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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 11, 2019 | DE | HB 5 | Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
March 26, 2019 | DE | HB 63 | Amends Firearms Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - House (22 - 19) |
June 25, 2019 | DE | HB 77 | Amends Burglary and Home Invasion Code | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
June 11, 2019 | DE | HB 5 | Authorizes Judges to Impose Prison Sentences Concurrently | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
Jan. 10, 2019 | DE | HB 1 | Establishes an Equal Rights Amendment in the State Constitution | Bill Passed - House (35 - 6) |
May 3, 2019 | FL | SB 7066 | Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42) |
May 3, 2019 | FL | SB 7066 | Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42) |
April 29, 2019 | FL | HB 19 | Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 20) |
May 2, 2019 | FL | SB 7066 | Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
May 2, 2019 | FL | SB 7066 | Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
April 29, 2019 | FL | HB 19 | Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
April 29, 2019 | FL | HB 741 | Prohibits "Anti-Semitic Speech" at Public Schools, Colleges, and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
May 1, 2019 | FL | SB 7030 | Authorizes Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
April 24, 2019 | FL | HB 7089 | Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (71 - 45) |
April 24, 2019 | FL | HB 7089 | Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (71 - 45) |
April 23, 2019 | FL | SB 7030 | Authorizes Firearms on School Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
April 2, 2019 | GA | HB 470 | Requires DNA Collection From Those Charged with a Felony as a First Offender | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 29) |
March 29, 2019 | GA | HB 345 | Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1) |
March 29, 2019 | GA | HB 345 | Establishes Rights for Pregnant Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 1) |
April 2, 2019 | GA | SB 15 | Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments | Bill Passed - House (110 - 56) |
March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 426 | Establishes Penalties for Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (96 - 64) |
March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 545 | Reduces Statute of Limitations for Certain Nuisance Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (107 - 58) |
March 7, 2019 | GA | HB 426 | Establishes Penalties for Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (96 - 64) |
April 30, 2019 | HI | SB 192 | Authorizes the Release of Defendants on Unsecured Bail | Bill Passed - House (42 - 9) |
April 18, 2019 | HI | SB 600 | Prohibits Individuals Younger than 21 from Bringing Firearms into the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
April 30, 2019 | HI | HB 1165 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 4) |
April 4, 2019 | HI | SB 600 | Prohibits Individuals Younger than 21 from Bringing Firearms into the State | Bill Passed - House (37 - 12) |
March 5, 2019 | HI | SB 1466 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
March 5, 2019 | HI | HB 285 | Requires Law Enforcement Transparency | Bill Passed - House (45 - 6) |
April 23, 2019 | IA | SF 615 | Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
March 14, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
April 15, 2019 | IA | SF 615 | Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | IA | HF 262 | Prohibits Pyramid Promotional Schemes | Bill Passed - House (88 - 10) |
March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
March 26, 2019 | IA | SF 523 | Expands Penalties for Fetal Homicide | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 11, 2019 | IA | SF 274 | Amends Free Speech Regulations on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
March 18, 2019 | ID | H 180 | Authorizes Syringe and Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
March 4, 2019 | ID | H 180 | Authorizes Syringe and Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (47 - 20) |
March 6, 2019 | ID | H 209 | Authorizes Warrant-less Arrests for Individuals Responsible for School Threats | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 3534 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 94 | Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 52) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 19) |
May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
May 22, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | IL | SB 667 | Limits the Cost of Insulin to $100 per 30-day Supply | Bill Passed - House (100 - 13) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
May 23, 2019 | IL | SB 1610 | Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 32) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 1786 | Prohibits License Suspension for Unpaid Parking Tickets | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 2090 | Expands Access to Voting in Jails | Bill Passed - House (69 - 45) |
May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 2090 | Expands Access to Voting in Jails | Bill Passed - House (69 - 45) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 2670 | Expands Definition of "Mitigating Factors" | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
May 23, 2019 | IL | HB 246 | Requires Public Schools to Teach about Prominent LGBTQ Figures | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
May 16, 2019 | IL | HB 2040 | Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
May 24, 2019 | IL | HB 94 | Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | HB 3534 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Bill Passed - House (67 - 38) |
March 29, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1690 | Amends Criminal Record Expungement Law | Bill Passed - House (69 - 36) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 2670 | Expands Definition of "Mitigating Factors" | Bill Passed - House (69 - 42) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | SB 2090 | Expands Access to Voting in Jails | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | SB 2090 | Expands Access to Voting in Jails | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
March 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1786 | Prohibits License Suspension for Unpaid Parking Tickets | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 667 | Limits the Cost of Insulin to $100 per 30-day Supply | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 7) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1873 | Increases Fines for Drivers Who Pass School Buses | Bill Passed - House (74 - 16) |
April 4, 2019 | IL | HB 1653 | Increases Penalties for Employers Who Commit Wage Theft | Bill Passed - House (69 - 43) |
March 13, 2019 | IL | HB 246 | Requires Public Schools to Teach about Prominent LGBTQ Figures | Bill Passed - House (60 - 42) |
April 10, 2019 | IL | HB 2040 | Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 26) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1587 | Amends Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Rules | Bill Passed - House (61 - 48) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1633 | Prohibits Infrastructure-Related Protests | Bill Passed - House (77 - 28) |
March 6, 2019 | IL | SB 1610 | Amends Immigrant Deportation Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 14) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 2244 | Amends Conditions of Parole | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
April 11, 2019 | IL | HB 1115 | Eliminates Electronic Monitoring for People Who Have Completed Their State Prison Sentences | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 7) |
April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 7) |
April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 17) |
April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 17) |
April 2, 2019 | IN | SB 198 | Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
March 26, 2019 | IN | SB 198 | Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
April 16, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
Feb. 18, 2019 | IN | HB 1253 | Authorizes Firearm Training for Teachers and School Staff | Bill Passed - House (72 - 25) |
Feb. 14, 2019 | IN | HB 1615 | Increases Penalties for Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - House (81 - 13) |
Feb. 21, 2019 | IN | SB 12 | Authorizes Consideration of Bias in Sentencing | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
April 5, 2019 | KS | SB 78 | Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Opt Out of Lease Agreements | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 23) |
Feb. 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2167 | Establishes System for Transfer of Certain Deer Hunting Permits to Nonresidents | Bill Passed - House (63 - 60) |
March 27, 2019 | KS | HB 2326 | Reduces Concealed Carry Age | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
March 14, 2019 | KY | SB 162 | Establishes a State Police School Resource Officer Program | Bill Passed - House (77 - 14) |
March 1, 2019 | KY | SB 150 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
March 12, 2019 | KY | HB 254 | Requires Public Universities to Adopt Policies that Protect Freedom of Speech and Expression | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
June 5, 2019 | LA | HB 518 | Exempts Certain Non-Violent Crimes From Habitual Offender Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
May 22, 2019 | LA | HB 506 | Establishes Task Force for Law Enforcement Data Collection | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
May 7, 2019 | LA | HB 431 | Authorizes Inmates Trained in the Angola Hospice Program to Receive Certification for Similar Work Outside of Prison | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40) |