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
Dec. 27, 2018 OH HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Dec. 18, 2018 National S 756 First Step Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
Dec. 6, 2018 OH HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Dec. 6, 2018 OH SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Nov. 28, 2018 MI SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Oct. 29, 2018 NJ S 2465 Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 17, 2018 PA SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 3, 2018 PA HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
Oct. 3, 2018 PA HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
Sept. 17, 2018 National HR 6 Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
Sept. 5, 2018 MI HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Sept. 5, 2018 MI HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Aug. 27, 2018 MS SB 2001 Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17)
Aug. 24, 2018 CA SB 820 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 23, 2018 National S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
Aug. 21, 2018 CA SB 10 Establishes New Provisions for the Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Aug. 21, 2018 CA AB 2103 Requires Concealed Carry Applicants Complete 8 Hours of Gun Safety Training Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
Aug. 6, 2018 CA AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
July 26, 2018 NJ S 2846 Authorizes Police to Carry High Capacity Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
July 19, 2018 MA S 2598 Authorizes Diversion Program for First-Time Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
June 28, 2018 MA S 2562 Authorizes Non-Binary Gender on Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
June 25, 2018 NJ S 2055 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Incarcerated Persons Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
June 25, 2018 NJ S 2532 Requires Corrections Officers to Complete 4 Hours of Sexual Assault Prevention Training Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/27 HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
12/18 S 756 First Step Act of 2018 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
12/06 HB 228 Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
12/06 SB 250 Increases Trespass Penalties and Other Crimes Related to Protesting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
11/28 SB 1175 Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
10/29 S 2465 Prohibits 3D Printed Firearms Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 0)
10/17 SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/17 SB 554 Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/03 HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
10/03 HB 2060 Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
9/17 HR 6 Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
9/05 HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
9/05 HB 5377 Amends Prison Parole Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
8/27 SB 2001 Establishes Mississippi Lottery Corporation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 17)
8/24 SB 820 Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
8/23 S Amdt 3967 Senator Rand Paul's Amendment to H.R. 6157 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 48)
8/21 SB 10 Establishes New Provisions for the Criminal Justice System Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
8/21 AB 2103 Requires Concealed Carry Applicants Complete 8 Hours of Gun Safety Training Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
8/06 AB 282 Amends the End of Life Option Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
7/26 S 2846 Authorizes Police to Carry High Capacity Magazines Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
7/19 S 2598 Authorizes Diversion Program for First-Time Prostitution Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
6/28 S 2562 Authorizes Non-Binary Gender on Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
6/25 A 3861 Amends Unemployment Insurance Law (23 - 14)
6/25 S 2055 Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Incarcerated Persons Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
6/25 S 2532 Requires Corrections Officers to Complete 4 Hours of Sexual Assault Prevention Training Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)

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