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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 4, 2016 IN SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10)
Feb. 3, 2016 IN SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Jan. 28, 2016 FL SB 344 Amends Burden of Proof in Self-Defense Immunity Claims Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2016 VA SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
Feb. 12, 2016 VA SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
May 24, 2016 LA SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
Feb. 1, 2016 VA SB 48 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
March 17, 2016 MD SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
Feb. 18, 2016 KY SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Jan. 21, 2016 MD SB 517 Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
Jan. 21, 2016 MD SB 528 Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
Feb. 16, 2016 WI SB 533 Prohibits Local Governments from Issuing Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 24, 2016 NH SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
Feb. 15, 2016 VA SB 552 Exempts Police Officer Names from Mandatory Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Jan. 28, 2016 MO SB 572 Establishes Regulations for Municipal Ordinance Violation Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
Feb. 29, 2016 GA SB 6 Establishes Driving Safety Cards for Certain Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
Feb. 4, 2016 VA SB 610 Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2016 WA SB 6443 Repeals Rule Authorizing Use of Bathrooms Consistent with Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25)
Feb. 8, 2016 VA SB 646 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Sept. 14, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
May 13, 2016 MO SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
Jan. 29, 2016 VA SB 67 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in Housing Practices Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 9, 2016 VA SB 705 Requires Sanctuary Cities to be Liable for Damages Caused by Undocumented Immigrant Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 3, 2016 IN SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Aug. 26, 2016 CA SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/04 SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10)
2/03 SB 339 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Games Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
1/28 SB 344 Amends Burden of Proof in Self-Defense Immunity Claims Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
2/12 SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
2/12 SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
5/24 SB 436 Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25)
2/01 SB 48 Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
3/17 SB 49 Amends the State Song Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
2/18 SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
1/21 SB 517 Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
1/21 SB 528 Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
2/16 SB 533 Prohibits Local Governments from Issuing Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/24 SB 551 Authorizes a Casino in Salem Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 13)
2/15 SB 552 Exempts Police Officer Names from Mandatory Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
1/28 SB 572 Establishes Regulations for Municipal Ordinance Violation Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
2/29 SB 6 Establishes Driving Safety Cards for Certain Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
2/04 SB 610 Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/10 SB 6443 Repeals Rule Authorizing Use of Bathrooms Consistent with Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 25)
2/08 SB 646 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
9/14 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
5/13 SB 656 Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 8)
1/29 SB 67 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation in Housing Practices Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/09 SB 705 Requires Sanctuary Cities to be Liable for Damages Caused by Undocumented Immigrant Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/03 SB 80 Authorizes Pharmacists to Decline to Sell Certain Cold Medicines Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
8/26 SB 839 Prohibits Orca Captivity and Breeding Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 13)

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