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. 13, 2024 | ID | H 515 | Amends Penalties for Lewd Conduct with a Minor | Bill Passed - House (57 - 11) |
April 20, 2023 | SC | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Bill Passed - House (80 - 22) |
March 24, 2023 | IL | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (66 - 36) |
March 3, 2023 | ID | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
May 5, 2021 | SC | S 200 | Establishes the Firing Squad as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
April 13, 2021 | NV | AB 395 | Rescinds the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
Feb. 22, 2021 | VA | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | CO | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
June 19, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
June 5, 2019 | OH | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
May 23, 2019 | NH | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123) |
March 7, 2019 | NH | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (279 - 88) |
May 18, 2017 | National | HR 115 | Thin Blue Line Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 143) |
May 16, 2017 | AL | SB 187 | Reduces Time to File Appeals for Death Row Inmates | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
May 9, 2017 | DE | HB 125 | Authorizes Capital Punishment | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
April 20, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
March 25, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
Jan. 28, 2016 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - House (16 - 23) |
July 29, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
April 29, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
March 11, 2015 | AL | HB 18 | Authorizes Execution by Electrocution | Bill Passed - House (76 - 26) |
Feb. 13, 2015 | UT | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
Dec. 17, 2014 | OH | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 23) |
April 16, 2014 | TN | SB 2580 | Authorizes the Use of Certain Execution Methods | Bill Passed - House (68 - 13) |
March 12, 2014 | NH | Amdt 916h | Exempts Individuals Convicted of Capital Murder from the Death Penalty | Amendment Rejected - House (85 - 245) |
March 12, 2014 | NH | HB 1170 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (225 - 104) |
March 6, 2014 | AL | HB 379 | Requires Confidentiality for Lethal-Injection Drug Suppliers | Bill Passed - House (77 - 19) |
Jan. 22, 2014 | VA | HB 1052 | Authorizes the Use of Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - House (64 - 32) |
June 5, 2013 | NC | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Bill Passed - House (77 - 39) |
April 25, 2013 | FL | HB 7083 | Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals | Bill Passed - House (84 - 34) |
March 15, 2013 | MD | SB 276 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (82 - 56) |
July 2, 2012 | NC | SB 416 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 48) |
June 13, 2012 | NC | SB 416 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (73 - 47) |
April 11, 2012 | CT | SB 280 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (86 - 62) |
June 16, 2011 | NC | SB 9 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
Jan. 6, 2011 | IL | SB 3539 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (60 - 54) |
Feb. 3, 2010 | VA | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
July 15, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
May 13, 2009 | CT | HB 6578 | Death Penalty Replacement | Bill Passed - House (90 - 56) |
April 21, 2009 | CO | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
March 25, 2009 | NH | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (193 - 174) |
March 12, 2009 | UT | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 35) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | NM | HB 285 | Abolishing The Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (40 - 28) |
March 19, 2008 | GA | Fleming AM 29 0700 | Amending Capital Punishment Sentencing Procedures | Amendment Adopted - House (100 - 66) |
March 19, 2008 | GA | SB 145 | Amending Sentencing Guidelines for Murder | Bill Passed - House (112 - 55) |
Feb. 8, 2008 | VA | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
Dec. 13, 2007 | NJ | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
April 4, 2007 | VA | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
March 20, 2007 | GA | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
March 6, 2007 | TX | HB 8 | Punishment of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (119 - 25) |
Feb. 12, 2007 | NM | HB 190 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
Feb. 7, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
Feb. 6, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
Feb. 25, 1998 | National | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
April 18, 1996 | National | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
March 14, 1996 | National | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
April 21, 1994 | National | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
April 14, 1994 | National | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/13 | H 515 | Amends Penalties for Lewd Conduct with a Minor | Bill Passed - House (57 - 11) |
4/20 | S 120 | Authorizes the State to Buy Lethal Injection Drugs Without Disclosing Manufacturer Company | Bill Passed - House (80 - 22) |
3/24 | HB 3762 | Repeals the Death Penalty for First Degree Murder | Bill Passed - House (66 - 36) |
3/03 | H 186 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (50 - 15) |
5/05 | S 200 | Establishes the Firing Squad as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
4/13 | AB 395 | Rescinds the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
2/22 | SB 1165 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
2/26 | SB 20-100 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
6/19 | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
6/05 | HB 136 | Prohibits Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses from Being Sentenced to Death | Bill Passed - House (76 - 18) |
5/23 | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - House (247 - 123) |
3/07 | HB 455 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (279 - 88) |
5/18 | HR 115 | Thin Blue Line Act | Bill Passed - House (271 - 143) |
5/16 | SB 187 | Reduces Time to File Appeals for Death Row Inmates | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
5/09 | HB 125 | Authorizes Capital Punishment | Bill Passed - House (26 - 16) |
4/20 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
3/25 | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
3/11 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
2/10 | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
1/28 | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - House (16 - 23) |
7/29 | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 34) |
4/29 | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 33) |
3/11 | HB 18 | Authorizes Execution by Electrocution | Bill Passed - House (76 - 26) |
2/13 | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
2/12 | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
12/17 | HB 663 | Requires Confidentiality of Death Penalty Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 23) |
4/16 | SB 2580 | Authorizes the Use of Certain Execution Methods | Bill Passed - House (68 - 13) |
3/12 | Amdt 916h | Exempts Individuals Convicted of Capital Murder from the Death Penalty | Amendment Rejected - House (85 - 245) |
3/12 | HB 1170 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (225 - 104) |
3/06 | HB 379 | Requires Confidentiality for Lethal-Injection Drug Suppliers | Bill Passed - House (77 - 19) |
1/22 | HB 1052 | Authorizes the Use of Alternative Methods of Execution | Bill Passed - House (64 - 32) |
6/05 | SB 306 | Repeals the Racial Justice Act | Bill Passed - House (77 - 39) |
4/25 | HB 7083 | Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals | Bill Passed - House (84 - 34) |
3/15 | SB 276 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (82 - 56) |
7/02 | SB 416 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 48) |
6/13 | SB 416 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (73 - 47) |
4/11 | SB 280 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (86 - 62) |
6/16 | SB 9 | Death Penalty Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
1/06 | SB 3539 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (60 - 54) |
2/03 | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
7/15 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
5/13 | HB 6578 | Death Penalty Replacement | Bill Passed - House (90 - 56) |
4/21 | HB 1274 | Repeals Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
3/26 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
3/25 | HB 556 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (193 - 174) |
3/12 | SJR 14 | Legislative Regulation of Death Row Appeals | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 35) |
2/25 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
2/11 | HB 285 | Abolishing The Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (40 - 28) |
3/19 | Fleming AM 29 0700 | Amending Capital Punishment Sentencing Procedures | Amendment Adopted - House (100 - 66) |
3/19 | SB 145 | Amending Sentencing Guidelines for Murder | Bill Passed - House (112 - 55) |
2/08 | HB 933 | "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
12/13 | S 171 | Eliminating the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (44 - 36) |
4/04 | HB 2347 | Capital Murder of a Witness | Veto Override Passed - House (83 - 16) |
4/04 | Sub HB 2348 | Extension of "Triggerman Rule" | Veto Override Passed - House (79 - 21) |
3/20 | HCS HB 185 | Death Penalty Rules | Bill Passed - House (106 - 65) |
3/06 | HB 8 | Punishment of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (119 - 25) |
2/12 | HB 190 | Abolishing the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
2/07 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
2/06 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
2/25 | H Amdt 497 | Death Sentence Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (113 - 300) |
4/18 | S 735 | Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 133) |
3/14 | H Amdt 954 | Habeas Corpus Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (135 - 283) |
4/21 | HR 4092 | Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 141) |
4/14 | H Amdt 503 | Death Penalty Removal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (111 - 314) |