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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2020 | NY | A 5045 | Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19) |
| July 20, 2020 | NY | A 5045 | Amends Criminal Procedure Laws to Waive Certain Surcharges and Fees for Defendants Under the Age of 21 | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
| June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 5207 | Prohibits State, Local Entities, and Private Detention Facilities from Signing Contracts to Detain Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 5207 | Prohibits State, Local Entities, and Private Detention Facilities from Signing Contracts to Detain Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| June 21, 2021 | NJ | A 5207 | Prohibits State, Local Entities, and Private Detention Facilities from Signing Contracts to Detain Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| June 21, 2021 | NJ | A 5207 | Prohibits State, Local Entities, and Private Detention Facilities from Signing Contracts to Detain Non-Citizens | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| June 2, 2022 | NY | A 5278 | Amends Retirement and Social Security Laws for Discharged LGBT Veterans | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 0) |
| June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5452 | Amends Firearm Identification and Training Requirements | Bill Passed - House (45 - 24) |
| June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5453 | Increases Penalties for Illegal Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - House (59 - 10) |
| June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5455 | Amends Ammunition Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| June 8, 2021 | NY | A 5465 | Authorizes New Yorkers to Attest to Their Own Gender Identity on Identification Documents | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 17) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5630 | Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (95 - 47) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5630 | Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 17) |
| March 2, 2010 | NY | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| March 2, 2010 | NY | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| June 21, 2021 | NJ | A 5756 | Prohibits Removing "Commutation Credits" for Inmates After Certain Infractions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | A 576 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | NJ | A 578 | Authorizes Temporary Immunity for Witnesses and Victims of a Drug Overdose | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | NJ | A 578 | Authorizes Temporary Immunity for Witnesses and Victims of a Drug Overdose | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5816 | Reduces the Penalty for Certain Parole Violations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 24) |
| Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 5864 | Authorizes Police to View Body Camera Footage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5991 | Amends Civil Rights Law in Relation to "Frivolous" Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (116 - 26) |
| June 8, 2020 | NY | A 6144 | Establishes the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
| April 1, 2008 | PA | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| April 10, 2019 | NY | A 6188 | Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17) |
| March 26, 2019 | NY | A 6188 | Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants | Bill Passed - House (108 - 39) |
| June 9, 2021 | NY | A 6193 | Requires Utilities to Allow Customers to Use Their Preferred Name and Pronouns | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 17) |
| May 26, 2021 | NY | A 6193 | Requires Utilities to Allow Customers to Use Their Preferred Name and Pronouns | Bill Passed - House (99 - 48) |
| Jan. 19, 2022 | NY | A 6319 | Amends the State Definition of Rape to Include Additional Forms of Non-Consensual Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (129 - 16) |
| March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
| March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (100 - 46) |
| April 28, 2009 | NY | A 6468 | Microstamping Requirement for Semiautomatic Pistols | Bill Passed - House (94 - 47) |
| March 24, 2022 | NJ | A 649 | Expands Police Uses for Civil Asset Forfeiture Funds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 7) |
| June 9, 2021 | NY | A 6522 | Amends the Definition of "Disguised Gun" | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 16) |
| June 8, 2021 | NY | A 6522 | Amends the Definition of "Disguised Gun" | Bill Passed - House (116 - 33) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | A 6710 | Requires Incarcerated Parents to Be Placed at Facilities Closest to Their Children's Home | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
| July 21, 2020 | NY | A 6710 | Requires Incarcerated Parents to Be Placed at Facilities Closest to Their Children's Home | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
| June 13, 2018 | NY | A 6823 | Amends Sex Trafficking Definition | Bill Passed - House (137 - 0) |
| June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 698 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals be Counted for Municipal, County, and Congressional Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
| June 16, 2014 | NY | A 6983B | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (105 - 28) |
| May 29, 2007 | NY | A 7526 | Ticket Resale Price Cap Removal | Bill Passed - House (106 - 36) |
| March 16, 2010 | NY | A 7575 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
| March 16, 2010 | NY | A 7575 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
| March 16, 2010 | NY | A 7575 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
| April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
| June 8, 2023 | NY | A 7691 | Establishes a State Commission to Consider Reparations to Address Effects of Slavery | Bill Passed - House (105 - 42) |
| April 22, 2009 | PA | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
| May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| May 31, 2022 | NY | A 7748 | Authorizes Certain Crime Victims to Make Voter Information Confidential | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 0) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | A7999 to HB 1959 | English as Official Language | Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70) |
| April 28, 2009 | NY | A 801 | Renewal Requirement for Pistol and Revolver Licenses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 58) |
| Jan. 27, 2014 | NY | A 8070 | Requires Equal Pay | Bill Passed - House (88 - 43) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| June 24, 2011 | NY | A 8354 | Marriage Equality Enactment | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29) |
| June 15, 2011 | NY | A 8354 | Marriage Equality Enactment | Bill Passed - House (80 - 63) |
| June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
| June 19, 2007 | NY | A 8590 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 61) |
| June 19, 2007 | NY | A 8590 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 61) |
| March 13, 2008 | NJ | A 873 | Extending Family Leave Benefits | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| June 18, 2014 | NY | A 8769A | Prohibits Workplace Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decisions | Bill Passed - House (106 - 30) |
| May 31, 2022 | NY | A 8869 | Requires Insurance Companies to Accommodate Hate Crime Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 0) |
| June 6, 2018 | NY | A 9016 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana for Opioid-Use Disorder | Bill Passed - House (108 - 28) |
| April 30, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 11) |
| April 28, 2014 | NY | A 9206 | Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island | Bill Passed - House (104 - 25) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45) |
| June 19, 2014 | NY | A 9583A | Authorizes Demonstration Program for Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (91 - 37) |
| Jan. 24, 2023 | NY | A 975 | Establishes the Crime of Unlawful Dissemination of Anothers Image | Bill Passed - House (141 - 3) |
| April 6, 2006 | FL | A 990255 | Florida KidCare Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (34 - 75) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | NY | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | NY | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - House (92 - 40) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 1 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 1 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 2 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 2 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | A Amnd. 2 | Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban | Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| May 23, 2023 | NV | AB 101 | Requires Prosecutors Using Jailhouse Informants to Disclose Their Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 0) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| May 7, 2007 | CA | AB 102 | Name Equality Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| May 7, 2007 | CA | AB 102 | Name Equality Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| Sept. 9, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12) |
| Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 1076 | Requires Criminal Record Expungement for Individuals Never Convicted | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 23) |