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. 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. 3, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | (64 - 31) |
| Feb. 27, 2015 | VA | HB 1570 | Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | VA | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | VA | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 484 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1060 | Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest | Bill Passed - House (75 - 25) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1129 | Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | VA | HB 189 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | VA | HB 189 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Jan. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| Jan. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| April 28, 2011 | VA | HB 5005 | Redistricting for State Senate and House | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 7) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 2332 | Citizenship of Arrestee | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| April 21, 2010 | VA | Amdt 28 | Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families | Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69) |
| April 21, 2010 | VA | Amdt 28 | Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families | Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | VA | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | VA | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| March 6, 2008 | VA | SB 588 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | VA | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 7) |
| Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| Jan. 24, 2008 | VA | HB 852 | Collective Bargaining for Governmental Employees | Motion Rejected - House (43 - 55) |
| Jan. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Jan. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | VA | H Sub | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - House (89 - 9) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| Feb. 1, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2623 | Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| Jan. 30, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 1727 | Participation in School Clubs | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | Amendment | LeBlanc Nomination | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | HB 1050 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (76 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15 | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (3 - 95) |
| 2/07 | HB 2000 | Prohibits Establishment of Sanctuary Cities | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| 2/03 | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | (64 - 31) |
| 2/27 | HB 1570 | Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26) |
| 2/03 | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| 2/03 | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| 2/22 | SB 484 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| 2/22 | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 2/22 | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 2/14 | HB 1060 | Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest | Bill Passed - House (75 - 25) |
| 2/14 | HB 1129 | Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| 2/03 | HB 189 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 2/03 | HB 189 | Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 1/27 | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| 1/13 | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| 4/28 | HB 5005 | Redistricting for State Senate and House | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 7) |
| 2/08 | HB 1465 | Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| 2/08 | HB 2332 | Citizenship of Arrestee | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 4/21 | Amdt 28 | Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families | Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69) |
| 4/21 | Amdt 28 | Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families | Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69) |
| 3/09 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| 3/09 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| 2/09 | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| 2/03 | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| 2/25 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| 2/05 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| 2/04 | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 3/06 | SB 588 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 9) |
| 2/11 | HB 12 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (91 - 7) |
| 2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| 1/24 | HB 852 | Collective Bargaining for Governmental Employees | Motion Rejected - House (43 - 55) |
| 1/21 | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 1/21 | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2750 | Capital Murder of a Judge | Veto Override Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| 4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
| 2/21 | H Sub | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - House (89 - 9) |
| 2/16 | Sub SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 2/05 | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 2/05 | Sub HB 2035 | HPV Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
| 2/01 | Sub HB 2623 | Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 1/30 | Sub HB 1727 | Participation in School Clubs | Bill Passed - House (82 - 15) |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| 3/07 | Amendment | LeBlanc Nomination | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/02 | Sub HB 262 | College Admission for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 2/02 | HB 1050 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (76 - 23) |