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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2026 | SC | H 4755 | Authorizes the Governor to Appoint All Members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission | Bill Passed - House (71 - 10) |
| Feb. 12, 2026 | SC | H 4755 | Authorizes the Governor to Appoint All Members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission | Bill Passed - House (71 - 10) |
| April 9, 2025 | SC | H 3930 | Prohibits Payment Card Networks From Identifying Firearm Retailers Via Merchant Category Code (MCC) | Bill Passed - House (85 - 10) |
| May 2, 2024 | SC | H 4624 | Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Jan. 17, 2024 | SC | H 4624 | Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors | Bill Passed - House (82 - 23) |
| March 8, 2023 | SC | H 3014 | Authorizes Additional Penalties for Perpetrators of Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (84 - 31) |
| May 12, 2022 | SC | S 533 | Prohibits Paying Disabled Workers Less than the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 2) |
| May 10, 2022 | SC | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 33) |
| May 10, 2022 | SC | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 33) |
| May 4, 2022 | SC | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| May 4, 2022 | SC | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 31, 2022 | SC | S 11 | Authorizes Paid Parental Leave for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| Feb. 17, 2021 | SC | S 0001 | Prohibits Abortion After Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - House (79 - 35) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | SC | S 0001 | Prohibits Abortion After Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3998 | Establishes a State Housing Credit Equal to the Federal Low Income Housing Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 18) |
| March 4, 2020 | SC | H 3967 | Establishes Requirements for the Treatment of Female Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| May 20, 2019 | SC | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
| April 3, 2019 | SC | H 3438 | Establishes State Department of Veterans Affairs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 29) |
| June 26, 2012 | SC | H 4497 | Authorizes Information On and Access to the HPV Vaccine | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 47) |
| March 29, 2012 | SC | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
| March 21, 2012 | SC | HB 4967 | Amends the South Carolina Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| May 25, 2011 | SC | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| April 5, 2011 | SC | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44) |
| March 10, 2011 | SC | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| March 1, 2011 | SC | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 10, 2010 | SC | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12) |
| March 10, 2010 | SC | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | SC | H 4219 | Censuring Governor Mark Sanford | Resolution Passed - House (102 - 11) |
| June 16, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | SC | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| May 29, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| May 27, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| May 21, 2008 | SC | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| May 14, 2008 | SC | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| May 14, 2008 | SC | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| April 10, 2008 | SC | H 3427 | Ending Common Law Marriage | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (21 - 17) |
| April 9, 2008 | SC | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| April 9, 2008 | SC | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| April 2, 2008 | SC | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| April 2, 2008 | SC | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
| March 5, 2008 | SC | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| May 30, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 9, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| April 10, 2007 | SC | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| March 27, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | SC | H 3063 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 7) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | SC | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | H 4938 | State Guard Emergency Air Wing | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | S 1267 | Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| May 10, 2006 | SC | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| March 29, 2006 | SC | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| March 28, 2006 | SC | Amdt 2B | Sex Offenders Penalties Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/12 | H 4755 | Authorizes the Governor to Appoint All Members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission | Bill Passed - House (71 - 10) |
| 2/12 | H 4755 | Authorizes the Governor to Appoint All Members of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission | Bill Passed - House (71 - 10) |
| 4/09 | H 3930 | Prohibits Payment Card Networks From Identifying Firearm Retailers Via Merchant Category Code (MCC) | Bill Passed - House (85 - 10) |
| 5/02 | H 4624 | Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 1/17 | H 4624 | Prohibits Gender Affirming Care for Minors | Bill Passed - House (82 - 23) |
| 3/08 | H 3014 | Authorizes Additional Penalties for Perpetrators of Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (84 - 31) |
| 5/12 | S 533 | Prohibits Paying Disabled Workers Less than the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 2) |
| 5/10 | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 33) |
| 5/10 | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 33) |
| 5/04 | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 5/04 | H 4608 | Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 3/31 | S 11 | Authorizes Paid Parental Leave for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| 2/17 | S 0001 | Prohibits Abortion After Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - House (79 - 35) |
| 1/28 | S 0001 | Prohibits Abortion After Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 5/12 | H 3998 | Establishes a State Housing Credit Equal to the Federal Low Income Housing Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 18) |
| 3/04 | H 3967 | Establishes Requirements for the Treatment of Female Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 0) |
| 5/20 | H 4243 | Authorizes Tax Incentives for Carolina Panthers Training Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 4/03 | H 3438 | Establishes State Department of Veterans Affairs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 29) |
| 6/26 | H 4497 | Authorizes Information On and Access to the HPV Vaccine | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 47) |
| 3/29 | H 4894 | Authorizes Income Tax Credit for Tuition Payments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 38) |
| 3/21 | HB 4967 | Amends the South Carolina Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| 5/25 | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (65 - 39) |
| 4/05 | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44) |
| 3/10 | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| 3/01 | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 3/10 | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12) |
| 3/10 | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| 1/13 | H 4219 | Censuring Governor Mark Sanford | Resolution Passed - House (102 - 11) |
| 6/16 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
| 2/18 | S 351 | State Ports Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| 5/29 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| 5/27 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57) |
| 5/21 | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 5/21 | H 3816 | Bankruptcy Exemptions | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 5/14 | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 5/14 | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| 4/10 | H 3427 | Ending Common Law Marriage | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 4/09 | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| 4/09 | H 4673 | Cost-of-Living Pension Increases for Retired Legislators and State Workers | Bill Passed - House (58 - 51) |
| 4/02 | AM 1 | Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73) |
| 4/02 | H 4550 | Marriage Tax Cut | Bill Passed - House (100 - 14) |
| 3/05 | H 4620 | Expanding Governor's Appointment Power | Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24) |
| 1/31 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 1/31 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 5/30 | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/09 | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 4/10 | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 3/27 | Amendment No. 23 | Remove the Transportation Commission | Amendment Tabled - House (71 - 36) |
| 1/25 | H 3063 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 7) |
| 1/24 | S 288 | Appointment of the Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 1/24 | S 287 | The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 1/24 | S 286 | Appointment of the Superintendent of Education | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 1/24 | S 285 | The Appointment of the Comptroller General | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 1/24 | S 101 | Reorganization of the State Government | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23) |
| 1/24 | S 284 | The Appointment of the Adjutant General | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (74 - 31) |
| 6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| 5/31 | H 4938 | State Guard Emergency Air Wing | Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/31 | S 1267 | Death Penalty for Repeat Sex Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 27) |
| 5/25 | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| 5/25 | Amdt 3 to S 1084 | Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment | Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31) |
| 5/25 | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| 5/10 | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| 3/29 | Amendment 63 | Cigarette Tax | Amendment Tabled - House (58 - 53) |
| 3/28 | Amdt 2B | Sex Offenders Penalties Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (34 - 4) |