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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 8, 2020 | VA | HB 5013 | Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers | Bill Passed - House (49 - 45) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | SB 5120 | Appropriates Funds to Provide Prepaid Postage on Absentee Ballots for the General Election | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 5069 | Prohibits Use of Chokeholds by Law Enforcement Officers | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 5013 | Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers | Bill Failed - House (47 - 48) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 5104 | Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| Sept. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 5098 | Increases Penalty for Filing a False Police Report | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Aug. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 5029 | Establishes a Felony Charge for Officers that Fail to Intervene When Witnessing Unlawful Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 34 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Non-United States Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 41) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 384 | Amends Sports Betting Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 29) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 16) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 972 | Establishes Provisions Decriminalizing Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 35) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 207 | Establishes Permanent Absentee Voter List | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 883 | Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 479 | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Protective Order From Possessing Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 42) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 588 | Authorizes Counties to Levy Certain Taxes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 35) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 437 | Increases Penalty for Motor Accidents Involving a Cyclist or Vulnerable Road User | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 36) |
| April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 183 | Authorizes Localities to Remove, Relocate, or Alter Monuments | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
| March 8, 2020 | VA | SB 710 | Expands Renewable Energy Tax Credits | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 31) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
| March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 395 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 19 | Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | SB 70 | Requires Background Check for Firearm Transfers | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 46) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 33 | Authorizes Inmates to Apply for Parole | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 235 | Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 46) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 201 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
| March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1255 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 4, 2020 | VA | HB 623 | Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 2, 2020 | VA | HB 1210 | Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| March 2, 2020 | VA | SB 1030 | Prohibits Dangerous Captive Animal Exhibits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 9 | Requires Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 1083 | Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | HB 980 | Establishes the "Reproductive Health Protection Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | HB 1 | Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | SB 1 | Prohibits Suspension of Driver's License for Unpaid Fines | Bill Passed - House (75 - 25) |
| Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | SB 35 | Authorizes Localities to Prohibit Guns at Public Events | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | SB 868 | Amends Anti-Discrimination Law to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | SB 601 | Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | SB 935 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students | Bill Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| Feb. 21, 2020 | VA | SB 657 | Authorizes Replacement Birth Certificates for Transgender Individuals | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 21, 2020 | VA | SB 50 | Prohibits Race-Based Hairstyle Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 20, 2020 | VA | SB 161 | Requires Schools to Create Policies Transgender-Friendly Student Policies | (58 - 40) |
| Feb. 11, 2020 | VA | HB 177 | Requires Virginia to Elect the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 11, 2020 | VA | HB 961 | Prohibits the Sale or Transportation of Assault Weapons or Magazines Holding 12 or More Rounds | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| Feb. 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1103 | Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 7, 2020 | VA | HB 837 | Establishes the "Dress Code Equity Act" | Bill Passed - House (81 - 17) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 827 | Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 1663 | Prohibits LGBTQ Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (59 - 35) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 108 | Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 582 | Amends State Collective Bargaining Laws Relating to Right to Work Protections | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 262 | Prohibits Law Enforcement Questioning of an Individual's Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 6, 2020 | VA | HB 220 | Requires Prepaid Postage on All Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 5, 2020 | VA | HB 874 | Prohibits Handheld Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| Feb. 4, 2020 | VA | HB 1429 | Prohibits Denying or Limiting Coverage based on Gender Identity | Bill Passed - House (54 - 41) |
| Feb. 3, 2020 | VA | HB 386 | Prohibits State Funding for Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (66 - 27) |
| Feb. 3, 2020 | VA | HB 340 | Establishes Housing Relief to Furloughed Government Employees | Bill Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Jan. 31, 2020 | VA | HB 995 | Increases the Threshold Amount of Money Taken for Larceny Crimes | Bill Passed - House (58 - 40) |
| Jan. 30, 2020 | VA | HB 674 | Authorizes Removing Firearms from Persons Posing Substantial Risk | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| Jan. 29, 2020 | VA | HB 119 | Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal | Bill Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| Jan. 27, 2020 | VA | HB 10 | Establishes Rules for Student Loan Lenders | Bill Passed - House (84 - 15) |
| Jan. 15, 2020 | VA | HJ 1 | Establishes an Amendment to the US Constitution Relating to Equal Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| Feb. 23, 2019 | VA | HJR 615 | Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2019 | VA | HB 1811 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| Feb. 23, 2019 | VA | SB 1126 | Authorizes Casino Gaming in Select Cities | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 33) |
| Feb. 19, 2019 | VA | SB 1026 | Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - House (89 - 10) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | VA | HB 2748 | Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | VA | SB 1240 | Authorizes Short-Term, Limited-Duration Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 13, 2019 | VA | SB 1027 | Authorizes Catastrophic Health Plans | Bill Passed - House (51 - 47) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | VA | HB 1811 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| Feb. 5, 2019 | VA | HB 2384 | Prohibits Tobacco and Nicotine Vapor Products at Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (83 - 15) |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | VA | HB 1257 | Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (51 - 49) |
| April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 23, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 15, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (3 - 95) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | VA | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| Feb. 7, 2017 | VA | HB 2264 | Prohibits State Funding of Abortion Services | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| Feb. 3, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | (64 - 31) |
| Jan. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1578 | Authorizes Home-schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| April 20, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 8 | Establishes Virtual Public School | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 36) |
| March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
| March 7, 2016 | VA | SB 117 | Prohibits Opening Car Door in Traffic Lane | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | VA | SB 610 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 389 | Establishes School Choice Program for Children with Disabilities | Bill Passed - House (53 - 46) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 773 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Certain Religious Beliefs | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | VA | HB 1090 | Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 35) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | VA | HB 1234 | Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | VA | HB 1348 | Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | VA | HB 1096 | Prohibits Regulation of Firearms without Legislative Authorization | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 34) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 518 | Authorizes Students to Transfer from Certain Schools | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 560 | Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear | Bill Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | VA | HB 766 | Authorizes Individual with Restraining Order to Carry Concealed Gun without Permit | Bill Passed - House (68 - 29) |
| Feb. 27, 2015 | VA | HB 1570 | Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26) |
| March 25, 2014 | VA | HB 5002 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |