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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2020 | KY | HB 586 | Reduces Criminal Penalties for Possession of Trace Amounts of a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - House (59 - 25) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1336 | Authorizes Expungement of Some Misdemeanor Criminal Convictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 31) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 4 | Establishes Referendum to Authorize Sports and Event Wagering | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 0) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 1006 | Reduces the Amount of Time Child Support May be Suspended While Parent is Incarcerated | Bill Passed - House (102 - 32) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 1006 | Reduces the Amount of Time Child Support May be Suspended While Parent is Incarcerated | Bill Passed - House (102 - 32) |
| March 18, 2020 | National | HR 6201 | Families First Coronavirus Response Act | Bill Passed - Senate (90 - 8) |
| March 18, 2020 | ID | H 516 | Amends Constitutional Carry Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 708 | Appropriates $10 Million to the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund | Bill Passed - House (104 - 28) |
| March 17, 2020 | ID | H 509 | Prohibits Gender Change on Birth Certificates | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 17, 2020 | MD | SB 1065 | Appropriates Funds to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | Bill Passed - House (103 - 29) |
| March 16, 2020 | ID | H 500 | Prohibits Transgender Female Students from Sports designated for Females | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 16, 2020 | MD | HB 1444 | Prohibits Race-Based Hairstyle Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| March 16, 2020 | MD | HB 280 | Prohibits Suspension of Driver's License for Unpaid Fines | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| March 15, 2020 | MD | SB 684 | Establishes a Prerelease Unit for Women | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| March 14, 2020 | National | HR 6201 | Families First Coronavirus Response Act | Bill Passed - House (363 - 40) |
| March 13, 2020 | FL | HB 1259 | Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| March 13, 2020 | FL | SB 646 | Authorizes Compensation for College Athletes | Bill Passed - House (98 - 14) |
| March 12, 2020 | FL | SB 664 | Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| March 12, 2020 | WY | HB 44 | Requires the Observation of Mountain Daylight Time | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| March 12, 2020 | WY | SF 134 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for Events Conducted at Rodeo Arenas | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| March 12, 2020 | NH | HB 1660 | Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 12, 2020 | NH | HB 1660 | Establishes a Protective Order for Vulnerable Adults | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 12, 2020 | NH | HB 1285 | Prohibits Firearms on School Property | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (182 - 141) |
| March 12, 2020 | NH | HB 1251 | Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on a Female Sports Team | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (184 - 131) |
| March 12, 2020 | NH | HB 1251 | Prohibits Transgender Students from Playing on a Female Sports Team | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (184 - 131) |
| March 12, 2020 | MS | HB 1200 | Prohibits "Free Speech Zones" on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 52) |
| March 12, 2020 | AL | SB 45 | Amends Criminal Trespassing Penalties Relating to Critical Infrastructure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| March 12, 2020 | MS | HB 1295 | Prohibits Abortions for Reasons of Race, Sex, or Genetic Abnormality | Bill Passed - House (79 - 33) |
| March 12, 2020 | OK | SB 1081 | Prohibits Localities from Enacting "Red Flag" Firearm Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| March 12, 2020 | GA | HB 720 | Extends Use of Ankle Monitors for Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (98 - 63) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 389 | Expands List of Medical Conditions That Pharmacists May Treat | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 17) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 1213 | Requires Adding Ocoee Riots to School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 389 | Expands List of Medical Conditions That Pharmacists May Treat | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 44 | Requires the Observation of Mountain Daylight Time | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| March 11, 2020 | WY | SF 134 | Authorizes Liquor Licenses for Events Conducted at Rodeo Arenas | Bill Passed - House (34 - 25) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 1213 | Requires Adding Ocoee Riots to School Curriculum | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | SB 664 | Requires Government Agencies Use E-Verify Immigration Check for Employment | Bill Passed - House (73 - 45) |
| March 11, 2020 | FL | HB 199 | Extends Sexual Battery Prosecution Time Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| March 11, 2020 | WY | HB 118 | Establishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14) |
| March 11, 2020 | MS | SB 2459 | Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| March 11, 2020 | OK | HB 3165 | Amends Criminal Law to Shift Burden of Proof from Defendant to Prosecution | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
| March 11, 2020 | OK | SB 1674 | Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| March 11, 2020 | MD | HB 231 | Establishes the "Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act" | Bill Passed - House (95 - 42) |
| March 11, 2020 | MD | HB 550 | Expands Marijuana Decriminalization Policies | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
| March 11, 2020 | OK | SB 1674 | Increases Penalties for Selling or Possessing Drugs Near Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| March 10, 2020 | SD | SB 151 | Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| March 10, 2020 | FL | SB 70 | Establishes Alert Systems in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| March 10, 2020 | IA | SF 2275 | Increases Penalties for Eluding Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| March 10, 2020 | FL | SB 1286 | Expands the List of Contraband in Specified Facilities | Bill Passed - House (71 - 43) |
| March 10, 2020 | AL | HB 235 | Repeals Ban on Yoga Classes in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (84 - 17) |
| March 10, 2020 | MD | SB 35 | Amends Various Gun Laws Including Making Theft of a Firearm a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4) |
| March 10, 2020 | OK | HB 2587 | Prohibits Denying Healthcare or Adjusting Coverage or Cost Based on Age or Quality of Life | Bill Passed - House (69 - 21) |
| March 9, 2020 | WA | HB 1783 | Establishes the Washington State Office of Equity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| March 9, 2020 | WA | SB 6561 | Establishes a Student Loan Program for Undocumented Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| March 9, 2020 | MD | HB 4 | Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| March 9, 2020 | SD | SB 96 | Repeals the Lifetime Ban on Drug Felons Receiving TANF Benefits | Bill Passed - House (49 - 17) |
| March 9, 2020 | MO | HB 1604 | Repeals the Residency Requirement for Municipal Police Forces | Bill Passed - House (106 - 43) |
| March 9, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1307 | Prohibits the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| March 9, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1307 | Prohibits the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| March 9, 2020 | MS | SB 2112 | Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 183 | Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | SB 183 | Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 2419 | Authorizes Release of Certain Individuals Without Bail Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4958 | Prohibits Suspension of Driver's License for Unpaid Fines | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4176 | Establishes the West Virginia Intelligence/Fusion Center Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4176 | Establishes the West Virginia Intelligence/Fusion Center Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |