Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
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.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2014 | ID | S 1254 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses | Bill Passed - House (50 - 19) |
| March 13, 2018 | ID | S 1313 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - House (57 - 12) |
| March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1441 | Prohibiting Local Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (60 - 9) |
| Feb. 23, 2022 | ID | S 1262 | Expands Firearm Protections During Declared Disaster Emergencies | Bill Passed - House (58 - 9) |
| Feb. 27, 2020 | ID | H 516 | Amends Constitutional Carry Laws | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
| March 11, 2021 | ID | H 122 | Authorizes School Employees to Have Guns in Schools | Bill Passed - House (52 - 18) |
| Jan. 31, 2024 | ID | H 415 | Authorizes Firearms in Schools | Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) |
| March 11, 2013 | ID | H 219 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| March 16, 2011 | ID | H 222 | Authorizes Guns on Campus | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| March 9, 2010 | ID | H 589 | Federal Arms Regulation Exemption | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
| April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| Dec. 4, 2012 | IL | SB 681 | Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28) |
| July 9, 2013 | IL | HB 183 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms | Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 31) |
| May 31, 2015 | IL | HB 352 | Authorizes Bobcat Hunting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 46) |
| Jan. 10, 2023 | IL | HB 5471 | Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery and Purchase of Assault Weapons Across the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 41) |
| May 31, 2015 | IL | HB 352 | Authorizes Bobcat Hunting | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (55 - 54) |
| April 8, 2022 | IL | HB 4383 | Prohibits the Sale and Possession of "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 36) |
| May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3256 | Requires 72 Hour Waiting Period for Guns | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| Jan. 6, 2023 | IL | SB 2226 | Prohibits the Sale, Manufacture, Delivery, and Purchase of Assault Weapons in the State | Bill Passed - House (64 - 43) |
| May 29, 2018 | IL | SB 337 | Amends Gun Dealer Licensing Rules | Bill Passed - House (65 - 49) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | IL | SB 1657 | Requires State-Level License to Sell Firearms | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
| May 23, 2018 | IL | HB 2354 | Authorizes Courts to Confiscate Firearms from Potentially Dangerous Individuals | Bill Passed - House (80 - 32) |
| May 10, 2023 | IL | HB 218 | Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to Include Firearm Industry Members | Bill Passed - House (71 - 40) |
| May 12, 2023 | IL | HB 676 | Amends Firearms Statutes and Prohibits the Discharging of Firearms in Residential Areas | Bill Passed - House (70 - 36) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | IL | HB 1467 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (83 - 31) |
| Feb. 28, 2018 | IL | HB 1465 | Establishes Age Limit for Purchase of Assault-Style Weapons | Bill Passed - House (64 - 51) |
| Oct. 26, 2017 | IL | HB 4117 | Prohibits Possession of "Bump Stocks" | Bill Failed - House (48 - 54) |
| May 12, 2021 | IL | HB 1092 | Establishes Restraining Orders for Firearms | Bill Passed - House (69 - 43) |
| April 12, 2011 | IL | HB 3499 | Firearm Waiting Period Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (78 - 34) |
| April 13, 2011 | IL | HB 203 | Limit on Sale of Firearms Within a Certain Time Period | Bill Failed - House (47 - 68) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | IN | HB 1028 | Firearms and Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| March 4, 2010 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 20) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | SB 229 | Authorizes the Concealed Possession of Firearms on School Property | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 24) |
| April 26, 2023 | IN | HB 1177 | Authorizes Teachers to Keep Firearms in Classrooms | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 22) |
| April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 17) |
| April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 487 | Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves | Bill Passed - House (52 - 39) |
| April 18, 2011 | IN | SB 292 | Prohibits Local Limits on Gun Ownership | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| Feb. 18, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
| Feb. 22, 2021 | IN | HB 1369 | Authorizes Carrying a Firearm Without a Permit | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| March 8, 2022 | IN | HB 1296 | Repeals License Requirement to Carry a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| Jan. 11, 2022 | IN | HB 1077 | Repeals Certain Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 29) |
| Feb. 21, 2023 | IN | HB 1365 | Prohibits and Criminalizes "Machine-Gun Conversion" Devices | Bill Passed - House (68 - 24) |
| Feb. 21, 2017 | IN | HB 1071 | Authorizes Individuals with a Protective Order to Carry a Handgun without a License | Bill Passed - House (72 - 26) |
| April 26, 2007 | KS | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Veto Override Passed - House (98 - 26) |
| March 23, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24) |
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 21, 2007 | KS | HB 2528 | Concealed Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - House (107 - 17) |
| May 21, 2013 | KS | HB 2162 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used to Lobby for Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 28) |
| April 5, 2014 | KS | HB 2578 | Prohibits a City or County from Regulating Firearms | Conference Report Adopted - House (102 - 19) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 102 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 24) |
| April 8, 2021 | KS | HB 2089 | Restructures Firearm Safety Education Training Programs for School Districts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 44) |
| March 25, 2015 | KS | SB 45 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms Without a License | Bill Passed - House (85 - 39) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2199 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Firearms Laws Within the State of Kansas | Bill Passed - House (94 - 29) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2055 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns Inside State Capitol and School Buildings | Bill Passed - House (84 - 38) |
| Feb. 2, 2018 | KS | HB 2042 | Authorizes Individuals Aged 18-20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - House (76 - 44) |
| Feb. 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2167 | Establishes System for Transfer of Certain Deer Hunting Permits to Nonresidents | Bill Passed - House (63 - 60) |
| March 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2326 | Reduces Concealed Carry Age | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
| March 12, 2012 | KS | HB 2353 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public Buildings | Bill Passed - House (70 - 54) |
| March 24, 2010 | KS | HB 2685 | Authorizing Concealed Weapons on Campus | Bill Passed - House (65 - 57) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| March 1, 2019 | KY | SB 150 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Feb. 7, 2020 | KY | SB 8 | Requires School Districts Have Armed School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (78 - 8) |
| March 10, 2022 | KY | HB 29 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Policies | Bill Passed - House (75 - 20) |
| Feb. 28, 2014 | KY | HB 351 | Authorizes Temporary Concealed Weapons Permits for Domestic Violence Victims | Bill Passed - House (79 - 13) |
| Feb. 22, 2023 | KY | HB 153 | Prohibits Any Federal Ban or Regulation on Firearms Enacted in 2021 or After | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| June 20, 2008 | LA | SB 51 | Guns in Parked Locked Cars | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
| June 5, 2022 | LA | HB 8 | Authorizes Current and Former Officials to Carry Handguns | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| June 17, 2010 | LA | HB 1272 | Authorizing Handguns in of Places of Worship | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 26) |
| May 27, 2021 | LA | SB 118 | Amends Laws Related to Concealed Carrying of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (73 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2024 | LA | SB 2 | Authorizes Immunity for Conceal Carry Permit Holders | Bill Passed - House (74 - 30) |
| May 31, 2022 | LA | SB 379 | Prohibits Felons Convicted of Gun-Related Offenses at 16 or 17 From Carrying a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 28, 2024 | LA | SB 1 | Authorizes Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit | Bill Passed - House (76 - 28) |
| May 24, 2012 | LA | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| April 23, 2013 | LA | HB 8 | Prohibits Disclosure of Concealed Firearm Permit Information | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
| April 9, 2014 | LA | HB 72 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Weapons in Restaurants That Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (79 - 19) |
| April 23, 2013 | LA | HB 5 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| May 23, 2023 | LA | HB 131 | Repeals the Conceal Carry Permitting Process Requirements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| April 20, 2022 | LA | HB 37 | Establishes an Online Handgun Education Course | Bill Passed - House (65 - 26) |
| May 25, 2023 | LA | HB 464 | Prohibits Possession of Firearms by Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (71 - 30) |
| May 22, 2020 | LA | HB 334 | Authorizes Concealed Handgun Permit Holders to Carry Inside Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| April 24, 2013 | LA | HB 265 | Establishes Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permits | Bill Passed - House (65 - 19) |
| May 6, 2010 | LA | HB 68 | Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Places of Worship | Bill Failed - House (45 - 39) |
| July 29, 2008 | MA | Peterson Amdt to H 5022 | Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee | Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59) |
| July 31, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (122 - 30) |
| June 28, 2018 | MA | H 4670 | Authorizes Temporary Firearm Removal to Those Deemed a Threat | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (132 - 15) |
| July 9, 2014 | MA | H 4278 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (112 - 38) |
| Oct. 18, 2023 | MA | H 4139 | Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws | Bill Passed - House (120 - 38) |
| Oct. 18, 2023 | MA | H 4135 | Amends and Updates Various State Gun Control Laws | Bill Passed - House (120 - 38) |
| May 23, 2018 | MA | H 4517 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (139 - 14) |
| Oct. 11, 2017 | MA | Amdt 1 | Prohibits Sale or Possession of "Bump Stocks" | Bill Passed - House (152 - 3) |
| March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 359 | Handgun Permit Eligibility for Domestic Abuse Victims | Bill Failed - House (51 - 86) |
| March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 302 | Allowing Judges to Confiscate Firearms from Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - House (92 - 45) |
| April 5, 2018 | MD | HB 819 | Amends Handgun Permit Rules and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 31) |
| April 8, 2023 | MD | HB 824 | Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 40) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 1302 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Order | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| April 5, 2022 | MD | SB 861 | Increases Firearm Misdemeanors into Felonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39) |
| April 10, 2023 | MD | SB 1 | Prohibits Open Carry in the State and Restricts Places Where Firearms can be Carried | Bill Passed - House (93 - 42) |
| April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 858 | Defines Requirements Around Safe Storage of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (100 - 37) |