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. 20, 2014 | MO | SB 613 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
March 19, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
March 8, 2006 | MS | HB 1089 | Wildlife Feeding Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
April 26, 2024 | MS | HB 903 | Prohibits Usage for Machine Gun Conversion Kits | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (50 - 2) |
March 27, 2023 | MS | SB 2079 | Authorizes School Employees to Concealed Carry | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 14) |
March 7, 2018 | MS | HB 1083 | Authorizes Concealed Carry on Public Property | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
Feb. 9, 2021 | MS | SB 2107 | Prohibits Cities and Counties from Creating Rental Agreements that Restrict Firearm Access | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 16) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | MT | SB 143 | Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
April 28, 2011 | MT | HB 271 | Authorizes Concealed-Carry Without a Permit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
April 9, 2009 | MT | HB 228 | Amending Concealed Weapons and Self-Defense Statutes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 10) |
April 21, 2023 | MT | SB 359 | Prohibits the Tracking of Firearms Sales by Financial Institutions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13) |
March 21, 2023 | MT | HB 356 | Prohibits the State from Contracting with Companies that Discriminate Against Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
Feb. 3, 2021 | MT | HB 102 | Authorizes Carrying Concealed Firearms in Public Settings Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
March 13, 2013 | MT | HB 302 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 15, 2021 | MT | HB 504 | Prohibits Peace Officers from Curtailing the Possession of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 298 | Amends Concealed Weapons Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 23, 2013 | MT | HB 304 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without a Concealed-Carry Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 203 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 29, 2017 | MT | HB 494 | Authorizes Concealed Carry in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
March 2, 2021 | MT | SB 283 | Specifies Response to Guns in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
March 2, 2023 | MT | SB 361 | Prohibits Firearm Discrimination By Any Individual or Business | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
Feb. 2, 2015 | MT | SB 154 | Amends Requirement to Wear Hunter Orange while Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
Feb. 21, 2011 | MT | SB 279 | Permitting Qualified Personnel to Carry Weapons Into the Capital | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
July 21, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3230 | Gun Lock Requirement Amendment | Amendment Tabled - Senate (61 - 39) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4070 | Prohibiting Funds in the Bill S 1200 from Being Used to Decrease Gun Ownership | Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 11) |
Nov. 17, 1993 | National | S Amdt 1152 | Prohibiting the Possession of Semi-Automatic Assault Weapons | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
July 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4615 | Firearm Confiscation Prohibition Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (84 - 16) |
Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
July 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1618 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines | Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39) |
July 28, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1626 | Child Safety Lock Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30) |
May 12, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1067 | Allowing Loaded Guns in National Parks | Amendment Adopted - Senate (67 - 29) |
May 20, 1999 | National | S Amdt 362 | Gun Show Sale Regulation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 50) |
Nov. 20, 1993 | National | HR 1025 | Brady Handgun Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 36) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | National | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
March 2, 2004 | National | S 1805 | Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 90) |
July 29, 2005 | National | S 397 | Firearms Manufacturers Protection Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 31) |
June 23, 2022 | National | S 2938 | Bipartisan Safer Communities Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 33) |
Feb. 15, 2017 | National | H J Res 40 | Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (57 - 43) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4749 | Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4751 | Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4750 | Fix Gun Checks Act of 2016 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (44 - 56) |
June 20, 2016 | National | S Amdt 4720 | Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2915 | Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
March 23, 2013 | National | S Amdt 139 | Prohibits the United States From Entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46) |
April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 719 | Authorizes Reciprocity for the Carrying of Certain Concealed Firearms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 43) |
April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 714 | Limits Firearm Magazine Capacity | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 54) |
April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 711 | Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 715 | Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 46) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2910 | Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
July 23, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
June 24, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15) |
March 28, 2023 | NC | SB 41 | Expands Conceal Carry Permits in School Zones | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
Aug. 18, 2021 | NC | HB 398 | Repeals Previous State Handgun Buying Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
May 28, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
June 30, 2022 | NC | HB 49 | Repeals Concealed Carry Firearms Safety Training Requirement in Some Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
March 1, 2021 | NC | SB 43 | Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
Feb. 16, 2023 | NC | SB 41 | Expands Conceal Carry Permits in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
April 19, 2021 | ND | HB 1383 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Federal Regulations on Firearms | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7) |
March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1195 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 28) |
April 8, 2021 | ND | HB 1498 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
April 5, 2023 | ND | HB 1350 | Establishes Places That a Person Can Carry a Concealed Weapon and Penalties for Armed Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2) |
April 5, 2023 | ND | HB 1340 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing Stricter Gun Laws then Passed by the State | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
March 28, 2017 | ND | HB 1310 | Amends Concealed Carry Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 27) |
April 5, 2023 | ND | HB 1339 | Authorizes Citizens to Conceal Carry in North Dakota With a State Issued ID | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 2) |
March 29, 2019 | ND | HB 1381 | Prohibits Government Funded Gun Buyback Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
March 29, 2019 | ND | HB 1332 | Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
Jan. 18, 2021 | ND | SB 2144 | Amends Hunting Laws Related to Trespassing | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2) |
March 30, 2006 | NE | LB 454 | Concealed Handgun Permit Act | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
April 3, 2014 | NE | LB 671 | Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 2, 2014 | NE | LB 671 | Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 21) |
March 24, 2014 | NE | LB 671 | Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
April 19, 2023 | NE | LB 77 | Authorizes Legal Gun Owners to Conceal Carry Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
March 11, 2022 | NE | LB 773 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Handguns Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 9) |
June 28, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Veto Override Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |