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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1094 | Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1445 | Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1145 | Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate |
March 5, 2015 | AZ | SB 1222 | Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
March 11, 2015 | AZ | SB 1330 | Prohibits State Employees from Enforcing Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Sept. 9, 2015 | CA | AB 953 | Amends "Profiling" Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
May 7, 2015 | CA | SB 227 | Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 124 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 707 | Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 7, 2015 | CA | SB 227 | Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
April 28, 2015 | CO | SB 268 | Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
March 25, 2015 | CO | SB 86 | Repeals Background Check Requirement for Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
Feb. 19, 2015 | CO | SB 32 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
June 29, 2015 | CT | HB 7104 | Amends Drug Sentencing Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
June 18, 2015 | DE | HB 39 | Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
April 2, 2015 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
May 12, 2015 | DE | SB 75 | Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
March 24, 2015 | FL | SB 290 | Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 219 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
March 17, 2015 | ID | S 1095 | Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
March 16, 2015 | ID | S 1092 | Prohibits Local Knife Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
May 21, 2015 | IL | HB 352 | Authorizes Bobcat Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
April 2, 2015 | IN | SB 50 | Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
Feb. 3, 2015 | IN | SB 433 | Authorizes Possession of Sawed-off Shotguns | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | KS | SB 45 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms Without a License | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
June 3, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
June 30, 2015 | ME | LD 652 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | MI | SB 34 | Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4151 | Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
May 27, 2015 | MI | HB 4467 | Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Feb. 3, 2015 | MI | SB 34 | Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
April 23, 2015 | MN | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
April 23, 2015 | MN | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
May 7, 2015 | MN | SF 86 | Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | MT | SB 143 | Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 203 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 298 | Amends Concealed Weapons Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
Feb. 2, 2015 | MT | SB 154 | Amends Requirement to Wear Hunter Orange while Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
April 23, 2015 | National | PN 4 | Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2915 | Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2910 | Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
Oct. 22, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2564 | Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65) |
Oct. 27, 2015 | National | S 754 | Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21) |
March 27, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
June 24, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15) |
July 27, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
May 28, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1195 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 28) |
April 2, 2015 | ND | HB 1328 | Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
April 2, 2015 | ND | HB 1328 | Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
May 27, 2015 | NE | LB 268 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 40 | Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | NH | SB 116 | Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
May 17, 2015 | NV | AB 244 | Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
Feb. 20, 2015 | NV | AB 125 | Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
March 3, 2015 | OR | HB 2700 | Requires Redistribution of Unclaimed Damages from Class Action Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
April 14, 2015 | OR | SB 941 | Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
July 13, 2015 | PA | SB 683 | Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
April 16, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6) |
April 1, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
March 23, 2015 | TN | SB 1058 | Prohibits the Termination of Employees for Storing Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
April 13, 2015 | TN | SB 874 | Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3) |
May 22, 2015 | TX | HB 910 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
March 19, 2015 | TX | SB 11 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
April 30, 2015 | TX | SB 1628 | Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
April 23, 2015 | TX | SB 158 | Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |