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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2021 | SC | H 3094 | Authorizes Individuals with Concealed Carry Permits to Open Carry Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16) |
| April 8, 2021 | SC | S 177 | Prohibits Business from Firing Employees if they Don't Get Vaccinated | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 8, 2021 | SC | S 685 | Authorizes College Athletes to be Paid for the Use of their Likeness | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| March 31, 2021 | SC | S 499 | Requires Legislative Oversight Over Governor Election Commission Appointments | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| March 25, 2021 | SC | H 3011 | Increases Penalties for Driving in the Left Lane on the Interstate for Extended Periods of Time | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| March 9, 2021 | SC | S 571 | Expands Availability of Naloxone (Narcan) Prescriptions to Patients Under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| March 4, 2021 | SC | H 3609 | Increases Teacher Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| March 2, 2021 | SC | S 200 | Establishes the Electric Chair as the Default Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | SC | S 147 | Establishes COVID-19 Liability Protections for Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 3) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | SC | S 0001 | Prohibits Abortion After Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| Sept. 23, 2020 | SC | H 3780 | Expands Internet Access to Rural Communities | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
| Sept. 15, 2020 | SC | H 4831 | Prohibits the Release of Non-Native Species Into the Wild | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
| May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3411 | Establishes Allocations of Federal COVID-19 Appropriations to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
| March 17, 2020 | SC | H 4014 | Appropriates Funds for the COVID-19 Public Health Response | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| March 4, 2020 | SC | H 3967 | Establishes Requirements for the Treatment of Female Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| May 21, 2019 | SC | H 4000 | Establishes a State Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| May 20, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Jan. 29, 2019 | SC | S 176 | Authorizes Death Penalty by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 31, 2016 | SC | S 1258 | Amends Structure and Funding of Department of Transportation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 10) |
| March 9, 2016 | SC | H 3579 | Appropriates Funds for Highways | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 8, 2016 | SC | H 3114 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 9) |
| June 4, 2014 | SC | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| March 19, 2014 | SC | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
| June 22, 2011 | SC | H 3700 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 17) |
| May 11, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16) |