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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 17, 2019 | PA | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (167 - 29) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Nov. 20, 2019 | PA | HB 1402 | Establishes and Defines the Crime of Sexual Extortion | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| June 27, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
| June 26, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| Sept. 26, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (173 - 21) |
| June 25, 2018 | PA | HB 1037 | Limits Punitive Damages in Certain Medical Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (91 - 103) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| April 18, 2018 | PA | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| April 18, 2018 | PA | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (188 - 2) |
| June 28, 2017 | PA | SB 383 | Authorizes Teachers to Carry Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 26, 2017 | PA | HB 671 | Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (134 - 53) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| April 5, 2017 | PA | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| Feb. 1, 2017 | PA | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| July 13, 2015 | PA | SB 683 | Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Oct. 20, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| Oct. 20, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| Oct. 6, 2014 | PA | HB 1243 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (143 - 54) |
| Oct. 6, 2014 | PA | HB 1243 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (143 - 54) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | SB 850 | Repeals Mandatory Life Sentences for Certain Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | SB 941 | Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication | Bill Passed - House (104 - 87) |
| June 13, 2012 | PA | HB 2400 | Expands Wiretapping Authority | Bill Passed - House (145 - 52) |
| March 14, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| March 7, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 27, 2011 | PA | SB 1131 | Tort Amendments | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
| June 23, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - House (108 - 88) |
| June 21, 2011 | PA | SB 1131 | Tort Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 11, 2011 | PA | HB 1 | Comparative Negligence Provisions | Bill Passed - House (112 - 88) |
| March 4, 2011 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/17 | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (167 - 29) |
| 11/21 | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 11/20 | HB 1402 | Establishes and Defines the Crime of Sexual Extortion | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| 11/19 | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| 10/30 | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| 10/23 | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| 6/27 | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
| 6/26 | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/11 | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 10/17 | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| 10/17 | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| 10/03 | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| 10/03 | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| 9/26 | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| 9/26 | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - House (131 - 62) |
| 9/25 | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (173 - 21) |
| 6/25 | HB 1037 | Limits Punitive Damages in Certain Medical Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (91 - 103) |
| 6/22 | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| 4/18 | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| 4/18 | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| 4/11 | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (188 - 2) |
| 6/28 | SB 383 | Authorizes Teachers to Carry Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 4/26 | HB 671 | Authorizes Lawsuits Against Local Governments with Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (134 - 53) |
| 4/05 | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| 4/05 | HB 741 | Reinstates Mandatory Minimum Sentences | Bill Passed - House (122 - 67) |
| 2/01 | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| 7/13 | SB 683 | Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 10/20 | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| 10/20 | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (138 - 56) |
| 10/16 | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 10/16 | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 10/15 | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| 10/06 | HB 1243 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (143 - 54) |
| 10/06 | HB 1243 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (143 - 54) |
| 10/17 | SB 850 | Repeals Mandatory Life Sentences for Certain Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 10/17 | SB 941 | Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication | Bill Passed - House (104 - 87) |
| 6/13 | HB 2400 | Expands Wiretapping Authority | Bill Passed - House (145 - 52) |
| 3/14 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| 3/07 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 6/30 | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66) |
| 6/30 | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 6/27 | SB 1131 | Tort Amendments | Bill Passed - House (116 - 83) |
| 6/23 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - House (108 - 88) |
| 6/21 | SB 1131 | Tort Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/11 | HB 1 | Comparative Negligence Provisions | Bill Passed - House (112 - 88) |
| 3/04 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | |
| 11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| 11/15 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 35) |
| 10/14 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| 10/14 | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |