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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 11, 2017 | TX | SB 75 | Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
April 4, 2017 | TX | SB 576 | Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
March 9, 2017 | UT | HB 99 | Amends Bigamy Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14) |
March 2, 2017 | UT | HB 259 | Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (53 - 15) |
March 2, 2017 | UT | HB 259 | Authorizes the Discharge of Firearm for Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (53 - 15) |
Feb. 23, 2017 | UT | HB 99 | Amends Bigamy Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
Feb. 21, 2017 | UT | HB 198 | Authorizes Individuals Aged 18 to 20 to Obtain a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - House (63 - 12) |
Feb. 17, 2017 | UT | HB 200 | Requires Timely Testing of Rape Kits | Bill Passed - House (69 - 0) |
April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
April 5, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Veto Override Failed - House (65 - 34) |
Feb. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
Feb. 24, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
Feb. 15, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (3 - 95) |
Feb. 15, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (3 - 95) |
Feb. 3, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | (64 - 31) |
Feb. 3, 2017 | VA | HB 1852 | Authorizes Individual Issued Protective Order to Carry A Concealed Handgun. | (64 - 31) |
Jan. 23, 2017 | VA | SB 1055 | Classifies Failure to Leave Unlawful Assembly After Warning as a Class 1 Misdemeanor | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 26) |
May 10, 2017 | VT | S 22 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 66) |
May 10, 2017 | VT | S 22 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 66) |
May 5, 2017 | VT | S 22 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
May 5, 2017 | VT | S 22 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
March 23, 2017 | VT | S 96 | Establishes Protections For Journalists | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
April 12, 2017 | VT | HB 492 | Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing | Bill Passed - House (120 - 25) |
April 12, 2017 | VT | HB 492 | Establishes a Board for Racial Justice in Policing | Bill Passed - House (120 - 25) |
April 21, 2017 | VT | H 333 | Requires Gender-Neutral Bathrooms | Bill Passed - House (123 - 19) |
March 22, 2017 | VT | HB 422 | Requires Law Enforcement to Remove Firearms from the Scene of an Alleged Domestic Assault | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
March 22, 2017 | VT | HB 422 | Requires Law Enforcement to Remove Firearms from the Scene of an Alleged Domestic Assault | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
March 23, 2017 | VT | S 96 | Establishes Protections For Journalists | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0) |
April 7, 2017 | WA | HB 1595 | Establishes Fees for Printed and Digital Copies of Public Records | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4) |
April 20, 2017 | WA | SB 5037 | Classifies 4th DUI as a Felony | Bill Passed - House (85 - 11) |
April 20, 2017 | WA | SB 5037 | Classifies 4th DUI as a Felony | Bill Passed - House (85 - 11) |
March 7, 2017 | WA | HB 1371 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - House (52 - 45) |
March 2, 2017 | WA | SB 5223 | Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
Feb. 28, 2017 | WA | SB 5008 | Modifies Legislation Related to REAL ID Compliance | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
March 2, 2017 | WA | SB 5223 | Prohibits Localities from Permitting Heroin Injection Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
May 10, 2017 | WI | AB 242 | Requires Drug Screening for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | SB 54 | Requires Department of Corrections to Revoke Parole under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
June 21, 2017 | WI | AB 299 | Authorizes Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
Feb. 2, 2017 | WY | SF 153 | Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in the Workplace | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |