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 10, 2023 IN HB 1608 Prohibits the Instruction of Human Sexuality in Students From Pre-K Through Grade Three Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
April 10, 2023 WA HB 1394 Establishes a Developmentally Appropriate Response to Youth Who Commit Sexual Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
April 10, 2023 MD HB 1071 Prohibits the Smell of Cannabis as Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause for Police Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 10, 2023 OR SB 326 Requires Owner of Property Where the Manufacture of Marijuana Takes Place to Clean Up Waste Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
April 7, 2023 MD SB 37 Reduces the Time Period to Apply for Criminal Record Expungement for Certain Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
April 7, 2023 AR SB 495 Requires Convicted Individuals Serve Out the Majority of Their Sentences Instead of Early Release Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
April 7, 2023 MD HB 824 Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
April 7, 2023 WA HB 1564 Prohibits the Sale of Over-the-Counter Sexual Assault Kits Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
April 7, 2023 MD HB 185 Prohibits Corporal Punishment in Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
April 7, 2023 MD HB 90 Authorizes Counties and Municipalities to Regulate Invasive Bamboo Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5)
April 7, 2023 MD HB 830 Authorizes Local Governments Require New Housing Units Have Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 6, 2023 KS SB 17 Expands Affordable Housing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
April 6, 2023 KS SB 26 Prohibits Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
April 6, 2023 KS SB 228 Prohibits Transgender Inmates Access to Overnight Accommodations Consistent with Their Gender Identity Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 3)
April 6, 2023 KS SB 244 Amends and Provides Technical Updates to Various Codes and Statutes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 6, 2023 DE SB 52 Amends Delaware Statutes Regarding the Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 6, 2023 MD SB 424 Establishes an Environmental Product Declaration Assistance Fund and a Maximum Acceptable Global Warming Potential for Certain Construction Materials Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 6, 2023 OR SB 615 Establishes New Penalties for Street Racing and Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
April 5, 2023 ND HB 1350 Establishes Places That a Person Can Carry a Concealed Weapon and Penalties for Armed Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
April 5, 2023 ND HB 1340 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing Stricter Gun Laws then Passed by the State Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
April 5, 2023 NC HB 149 Appropriates Emergency Funding for the Disaster Recovery Act Part I Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 5, 2023 TX SB 2015 Establishes a 50% Dispatchable Energy Generation Goal for the ERCOT Grid Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
April 4, 2023 CO SB 23-188 Establishes State Protections For Accessing Reproductive Health Care Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 4, 2023 CO SB 23-189 Increases State Access to Reproductive Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1473 Requires Designated Male and Female Restrooms, Lockers, and Showers in Correctional Facilities and Dormitories Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1473 Requires Designated Male and Female Restrooms, Lockers, and Showers in Correctional Facilities and Dormitories Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
March 31, 2023 MD HB 283 Requires State Medicaid Cover Gender Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
March 31, 2023 MD HB 279 Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
March 31, 2023 ID S 1202 Appropriates $41.3 Million for the State Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 31, 2023 IL SB 1909 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Crisis Pregnancy Centers Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
March 31, 2023 VT S 56 Establishes the Child Care Financial Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 31, 2023 NE LB 683 Amends Laws Concerning Broadband Rules Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
March 30, 2023 GA HB 189 Amends Regulations Regarding Dimensions and Limits of Vehicles on Certain Roads Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 16)
March 30, 2023 MT HB 450 Authorizes Students Right to Physical Self Defense in School Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 30, 2023 ID H 314 Prohibits School Libraries from Distributing Any Material "Harmful to Minors" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 30, 2023 ID H 173 Prohibits Foreign Governments from Buying Agricultural Land in Idaho Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
March 30, 2023 ID H 374 Amends Existing Laws to Specify the Definition of Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 30, 2023 VT S 42 Requires State Pension Funds Divest from the Fossil Fuel Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 30, 2023 VT S 100 Expands Affordable Housing Access Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
March 30, 2023 FL SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 30, 2023 VT S 17 Establishes Reforms for Sheriffs and Deputies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 30, 2023 VT S 17 Establishes Reforms for Sheriffs and Deputies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 29, 2023 KY SB 150 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors and Human Sexuality Education in Elementary School Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
March 29, 2023 MS HB 1315 Requires Vendors Providing Online Resources or Databases to K-12 Schools Block Access to Pornography Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 14)
March 29, 2023 GA SB 44 Increases Penalties for Gang Recruitment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 29, 2023 ND HB 1205 Prohibits "Explicit Sexual Material" in Public Libraries' Children's Collections Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
March 29, 2023 ID H 166 Prohibits Certain Restrictions on Internal Accessory Dwelling Units Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
March 29, 2023 GA HB 514 Limits Local Government Ability to Stop New Residential Building Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
