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 12, 2020 | MS | HB 1200 | Prohibits "Free Speech Zones" on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 52) |
| March 12, 2020 | MS | HB 1295 | Prohibits Abortions for Reasons of Race, Sex, or Genetic Abnormality | Bill Passed - House (79 - 33) |
| March 11, 2020 | MS | SB 2459 | Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| March 11, 2020 | MS | SB 2459 | Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| March 9, 2020 | MS | SB 2112 | Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
| March 19, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| March 13, 2019 | MS | HB 1352 | Amends Criminal Justice Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
| March 6, 2019 | MS | HB 761 | Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| Feb. 7, 2019 | MS | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| March 7, 2018 | MS | HB 1083 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| March 1, 2018 | MS | HB 1479 | Amends Bail License Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| Feb. 7, 2018 | MS | HB 1083 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on Public Property | Bill Passed - House (80 - 29) |
| March 28, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10) |
| March 26, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 43) |
| March 2, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| Feb. 8, 2017 | MS | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - House (74 - 44) |
| Feb. 6, 2017 | MS | HB 645 | Classifies Killing of First Responders as First-Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
| Feb. 6, 2017 | MS | HB 645 | Classifies Killing of First Responders as First-Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
| Jan. 26, 2017 | MS | SB 2469 | Classifies the Targeting of Law Enforcement as a Hate Crime | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| Jan. 26, 2017 | MS | SB 2469 | Classifies the Targeting of Law Enforcement as a Hate Crime | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| March 25, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
| March 3, 2016 | MS | SB 2306 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| March 1, 2016 | MS | HB 738 | Amends Attorney General Hiring and Filing Oversight Processes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| March 1, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | MS | HB 782 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Law Relating to Firearms | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| Feb. 17, 2016 | MS | HB 786 | Authorizes Designated Individuals to Carry Firearms in Church | Bill Passed - House (85 - 33) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | MS | HB 578 | Establishes Civil and Criminal Immunity for Individuals who Report Suspicious Terrorist Activity | Bill Passed - House (89 - 30) |
| March 31, 2015 | MS | SB 2804 | Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58) |
| Feb. 12, 2015 | MS | HB 1338 | Authorizes Lawsuits for "Wrongful Death" of a Fetus | Bill Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | MS | H Amdt 1 | Exempts Pregnancies that Result from Rape or Incest from 20 Week Abortion Prohibition | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| April 3, 2013 | MS | SB 2659 | Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36) |
| April 26, 2012 | MS | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39) |
| April 10, 2012 | MS | SB 2771 | Expands Penalties for Child Homicide | Bill Passed - House (83 - 34) |
| April 10, 2012 | MS | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| March 14, 2012 | MS | HB 488 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (70 - 47) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | MS | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | MS | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| May 22, 2008 | MS | SB 2004 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 31, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| March 27, 2008 | MS | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| March 19, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| March 19, 2008 | MS | SB 2264 | Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State | Bill Passed - House (97 - 21) |
| March 5, 2008 | MS | SB 2988 | Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (112 - 8) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | MS | SB 2206 | Radar Speed Detection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | MS | HB 729 | Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 52) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | MS | HB 729 | Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 52) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MS | SB 2468 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | MS | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | HB 1089 | Wildlife Feeding Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12 | HB 1200 | Prohibits "Free Speech Zones" on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (68 - 52) |
| 3/12 | HB 1295 | Prohibits Abortions for Reasons of Race, Sex, or Genetic Abnormality | Bill Passed - House (79 - 33) |
| 3/11 | SB 2459 | Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| 3/11 | SB 2459 | Establishes Legal Definition for Criminal Gang Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| 3/09 | SB 2112 | Prohibits Public Employers from Requiring Applicants to Disclose Felony Convictions on Application | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 17) |
| 3/19 | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| 3/13 | HB 1352 | Amends Criminal Justice Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 2) |
| 3/06 | HB 761 | Prohibits Contracts with Businesses That Boycott Israel | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| 2/07 | SB 2901 | Amends Landowner Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 3/07 | HB 1083 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 3/01 | HB 1479 | Amends Bail License Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| 2/07 | HB 1083 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on Public Property | Bill Passed - House (80 - 29) |
| 3/28 | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 10) |
| 3/26 | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 43) |
| 3/02 | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13) |
| 2/08 | HB 638 | Authorizes Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - House (74 - 44) |
| 2/06 | HB 645 | Classifies Killing of First Responders as First-Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
| 2/06 | HB 645 | Classifies Killing of First Responders as First-Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (85 - 31) |
| 1/26 | SB 2469 | Classifies the Targeting of Law Enforcement as a Hate Crime | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 1/26 | SB 2469 | Classifies the Targeting of Law Enforcement as a Hate Crime | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 3/25 | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
| 3/03 | SB 2306 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 3/01 | HB 738 | Amends Attorney General Hiring and Filing Oversight Processes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| 3/01 | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 2/29 | HB 782 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Law Relating to Firearms | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| 2/17 | HB 786 | Authorizes Designated Individuals to Carry Firearms in Church | Bill Passed - House (85 - 33) |
| 2/16 | HB 578 | Establishes Civil and Criminal Immunity for Individuals who Report Suspicious Terrorist Activity | Bill Passed - House (89 - 30) |
| 3/31 | SB 2804 | Authorizes Dismissal of Department of Corrections Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 58) |
| 2/12 | HB 1338 | Authorizes Lawsuits for "Wrongful Death" of a Fetus | Bill Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| 2/13 | H Amdt 1 | Exempts Pregnancies that Result from Rape or Incest from 20 Week Abortion Prohibition | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| 4/03 | SB 2659 | Establishes a Grant for School Resource Officers in Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 36) |
| 4/26 | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39) |
| 4/10 | SB 2771 | Expands Penalties for Child Homicide | Bill Passed - House (83 - 34) |
| 4/10 | HB 921 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 3/14 | HB 488 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (70 - 47) |
| 2/11 | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| 2/04 | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 5/22 | SB 2004 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/31 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| 3/27 | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/19 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| 3/19 | SB 2264 | Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State | Bill Passed - House (97 - 21) |
| 3/05 | SB 2988 | Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (112 - 8) |
| 2/27 | SB 2206 | Radar Speed Detection | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 2/25 | HB 729 | Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 52) |
| 2/25 | HB 729 | Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 52) |
| 2/21 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| 2/21 | SB 2468 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| 2/07 | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 3/08 | HB 1089 | Wildlife Feeding Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |