Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2019 | IN | HB 1015 | Authorizes Sports Betting | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 36) |
| Feb. 23, 2019 | VA | SB 1126 | Authorizes Casino Gaming in Select Cities | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 33) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | NC | SB 250 | Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 51) |
| 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) |
| May 2, 2019 | FL | SB 168 | Prohibits State Sanctuary City Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 45) |
| April 30, 2019 | HI | SB 192 | Authorizes the Release of Defendants on Unsecured Bail | Bill Passed - House (42 - 9) |
| April 5, 2019 | MD | HB 298 | Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries | Veto Override Passed - House (96 - 43) |
| March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40) |
| April 24, 2019 | ND | HB 1393 | Classifies Domestic Violence as a Distinct Crime | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 19) |
| April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 17) |
| April 5, 2019 | KS | SB 78 | Authorizes Victims of Domestic Violence to Opt Out of Lease Agreements | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 23) |
| Sept. 24, 2019 | MI | HB 4231 | Appropriates $2.2 Billion for the State Corrections Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 51) |
| April 17, 2019 | TN | HB 658 | Repeals City Police Oversight Boards Subpoena Power | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 16) |
| May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 49) |
| May 20, 2019 | MN | HF 400 | Establishes an Opiate Product Registration Fee and the Opiate Epidemic Response Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 25) |
| April 22, 2019 | IN | HB 1284 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 17) |
| June 27, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (305 - 102) |
| April 29, 2019 | FL | HB 19 | Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| April 30, 2019 | TN | HB 1 | Authorizes Online Sports Betting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 40) |
| April 30, 2019 | HI | HB 1165 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 4) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1263 | Amends Criminal Classification of Certain Drug Possessions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1263 | Amends Criminal Classification of Certain Drug Possessions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 20) |
| May 3, 2019 | CO | HB 19-1289 | Increases State Consumer Protection Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| April 5, 2019 | AR | HB 1684 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for DACA Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 19) |
| Feb. 26, 2019 | WY | HB 103 | Requires Doctor Reporting of Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 12) |
| May 22, 2019 | TX | HB 1528 | Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39) |
| May 22, 2019 | TX | HB 1528 | Requires Family Violence Convictions be Reported to the Department of Public Safety | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 39) |
| May 23, 2019 | TX | HB 16 | Establishes Requirements for Abortions Resulting in Premature Birth | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 57) |
| May 23, 2019 | TX | HB 888 | Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| May 23, 2019 | TX | HB 888 | Increases Penalties for Misrepresenting a Child's Identify at a Port of Entry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| May 24, 2019 | TX | HB 3285 | Establishes Services for Substance Use Disorders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 18) |
| May 28, 2019 | AL | HB 361 | Authorizes Sports Betting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| March 8, 2019 | WV | HB 2010 | Amends State Foster Care System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 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 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3606 | Authorizes Parental Privacy Rights for Student Data Collection | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 22) |
| April 18, 2019 | WA | HB 1579 | Increases Catch Limits for Bass, Walleye, and Catfish | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 37) |
| April 23, 2019 | WA | HB 1739 | Prohibits All Untraceable 3D Printed "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 40) |
| June 19, 2019 | RI | H 5125 | Establishes Abortion Procedures as Protected State Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| March 12, 2019 | SD | HB 1087 | Requires Protections for All Forms of Free Speech at Public Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 12) |
| March 29, 2019 | GA | HB 481 | Prohibits Abortion After a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 78) |
| 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) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 16) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 16) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 1076 | Requires Criminal Record Expungement for Individuals Never Convicted | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 23) |
| Sept. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 21) |
| Sept. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 21) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13) |
| April 25, 2019 | HI | HB 664 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 3) |
| April 27, 2019 | IA | HF 766 | Establishes a Health and Human Services Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| April 27, 2019 | IA | HF 766 | Establishes a Health and Human Services Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 235 | Establishes a Human Resources Office to Investigate Sexual Harassment Complaints in Legislature | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (207 - 139) |
| May 30, 2019 | ME | LD 1050 | Requires Education About African American History and the History of Genocide | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (87 - 54) |
| June 19, 2019 | ME | LD 1811 | Requires Judicial Hearings and Evaluations for Individuals in Protective Custody Regarding Risk of Harm and Restricting Access to Dangerous Weapons | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (135 - 9) |
| June 5, 2019 | NH | SB 263 | Prohibits Discrimination in Public Schools | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 141) |
| April 2, 2019 | ND | HB 1332 | Authorizes Schools to Develop a Plan for an Armed First Responder | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 15) |
| March 25, 2019 | ND | SB 2044 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 14) |
| March 26, 2019 | IN | SB 198 | Amends Criminal Sentencing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 172 | Amends Firearm Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Dec. 17, 2019 | PA | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (167 - 29) |
| Nov. 6, 2019 | MI | SB 174 | Extends Deadline for 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs Requirement | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| April 27, 2019 | CO | SB 19-085 | Establishes the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act | Bill Passed - House (40 - 21) |
| Sept. 13, 2019 | CA | SB 61 | Prohibits Purchasing More than One Gun per Month | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
| May 28, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| April 12, 2019 | WA | SB 5497 | Establishes Washington as a Sanctuary State | Bill Passed - House (57 - 38) |
| April 30, 2019 | CO | SB 19-013 | Authorizes Marijuana to be Prescribed in lieu of Opiates | Bill Passed - House (47 - 16) |
| May 30, 2019 | CT | SB 992 | Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies | Bill Passed - House (79 - 61) |
| May 30, 2019 | CT | SB 992 | Limits Cooperation Between Local Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Agencies | Bill Passed - House (79 - 61) |
| April 2, 2019 | GA | SB 15 | Requires Schools to Perform Certain Threat Assessments | Bill Passed - House (110 - 56) |
| June 1, 2019 | IL | SB 690 | Expands the Number of Casinos Permitted in Illinois | Bill Passed - House (87 - 27) |
| March 14, 2019 | KY | SB 162 | Establishes a State Police School Resource Officer Program | Bill Passed - House (77 - 14) |
| June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 420 | Establishes Procedures for the Expungement of Marijuana Related Convictions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| June 4, 2019 | OR | SB 910 | Expands Access to Substances That Can Stop Overdoses and Treat Addiction | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| June 5, 2019 | CT | SB 380 | Requires the Release of Police Camera Video | Bill Passed - House (86 - 60) |
| March 14, 2019 | IN | SB 201 | Authorizes Health Providers to Abstain from Participating in Abortion Procedures | Bill Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| April 4, 2019 | HI | SB 600 | Prohibits Individuals Younger than 21 from Bringing Firearms into the State | Bill Passed - House (37 - 12) |
| Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | S 761 | Establishes Inmate Re-Entry Plans | Bill Passed - House (55 - 16) |
| March 28, 2019 | MD | SB 793 | Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University | Bill Passed - House (94 - 42) |
| June 19, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - House (33 - 26) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - House (144 - 54) |
| June 20, 2019 | NJ | S 3897 | Prohibits Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes from Purchasing Guns | Bill Passed - House (58 - 10) |
| March 12, 2019 | UT | SB 103 | Expands Penalty Enhancements for Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
| June 20, 2019 | NJ | S 101 | Requires Firearm Retailers to Sell Personalized Handguns | Bill Passed - House (49 - 23) |
| March 12, 2019 | UT | SB 103 | Expands Penalty Enhancements for Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
| June 27, 2019 | DE | SB 44 | Reduces the Punishment for Possession or Consumption of Alcohol by a Person Under 21 to a Civil Offense | Bill Passed - House (34 - 6) |
| July 1, 2019 | CA | SB 233 | Authorizes Immunity from Arrest to Sex Workers Reporting Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (54 - 13) |
| April 2, 2019 | IN | SB 373 | Authorizes Academic Credit for Religious Education Courses | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| April 30, 2019 | CO | SB 19-188 | Establishes A Task Force Related To Paid-Family-Leave | Bill Passed - House (40 - 24) |
| July 31, 2019 | NC | SB 199 | Extends Statute of Limitations for Child Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (92 - 15) |
| Nov. 13, 2019 | IL | SB 667 | Limits the Cost of Insulin to $100 per 30-day Supply | Bill Passed - House (100 - 13) |
| April 10, 2019 | OH | SB 23 | Prohibits Abortion After a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| May 21, 2019 | TX | SB 1978 | Prohibits Government Action Against Businesses that Donate to Religious Organizations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| May 21, 2019 | IL | SB 241 | Prohibits Use of Animal Testing on Manufacturer Products Sold in the State | Bill Passed - House (85 - 25) |
| Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| March 12, 2019 | IA | SF 519 | Establishes Trespass Charges for Undercover Investigators at Certain Agricultural Facilities | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |