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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2022 | AL | HB 337 | Increases Penalties for Running From Police | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| April 4, 2022 | CO | SB 22-103 | Authorizes Criminal Defendants to Challenge Their Misdemeanor Guilty Pleas in Court if Not Advised of Immigration Consequences | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| April 4, 2022 | GA | SB 259 | Amends Firearm Open Carry and Possession Laws | Bill Passed - House (94 - 67) |
| April 4, 2022 | GA | HB 1390 | Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| April 4, 2022 | TN | HB 2841 | Increases Punishment for Certain Heinous Crimes | Bill Passed - House (88 - 2) |
| April 1, 2022 | KS | HB 2279 | Authorizes Prescribing of Drugs without Supervising Physician | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 34) |
| April 1, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
| April 1, 2022 | GA | SB 479 | Amends Law Relating to Firearm Possession by Felons | Bill Passed - House (96 - 64) |
| April 1, 2022 | GA | SB 479 | Amends Law Relating to Firearm Possession by Felons | Bill Passed - House (96 - 64) |
| March 31, 2022 | MA | H 4554 | Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle | (40 - 0) |
| March 31, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 30, 2022 | MS | SB 2536 | Expands Voting Rights of Persons with Expunged Convictions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (48 - 2) |
| March 30, 2022 | KY | SB 179 | Increases Penalties for Crimes Committed During States of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
| March 30, 2022 | GA | HB 1013 | Establishes the Mental Health Parity Act | (54 - 0) |
| March 30, 2022 | GA | SB 319 | Reduces Weapons Restrictions in Certain Public Places | (100 - 67) |
| March 30, 2022 | OH | HB 276 | Prohibits Receipt of Proceeds from Prostitution | (87 - 4) |
| March 29, 2022 | MS | HB 936 | Authorizes Hospice Care Services for Terminally Ill Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 16) |
| March 29, 2022 | MS | HB 936 | Authorizes Hospice Care Services for Terminally Ill Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 9) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | HB 63 | Requires School Boards Implement School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 16) |
| March 29, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| March 29, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | HB 63 | Requires School Boards Implement School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | SB 179 | Increases Penalties for Crimes Committed During States of Emergency | Bill Passed - House (84 - 10) |
| March 29, 2022 | MD | SB 387 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - House (92 - 41) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | SB 23 | Expands Prohibition on Mail Theft | Bill Passed - House (81 - 14) |
| March 28, 2022 | SD | SB 151 | Requires Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Convictions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| March 28, 2022 | MN | HF 2774 | Increases Warehouse Worker Safety Regulations | Bill Passed - House (72 - 60) |
| March 28, 2022 | LA | HB 568 | Specifies Adoption Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 36) |
| March 27, 2022 | MS | SB 2437 | Establishes Pilot Work Initiative for Prisoners | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 0) |
| March 26, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 39) |
| March 25, 2022 | MS | SB 2273 | Authorizes Employers to Sponsor Parolees and Offenders on Probation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 0) |
| March 25, 2022 | KY | HB 269 | Prohibits Execution of Persons with Serious Mental Illness | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| March 25, 2022 | CO | SB 22-055 | Authorizes Increased Alcohol Monitoring for Impaired Driving Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0) |
| March 24, 2022 | ID | H 782 | Amends Existing Law Regarding Members of the Judicial Council | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| March 24, 2022 | IA | SF 2363 | Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry | Bill Passed - House (90 - 3) |
| March 24, 2022 | IA | SF 2363 | Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry | Bill Passed - House (90 - 3) |
| March 24, 2022 | NJ | A 649 | Expands Police Uses for Civil Asset Forfeiture Funds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 7) |
| March 24, 2022 | VT | S 254 | Authorizes an Independent Report on Police Misconduct, Qualified Immunity | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| March 23, 2022 | OK | SB 186 | Prohibits Certain Firearm Carry for Persons Serving Probation | (44 - 1) |
| March 23, 2022 | OK | SB 186 | Prohibits Certain Firearm Carry for Persons Serving Probation | (44 - 1) |
| March 22, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 22, 2022 | IA | SF 2363 | Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| March 22, 2022 | IA | SF 2363 | Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| March 22, 2022 | VT | H 96 | Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics | Bill Passed - House (109 - 30) |
| March 21, 2022 | AZ | HB 2659 | Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| March 21, 2022 | TN | HB 2670 | Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| March 18, 2022 | KY | SB 90 | Establishes a Behavioral Health Conditional Dismissal Pilot Program to Provide Alternatives to Treatment Instead of Incarceration | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| March 18, 2022 | ID | H 782 | Amends Existing Law Regarding Members of the Judicial Council | Bill Passed - House (44 - 24) |
| March 18, 2022 | National | HR 2116 | Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act (CROWN Act of 2021) | Bill Passed - House (235 - 185) |
| March 17, 2022 | National | HR 963 | FAIR Act of 2022 | Bill Passed - House (222 - 209) |
| March 16, 2022 | MD | SB 387 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 16, 2022 | MI | HB 5682 | Increases Fines for Assaulting On-Duty Health Professionals, Medical Volunteers | Bill Passed - House (88 - 16) |
| March 15, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| March 15, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| March 15, 2022 | NH | HB 1266 | Prohibits Restrictions on Immigration Enforcement | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (172 - 162) |
| March 15, 2022 | GA | SB 171 | Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21) |
| March 15, 2022 | National | S J Res 37 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relating to "Requirement for Persons To Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs". | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 40) |
| March 15, 2022 | GA | HB 1464 | Specifies New Election Security Measures | Bill Passed - House (98 - 73) |
| March 15, 2022 | GA | HB 1358 | Reduces Weapons Restrictions in Certain Public Places | Bill Passed - House (94 - 57) |
| March 15, 2022 | GA | HB 1390 | Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment | Bill Passed - House (172 - 0) |
| March 14, 2022 | OK | SB 1708 | Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Old Employees to Sell Mixed Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 14, 2022 | KY | HB 215 | Increases Penalties for Fentanyl "Traffickers" | Bill Passed - House (82 - 12) |
| March 14, 2022 | KY | HB 215 | Increases Penalties for Fentanyl "Traffickers" | Bill Passed - House (82 - 12) |
| March 12, 2022 | VA | SB 348 | Amends Child and Spousal Support Orders | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 19) |
| March 12, 2022 | WV | HB 4848 | Amends Alcohol Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 12, 2022 | WV | HB 4848 | Amends Alcohol Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 37) |
| March 11, 2022 | GA | SB 377 | Prohibits Teaching "Divisive Concepts" Such as Systematic Racism | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| March 11, 2022 | NE | LB 773 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| March 10, 2022 | SD | SB 53 | Authorizes Community Work Center for Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 19) |
| March 10, 2022 | SD | SB 53 | Authorizes Community Work Center for Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 2) |
| March 10, 2022 | WY | HB 91 | Amends Specified County Officer Salary Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| March 10, 2022 | FL | HB 1435 | Specifies Police Ability to Impound Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 32) |
| March 10, 2022 | FL | HB 3 | Expands Police Recruitment Efforts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 3) |
| March 10, 2022 | WY | HB 91 | Amends Specified County Officer Salary Levels | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| March 10, 2022 | MI | SB 11 | Limits Emergency Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (58 - 43) |