March 29, 2023 National S 316 A bill to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 30)
March 29, 2023 National H J Res 7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (68 - 23)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/10 HB 1608 Prohibits the Instruction of Human Sexuality in Students From Pre-K Through Grade Three Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
4/10 HB 1394 Establishes a Developmentally Appropriate Response to Youth Who Commit Sexual Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
4/10 HB 1071 Prohibits the Smell of Cannabis as Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause for Police Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/10 SB 326 Requires Owner of Property Where the Manufacture of Marijuana Takes Place to Clean Up Waste Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
4/07 SB 37 Reduces the Time Period to Apply for Criminal Record Expungement for Certain Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
4/07 SB 495 Requires Convicted Individuals Serve Out the Majority of Their Sentences Instead of Early Release Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 4)
4/07 HB 824 Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
4/07 HB 1564 Prohibits the Sale of Over-the-Counter Sexual Assault Kits Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
4/07 HB 185 Prohibits Corporal Punishment in Private Schools Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
4/07 HB 90 Authorizes Counties and Municipalities to Regulate Invasive Bamboo Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 5)
4/07 HB 830 Authorizes Local Governments Require New Housing Units Have Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/06 SB 17 Expands Affordable Housing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 9)
4/06 SB 26 Prohibits Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Minors Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
4/06 SB 228 Prohibits Transgender Inmates Access to Overnight Accommodations Consistent with Their Gender Identity Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 3)
4/06 SB 244 Amends and Provides Technical Updates to Various Codes and Statutes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/06 SB 52 Amends Delaware Statutes Regarding the Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/06 SB 424 Establishes an Environmental Product Declaration Assistance Fund and a Maximum Acceptable Global Warming Potential for Certain Construction Materials Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/06 SB 615 Establishes New Penalties for Street Racing and Gang Activity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7)
4/05 HB 1350 Establishes Places That a Person Can Carry a Concealed Weapon and Penalties for Armed Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2)
4/05 HB 1340 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing Stricter Gun Laws then Passed by the State Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
4/05 HB 149 Appropriates Emergency Funding for the Disaster Recovery Act Part I Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/05 SB 2015 Establishes a 50% Dispatchable Energy Generation Goal for the ERCOT Grid Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
4/04 SB 23-188 Establishes State Protections For Accessing Reproductive Health Care Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/04 SB 23-189 Increases State Access to Reproductive Healthcare Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/03 HB 1473 Requires Designated Male and Female Restrooms, Lockers, and Showers in Correctional Facilities and Dormitories Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
4/03 HB 1473 Requires Designated Male and Female Restrooms, Lockers, and Showers in Correctional Facilities and Dormitories Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
3/31 HB 283 Requires State Medicaid Cover Gender Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
3/31 HB 279 Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
3/31 S 1202 Appropriates $41.3 Million for the State Department of Education Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/31 SB 1909 Authorizes Lawsuits Against Crisis Pregnancy Centers Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
3/31 S 56 Establishes the Child Care Financial Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/31 LB 683 Amends Laws Concerning Broadband Rules Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
3/30 HB 189 Amends Regulations Regarding Dimensions and Limits of Vehicles on Certain Roads Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 16)
3/30 HB 450 Authorizes Students Right to Physical Self Defense in School Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/30 H 314 Prohibits School Libraries from Distributing Any Material "Harmful to Minors" Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/30 H 173 Prohibits Foreign Governments from Buying Agricultural Land in Idaho Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
3/30 H 374 Amends Existing Laws to Specify the Definition of Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/30 S 42 Requires State Pension Funds Divest from the Fossil Fuel Industry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/30 S 100 Expands Affordable Housing Access Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
3/30 SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/30 S 17 Establishes Reforms for Sheriffs and Deputies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/30 S 17 Establishes Reforms for Sheriffs and Deputies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/29 SB 150 Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors and Human Sexuality Education in Elementary School Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
3/29 HB 1315 Requires Vendors Providing Online Resources or Databases to K-12 Schools Block Access to Pornography Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 14)
3/29 SB 44 Increases Penalties for Gang Recruitment Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/29 HB 1205 Prohibits "Explicit Sexual Material" in Public Libraries' Children's Collections Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
3/29 H 166 Prohibits Certain Restrictions on Internal Accessory Dwelling Units Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3)
3/29 HB 514 Limits Local Government Ability to Stop New Residential Building Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
3/29 S 316 A bill to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 30)
3/29 H J Res 7 Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (68 - 23)

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