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
March 21, 2024 VT S 58 Amends Criminal Justice Laws and Statutes for the State of Vermont Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
March 20, 2024 GA HB 1201 Authorizes Victims of Human Trafficking to Petition Courts to Vacate Their Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
March 19, 2024 MI HB 5209 Establishes Sentencing Guidelines for Surrogate Parentage Contracts involving Minors or Intellectually Disabled Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 18, 2024 CA SR 70 Establishes a Transgender Day of Visibility Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
March 15, 2024 KY HB 5 Increases Penalties for Violent Crimes and Camping on Public Property Without Permission Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
March 14, 2024 MN HF 3489 Establishes Minimum Training Requirements for School Resource Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 3)
March 14, 2024 TN HB 1931 Repeals Local Police Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 14, 2024 ID H 578 Prohibits Religious Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care Cases Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
March 14, 2024 OK SB 1100 Prohibits Threatening, Harassing, or Inflicting Physical or Emotional Distress on Another Individual Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 14, 2024 ID S 1413 Prohibits the False Reporting of Violence or Emergency in Public or Private Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 14, 2024 AZ SB 1186 Authorizes Specific THC Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
March 13, 2024 ID H 441 Repeals Classification of Fentanyl Test Strips as Drug Paraphernalia Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
March 13, 2024 DE SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
March 13, 2024 DE SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
March 12, 2024 WI SB 822 Increases Various Election Security Protections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
March 12, 2024 WI AJR 109 Prohibits Governments from Giving Preferential Treatment to Staff on the Basis of Race, Sex, or National Origin Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 12, 2024 AZ SB 1361 Establishes New Regulations on Sober Living Homes Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 12, 2024 OK SB 1658 Repeals and Eliminates the Statute of Limitations for Rape Cases Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
March 12, 2024 MS SB 2022 Establishes Alternative Sentencing Options For Juvenile Offenders In Compliance With United States Supreme Court Holdings Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
March 11, 2024 OK SB 1450 Increases Penalties for Retail Theft and Other Organized Retail Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
March 11, 2024 OK SB 1702 Authorizes Protections for Businesses and Individuals Involved in the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 11, 2024 OK SB 1536 Authorizes the Attorney General to Mediate Disputes Between the State Treasurer and Pension Plan Administrators Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
March 11, 2024 ID S 1374 Establishes Provisions Regarding Concealed Weapons on Certain Property Owned by the State of Idaho. Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 9, 2024 WV HB 4399 Authorizes Criminal Record Expungement for Dismissed Charges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 1)
March 9, 2024 VA SB 207 Amends and Streamlines Police Officer Certification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 0)
March 8, 2024 FL HB 7021 Amends and Modernizes the State's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
March 8, 2024 FL HB 7021 Amends and Modernizes the State's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
March 7, 2024 WY SF 47 Amends Law Enforcement Retirement Contributions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 7, 2024 OR HB 4156 Expands State Stalking Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 7, 2024 WY HB 125 Repeals Gun-Free Zones in Wyoming Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 7, 2024 NH SB 415 Establishes Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
March 7, 2024 MO SB 754 Amends Various Public Safety Policies Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 7, 2024 NH SB 414 Establishes Sentencing for Crimes due to Drug-Related Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
March 7, 2024 NH SB 316 Establishes New Drug Trafficking Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 7, 2024 NH SB 414 Establishes Sentencing for Crimes due to Drug-Related Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
March 7, 2024 MO SB 754 Amends Various Public Safety Policies Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 6, 2024 SC H 3594 Authorizes Permitless Carriage of Firearms by Eligible Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 18)
March 6, 2024 SC H 3594 Authorizes Permitless Carriage of Firearms by Eligible Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 18)
March 6, 2024 OR SB 1553 Amends Crime Definition of Interfering with Public Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
March 6, 2024 OR SB 1553 Amends Crime Definition of Interfering with Public Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
March 6, 2024 FL SB 7014 Increases the Maximum Fine for Violations of Specified Lobbying Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 6, 2024 KY HB 207 Expands Sex Crime Violations Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
March 6, 2024 WY HB 29 Amends Cold Case Database and Investigation Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 6, 2024 OR HB 4140 Authorizes Requests for Future Budget Requests to Include Funds for Victims Help Programs Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
March 6, 2024 WY HB 77 Amends Simple Assault to Include Menacing or Threatening Behavior Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
March 6, 2024 WY HB 58 Establishes a Forensic Genetic Genealogy Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 6, 2024 AZ SB 1613 Expands Laws Pertaining to Theft Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
March 6, 2024 OR SB 1541 Increases Amount of Circuit Court Judges Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 6, 2024 ID S 1369 Amends Existing laws to Revise Penalties for Vehicular Manslaughter Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 5, 2024 OR HB 4010 Prohibits Drug Manufactures from Limiting where Safety Net Clinics can send Patients for Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 5, 2024 IN HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
March 5, 2024 OR HB 4001 Establishes a Task Force on Specialty Courts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
March 5, 2024 HI SB 2487 Expands the Uniform Controlled Substances Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)
March 5, 2024 IA SF 2340 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
March 5, 2024 OK SB 1756 Amends Background Check Requirements for Child Supervised Visitors Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 2)
March 5, 2024 OR SB 1522 Repeals Statutes Concerning Involuntary Commitment to a Mental Facility Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 5824 Increases Legal Protections for State Public Libraries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 5985 Amends Firearms Background Check Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 5444 Prohibits Open Carrying of Guns in Zoos, Libraries and Transit Centers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 4, 2024 OR HB 4104 Requires Alerting Health Care Providers if a Patient Overdoses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
March 4, 2024 OR SB 1561 Establishes Council to Disburse Legal Funds From Monsanto Settlement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 4, 2024 ID S 1362 Prohibits display of Certain Flags in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
March 4, 2024 OR SB 1503 Establishes the Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 4, 2024 OK SB 1735 Increases Business and Employee Protections during Crimes of Violence Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6)
March 4, 2024 IA SF 2325 Amends the City Civil Service Commissions Hiring, Testing, and Promotion Policies Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
March 4, 2024 OK SB 1877 Extends the Aggregation Period for Calculating the Value of Stolen Items from 90 to 180 Days Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
March 1, 2024 OR HB 4002 Amends State Law to Re-Criminalize Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 1, 2024 OR HB 4002 Amends State Law to Re-Criminalize Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 1, 2024 WA HB 1958 Prohibits Nonconsensual Removal or Tampering of a Condom or Other Sexually Protective Device Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6)
March 1, 2024 FL SB 260 Requires that Individuals Who Refuse Breathalyzer Tests Shall Have Their Licenses Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
Feb. 29, 2024 LA SB 4 Increases Penalties and Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Certain Juveniles Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Feb. 29, 2024 LA SB 2 Authorizes Immunity for Conceal Carry Permit Holders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 29, 2024 LA SB 2 Authorizes Immunity for Conceal Carry Permit Holders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 29, 2024 IN SB 202 Amends State University Tenure, Promotion and Diversity Policies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
Feb. 29, 2024 MI HB 4127 Prohibits Open Carrying at Polling Places Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/21 S 58 Amends Criminal Justice Laws and Statutes for the State of Vermont Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
3/20 HB 1201 Authorizes Victims of Human Trafficking to Petition Courts to Vacate Their Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
3/19 HB 5209 Establishes Sentencing Guidelines for Surrogate Parentage Contracts involving Minors or Intellectually Disabled Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/18 SR 70 Establishes a Transgender Day of Visibility Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
3/15 HB 5 Increases Penalties for Violent Crimes and Camping on Public Property Without Permission Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
3/14 HF 3489 Establishes Minimum Training Requirements for School Resource Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (61 - 3)
3/14 HB 1931 Repeals Local Police Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/14 H 578 Prohibits Religious Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care Cases Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
3/14 SB 1100 Prohibits Threatening, Harassing, or Inflicting Physical or Emotional Distress on Another Individual Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/14 S 1413 Prohibits the False Reporting of Violence or Emergency in Public or Private Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/14 SB 1186 Authorizes Specific THC Products Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
3/13 H 441 Repeals Classification of Fentanyl Test Strips as Drug Paraphernalia Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2)
3/13 SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
3/13 SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
3/12 SB 822 Increases Various Election Security Protections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 1)
3/12 AJR 109 Prohibits Governments from Giving Preferential Treatment to Staff on the Basis of Race, Sex, or National Origin Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/12 SB 1361 Establishes New Regulations on Sober Living Homes Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/12 SB 1658 Repeals and Eliminates the Statute of Limitations for Rape Cases Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
3/12 SB 2022 Establishes Alternative Sentencing Options For Juvenile Offenders In Compliance With United States Supreme Court Holdings Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
3/11 SB 1450 Increases Penalties for Retail Theft and Other Organized Retail Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
3/11 SB 1702 Authorizes Protections for Businesses and Individuals Involved in the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/11 SB 1536 Authorizes the Attorney General to Mediate Disputes Between the State Treasurer and Pension Plan Administrators Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
3/11 S 1374 Establishes Provisions Regarding Concealed Weapons on Certain Property Owned by the State of Idaho. Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/09 HB 4399 Authorizes Criminal Record Expungement for Dismissed Charges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 1)
3/09 SB 207 Amends and Streamlines Police Officer Certification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 0)
3/08 HB 7021 Amends and Modernizes the State's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
3/08 HB 7021 Amends and Modernizes the State's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
3/07 SF 47 Amends Law Enforcement Retirement Contributions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/07 HB 4156 Expands State Stalking Laws Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/07 HB 125 Repeals Gun-Free Zones in Wyoming Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/07 SB 415 Establishes Penalties for Fentanyl-Related Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
3/07 SB 754 Amends Various Public Safety Policies Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/07 SB 414 Establishes Sentencing for Crimes due to Drug-Related Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
3/07 SB 316 Establishes New Drug Trafficking Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/07 SB 414 Establishes Sentencing for Crimes due to Drug-Related Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
3/07 SB 754 Amends Various Public Safety Policies Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/06 H 3594 Authorizes Permitless Carriage of Firearms by Eligible Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 18)
3/06 H 3594 Authorizes Permitless Carriage of Firearms by Eligible Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 18)
3/06 SB 1553 Amends Crime Definition of Interfering with Public Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
3/06 SB 1553 Amends Crime Definition of Interfering with Public Transportation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
3/06 SB 7014 Increases the Maximum Fine for Violations of Specified Lobbying Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/06 HB 207 Expands Sex Crime Violations Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
3/06 HB 29 Amends Cold Case Database and Investigation Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/06 HB 4140 Authorizes Requests for Future Budget Requests to Include Funds for Victims Help Programs Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3)
3/06 HB 77 Amends Simple Assault to Include Menacing or Threatening Behavior Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
3/06 HB 58 Establishes a Forensic Genetic Genealogy Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/06 SB 1613 Expands Laws Pertaining to Theft Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
3/06 SB 1541 Increases Amount of Circuit Court Judges Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/06 S 1369 Amends Existing laws to Revise Penalties for Vehicular Manslaughter Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/05 HB 4010 Prohibits Drug Manufactures from Limiting where Safety Net Clinics can send Patients for Prescriptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/05 HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
3/05 HB 4001 Establishes a Task Force on Specialty Courts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
3/05 SB 2487 Expands the Uniform Controlled Substances Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)
3/05 SF 2340 Establishes Illegal Immigration as a State Crime Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
3/05 SB 1756 Amends Background Check Requirements for Child Supervised Visitors Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 2)
3/05 SB 1522 Repeals Statutes Concerning Involuntary Commitment to a Mental Facility Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/04 SB 5824 Increases Legal Protections for State Public Libraries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
3/04 SB 5985 Amends Firearms Background Check Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
3/04 SB 5444 Prohibits Open Carrying of Guns in Zoos, Libraries and Transit Centers Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/04 HB 4104 Requires Alerting Health Care Providers if a Patient Overdoses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
3/04 SB 1561 Establishes Council to Disburse Legal Funds From Monsanto Settlement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/04 S 1362 Prohibits display of Certain Flags in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
3/04 SB 1503 Establishes the Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/04 SB 1735 Increases Business and Employee Protections during Crimes of Violence Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 6)
3/04 SF 2325 Amends the City Civil Service Commissions Hiring, Testing, and Promotion Policies Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
3/04 SB 1877 Extends the Aggregation Period for Calculating the Value of Stolen Items from 90 to 180 Days Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
3/01 HB 4002 Amends State Law to Re-Criminalize Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/01 HB 4002 Amends State Law to Re-Criminalize Drug Possession Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/01 HB 1958 Prohibits Nonconsensual Removal or Tampering of a Condom or Other Sexually Protective Device Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 6)
3/01 SB 260 Requires that Individuals Who Refuse Breathalyzer Tests Shall Have Their Licenses Suspended Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
2/29 SB 4 Increases Penalties and Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Certain Juveniles Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
2/29 SB 2 Authorizes Immunity for Conceal Carry Permit Holders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/29 SB 2 Authorizes Immunity for Conceal Carry Permit Holders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/29 SB 202 Amends State University Tenure, Promotion and Diversity Policies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
2/29 HB 4127 Prohibits Open Carrying at Polling Places Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)

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