheriff Oversight Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 21)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 331 Establishes One Credit of Ethnic and Racial Studies as a High School Graduation Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 12)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA AB 1869 Repeals Certain Judicial Fees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA SB 823 Establishes the Office of Youth and Community Restoration Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Aug. 31, 2020 CA SB 145 Exempts Certain Persons Convicted of Certain Offenses Involving Minors from Mandatory Sex Offender Registration Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
Aug. 30, 2020 CA AB 2147 Authorizes Certain Defendants that Participate in the California Conversation Camp Program to File Petitions for Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/02 SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
10/02 H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
10/02 HB 32 Requires Bars and Restaurants be Treated the Same during a Disaster Declaration Bill Passed - House (68 - 25)
10/02 HB 1 Establishes Parole Eligibility for Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (81 - 10)
10/01 HR 925 The Heroes Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (214 - 207)
9/30 HR 6270 Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (253 - 163)
9/25 SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
9/25 SB 5035 Authorizes Localities to Establish Law-Enforcement Civilian Oversight Bodies Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
9/25 SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
9/25 SB 5013 Authorizes Individuals Charged with Marijuana Possession to Prepay Civil Penalty Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
9/24 HB 4982 Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7)
9/24 HB 4980 Establishes a System to Automatically Set Aside Certain Convictions Under Certain Circumstances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 12)
9/24 SB 977 Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (77 - 26)
9/24 S 2519 Authorizes Public Health Emergency Credits for Certain Inmates Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
9/24 HB 5881 Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Absentee Voting Law Violations Bill Passed - House (74 - 29)
9/22 S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
9/22 S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
9/17 H Res 908 Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (243 - 164)
9/17 HR 2694 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Bill Passed - House (329 - 73)
9/16 HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
9/16 HR 2574 Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (232 - 188)
9/15 HR 2639 Strength in Diversity Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (248 - 167)
9/15 HB 2530 Prohibits Governor from Disallowing Gatherings at Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (149 - 53)
9/10 HB 5043 Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers Bill Passed - House (57 - 39)
9/10 HB 5049 Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
9/10 HB 5148 Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
9/10 HB 4488 Limits the Use of Criminal Background Checks to Prohibit Occupational Licensure Bill Passed - House (106 - 0)
9/09 HB 5146 Establishes a Process for Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records for Certain Convictions Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
9/08 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
9/08 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
9/08 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (49 - 45)
9/04 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
9/04 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
9/04 HB 5013 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Bill Failed - House (47 - 48)
9/04 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
9/04 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
9/04 HB 5098 Increases Penalty for Filing a False Police Report Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
9/04 HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
9/04 HB 5069 Prohibits Use of Chokeholds by Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
9/01 HB 272 Prohibits State Officials From Changing the Time and Place of an Election Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35)
8/31 AB 3070 Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17)
8/31 AB 3070 Prohibits the Use of Peremptory Challenge to Remove a Prospective Juror on the Basis of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Religious Affiliation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 17)
8/31 AB 2542 Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
8/31 AB 2542 Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
8/31 AB 1185 Authorizes Counties to Establish a Sheriff Oversight Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 21)
8/31 AB 331 Establishes One Credit of Ethnic and Racial Studies as a High School Graduation Requirement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 12)
8/31 AB 1869 Repeals Certain Judicial Fees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 17)
8/31 SB 823 Establishes the Office of Youth and Community Restoration Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
8/31 SB 145 Exempts Certain Persons Convicted of Certain Offenses Involving Minors from Mandatory Sex Offender Registration Bill Passed - House (41 - 25)
8/30 AB 2147 Authorizes Certain Defendants that Participate in the California Conversation Camp Program to File Petitions for Relief Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12)

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