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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 1796 | Prohibits a "Gay Panic" Legal Defense | Bill Passed - House (74 - 0) |
Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 1796 | Prohibits a "Gay Panic" Legal Defense | Bill Passed - House (74 - 0) |
March 31, 2019 | NY | A 2006 | Establishes an Education, Labor, Housing and Family Assistance Budget for FY 2019-2020 | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
June 13, 2019 | NY | A 2371 | Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
June 13, 2019 | NY | A 2371 | Prohibits Exemption from Vaccinations Based on Religious Beliefs | Bill Passed - House (84 - 61) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 314 | Amends Solitary Confinement Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 314 | Amends Solitary Confinement Procedures | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
June 17, 2019 | NY | A 3675 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29) |
June 12, 2019 | NY | A 3675 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (87 - 61) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 3696 | Amends Firearms Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 18) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 4135 | Establishes Procedures for Digital Parking Meters and a Fund for Encouraging Designated Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Jan. 31, 2019 | NJ | A 4135 | Establishes Procedures for Digital Parking Meters and a Fund for Encouraging Designated Drivers | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 4260 | Prohibits the Sale of Certain Toy Guns or Imitation Firearms | Bill Passed - House (54 - 19) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5452 | Amends Firearm Identification and Training Requirements | Bill Passed - House (45 - 24) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5453 | Increases Penalties for Illegal Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - House (59 - 10) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 5455 | Amends Ammunition Sale Regulations | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | A 576 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4) |
Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5816 | Reduces the Penalty for Certain Parole Violations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 24) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
Nov. 25, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
April 10, 2019 | NY | A 6188 | Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 17) |
March 26, 2019 | NY | A 6188 | Prohibits Harassment of Rent Regulated Tenants | Bill Passed - House (108 - 39) |
March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
March 19, 2019 | NY | A 6449 | Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (100 - 46) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 1076 | Requires Criminal Record Expungement for Individuals Never Convicted | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 23) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1076 | Requires Criminal Record Expungement for Individuals Never Convicted | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 12 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
April 8, 2019 | CA | AB 12 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - House (53 - 13) |
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. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1246 | Requires Large Group Health Plans to Cover Medically Necessary Prescription Drugs | (58 - 19) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 1254 | Prohibits Hunting of Bobcats | Bill Passed - House (54 - 21) |
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. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 153 | Prohibits the Negligent Storage of Firearms Around Minors | Bill Passed - House (32 - 9) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" | Bill Passed - House (78 - 0) |
May 24, 2019 | CA | AB 1593 | Authorizes Certain Tax Breaks for Undocumented Families | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 163 | Requires State Oversight of Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors | Bill Passed - House (60 - 5) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1669 | Increases Firearm Purchasing Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 1669 | Increases Firearm Purchasing Fees | Bill Passed - House (49 - 22) |
Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 8) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | AB 175 | Amends Foster Care Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 8) |
June 5, 2019 | WI | AB 179 | Establishes Requirements for Abortions Resulting in Premature Birth | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
May 15, 2019 | WI | AB 179 | Establishes Requirements for Abortions Resulting in Premature Birth | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
June 5, 2019 | WI | AB 180 | Requires Potential Abortion Reversal Drugs be made Available | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
May 15, 2019 | WI | AB 180 | Requires Potential Abortion Reversal Drugs be made Available | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AB 273 | Prohibits Recreational and Commercial Fur Trapping Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
May 31, 2019 | NV | AB 291 | Establishes Various Provisions to Increase Gun Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 291 | Establishes Various Provisions to Increase Gun Safety | Bill Passed - House (28 - 13) |
Nov. 7, 2019 | WI | AB 304 | Authorizes Pharmacy Distribution of Certain Hormonal Contraceptives | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 32 | Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 32 | Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers | Bill Passed - House (61 - 13) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 392 | Increases Public Oversight and Police Accountability when Deadly Use of Force is Used | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
May 28, 2019 | CA | AB 4 | Authorizes Medi-Cal Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
May 22, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
May 22, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - House (32 - 9) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - House (32 - 9) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 44 | Prohibits the Sale and Manufacturing of Fur Products | Bill Passed - House (52 - 16) |
April 23, 2019 | NV | AB 443 | Establishes Permanent Sales Tax for Cop Funding | Bill Passed - House (33 - 8) |
Sept. 3, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | AB 454 | Establishes Protections for Migratory Birds | Bill Passed - House (55 - 21) |
Aug. 19, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
Aug. 19, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |