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 1, 2021 | AL | HB 103 | Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| April 1, 2021 | AL | SB 97 | Reduces the Power of the Public Health Officer During a Public Health Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 1, 2021 | AL | SB 308 | Authorizes Residents to Purchase Lifetime Concealed Carry Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| March 2, 2021 | AL | HB 103 | Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2021 | AL | HB 23 | Authorizes Judges to Use Their Discretion When Determining Sentences | Bill Passed - House (84 - 18) |
| Feb. 23, 2021 | AL | HB 73 | Requires the Judicial Circuit to Create Diversion Programs | Bill Passed - House (88 - 9) |
| Feb. 9, 2021 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2021 | AL | HB 24 | Amends Sentencing Guidelines for State Prisoners | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| Feb. 4, 2021 | AL | SB 30 | Increases Protections Against Lawsuits Involving COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 1) |
| May 18, 2020 | AL | SB 161 | Appropriates CARES Act Funds to the State Government for the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
| March 12, 2020 | AL | HB 186 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
| March 12, 2020 | AL | SB 45 | Amends Criminal Trespassing Penalties Relating to Critical Infrastructure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| May 30, 2019 | AL | HB 225 | Prohibits Pay Discrimination Based on Sex and Race | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
| May 21, 2019 | AL | HB 379 | Requires Chemical Castration for All Child Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (72 - 16) |
| March 15, 2018 | AL | HB 225 | Amends State Juvenile Justice Laws | Bill Passed - House (69 - 20) |
| March 1, 2018 | AL | HB 14 | Amends Driving-Under-the-Influence Laws | Bill Passed - House (44 - 42) |
| Feb. 15, 2018 | AL | HB 34 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground' in Defense of Church Members | Bill Passed - House (40 - 16) |
| May 16, 2017 | AL | SB 187 | Reduces Time to File Appeals for Death Row Inmates | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| May 11, 2017 | AL | SB 200 | Prohibits Criminal History Inquiries by Employers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9) |
| April 18, 2017 | AL | SB 12 | Authorizes Use of Nitrogen in Death Penalty Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 11, 2017 | AL | SB 193 | Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| April 11, 2017 | AL | SB 193 | Authorizes Briarwood Presbyterian Church to Form a Police Force | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 16 | Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| April 4, 2017 | AL | SB 16 | Prohibits Judicial Override of Sentencing Decisions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| April 7, 2016 | AL | SB 237 | Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| April 7, 2016 | AL | SB 237 | Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| April 7, 2016 | AL | SB 237 | Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6) |
| April 5, 2016 | AL | SB 14 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 11, 2015 | AL | HB 18 | Authorizes Execution by Electrocution | Bill Passed - House (76 - 26) |
| April 3, 2014 | AL | HB 494 | Amends Requirements for Minors Who Seek an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| April 3, 2014 | AL | SB 63 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (73 - 27) |
| March 19, 2014 | AL | SB 354 | Authorizes Individuals Without Concealed Carry Licenses to Carry Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| March 6, 2014 | AL | HB 379 | Requires Confidentiality for Lethal-Injection Drug Suppliers | Bill Passed - House (77 - 19) |
| March 4, 2014 | AL | HB 494 | Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| March 4, 2014 | AL | HB 493 | Requires Abortion Patients to be Informed of Perinatal Services | Bill Passed - House (73 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | AL | SB 63 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| May 2, 2013 | AL | SB 286 | Amends Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (74 - 27) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | SB 93 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | HB 8 | Requires Courts to Apply "Strict Scrutiny" to Certain Firearm Regulation Laws | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | SB 93 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| April 24, 2013 | AL | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 3, 2012 | AL | SB 63 | Authorizes Private Work-Oriented Rehbilitation Programs for Inmates | Bill Passed - House (73 - 22) |
| April 3, 2012 | AL | SB 396 | Compensation to Bridget Lee for Wrongful Incarceration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 3, 2012 | AL | SB 396 | Compensation to Bridget Lee for Wrongful Incarceration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 22, 2011 | AL | HB 19 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| April 23, 2009 | AL | HB 533 | Hate Crime Law Expansion | Bill Passed - House (46 - 41) |
| April 23, 2009 | AL | HB 533 | Hate Crime Law Expansion | Bill Passed - House (46 - 41) |
| May 6, 2008 | AL | HB 829 | Hate Crime Legislation Regarding Victim's Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (46 - 44) |