Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. 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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Sept. 14, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Aug. 26, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Aug. 19, 2016 AL SB 3 Establishes State Lottery Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Aug. 16, 2016 CA AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Aug. 15, 2016 CA AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
July 6, 2016 National S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
July 6, 2016 National S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
June 30, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
June 30, 2016 CA AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 28, 2016 NC HB 100 Rescinds Certain Funds from Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
June 27, 2016 NJ A 3689 Requires Justifiable Need for Firearm Permits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
June 27, 2016 NJ S 51 Authorizes Restrictions on Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
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 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 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)
June 2, 2016 CA SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 26, 2016 CA SB 1146 Amends Religious Exemption Requirements for Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
May 25, 2016 MI HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 25, 2016 OH SB 331 Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 24, 2016 OH HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 24, 2016 OH HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 24, 2016 LA SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
May 21, 2016 MN SF 498 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 17)
May 19, 2016 IL HB 3655 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Contests Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
May 19, 2016 CA AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 19, 2016 CA SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 13, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
May 13, 2016 AK SB 91 Amends Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
May 12, 2016 MA S 735 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
May 5, 2016 NH HR 582 Repeals Permit Requirements for Concealed Carry of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
May 4, 2016 LA SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 2, 2016 CA SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 25, 2016 CA SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 22, 2016 IA HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
April 20, 2016 NE LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
April 20, 2016 CT SB 147 Authorizes Students Qualifying for In-State Tuition to Receive Financial Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 19, 2016 TN SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 19, 2016 TN SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
April 13, 2016 NE LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
April 11, 2016 ME LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 7, 2016 MD HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
April 7, 2016 AK SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
April 7, 2016 AL SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
April 5, 2016 AL SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/14 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
8/26 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
8/19 SB 3 Establishes State Lottery Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
8/16 AB 2466 Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
8/15 AB 1687 Requires Entertainment Database Websites to Remove Actor's Age Upon Request Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
7/06 S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
7/06 S 2193 Stop Illegal Reentry Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 42)
6/30 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 1674 Limits the Purchase of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/30 AB 1695 Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
6/30 AB 2607 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/28 HB 100 Rescinds Certain Funds from Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
6/27 A 3689 Requires Justifiable Need for Firearm Permits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
6/27 S 51 Authorizes Restrictions on Solitary Confinement Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/20 S Amdt 4751 Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
6/20 S Amdt 4749 Authorizes the Attorney General to Delay Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
6/20 S Amdt 4750 Fix Gun Checks Act of 2016 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (44 - 56)
6/20 S Amdt 4720 Prohibits the Transfer of Firearms to Suspected Terrorists Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53)
6/02 SB 10 Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to be Eligible for Health Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/26 SB 1146 Amends Religious Exemption Requirements for Universities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
5/25 HB 4787 Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/25 SB 331 Establishes Regulations for Dog Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/24 HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/24 HB 110 Authorizes Immunity for Individuals Reporting Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/24 SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
5/21 SF 498 Amends Police Body Camera Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 17)
5/19 HB 3655 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Contests Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
5/19 AB 1135 Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/19 SB 1446 Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/19 SB 1235 Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/13 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
5/13 SB 91 Amends Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
5/12 S 735 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
5/05 HR 582 Repeals Permit Requirements for Concealed Carry of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
5/04 SB 127 Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/02 SB 1129 Repeals Minimum Sentences for Repeat Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/25 SB 966 Prohibits Extending Sentences for Repeat Drug Offenders Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/22 HF 2460 Appropriates Funding for Health and Human Services Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
4/20 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
4/20 SB 147 Authorizes Students Qualifying for In-State Tuition to Receive Financial Assistance Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/19 SJR 467 Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/19 SB 2376 Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
4/13 LB 947 Authorizes Certain Immigrants to Qualify for Professional Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
4/11 LD 1600 Requires Legislative Approval for National Monument Designations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/07 HB 1003 Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
4/07 SB 174 Prohibits the University of Alaska from Regulating Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 5)
4/07 SB 237 Establishes Innocence Inquiry Commission Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 6)
4/05 SB 14 Authorizes Concealed Handguns in Vehicles without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)

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