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 22, 2020 | VA | HB 33 | Authorizes Inmates to Apply for Parole | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 16) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | S 1163 | Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 15) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Nov. 9, 2020 | VA | HB 5109 | Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 437 | Increases Penalty for Motor Accidents Involving a Cyclist or Vulnerable Road User | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 36) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 479 | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Protective Order From Possessing Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 42) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2742 | Reduces Contributions to Retirement Systems for Police and Firefighters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
June 30, 2020 | MS | SB 2123 | Establishes the "Mississippi Correctional Safety and Rehabilitation Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 17) |
June 26, 2020 | NC | S 168 | Prohibits Public Disclosure of Internal Police Investigations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 0) |
June 1, 2020 | LA | HB 826 | Establishes Legal Immunity for COVID-19 Claims to Businesses and Government Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 26, 2020 | KY | SB 150 | Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5104 | Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 5) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | HB 5043 | Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 12) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5148 | Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
July 6, 2020 | HI | HB 285 | Requires Law Enforcement Transparency | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | HB 205 | Appropriate Funds to Various Government Agencies, Including for COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - House (23 - 13) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | SB 241 | Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | SB 5007 | Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | SB 5007 | Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5049 | Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 479 | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Protective Order From Possessing Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
April 15, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
Nov. 9, 2020 | VA | HB 5109 | Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39) |
March 27, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | S 1163 | Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
July 6, 2020 | HI | HB 285 | Requires Law Enforcement Transparency | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | SB 70 | Requires Background Check for Firearm Transfers | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 46) |
Oct. 23, 2020 | LA | HB 38 | Establishes the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 29) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5038 | Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 37) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5104 | Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 35) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
May 13, 2020 | MO | HB 1693 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 59) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 33 | Authorizes Inmates to Apply for Parole | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
March 12, 2020 | GA | HB 792 | Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1) |
March 19, 2020 | FL | H 5001 | Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0) |
Dec. 18, 2020 | OH | SB 175 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
March 13, 2020 | FL | HB 1259 | Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
June 13, 2020 | CO | SB 20-007 | Requires Insurance Carriers Provide Coverage for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3411 | Establishes Allocations of Federal COVID-19 Appropriations to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
Dec. 1, 2020 | MA | S 2963 | Amends Various Police Accountability and Reform Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 67) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | HB 1783 | Establishes the Washington State Office of Equity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | MI | SB 604 | Extends Unemployment Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 4) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | HB 4982 | Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5434 | Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
April 14, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
March 25, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
Jan. 17, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | (24 - 16) |
May 9, 2020 | MN | HF 3429 | Appropriates Funds and Establishes Procedures for Safe State Primaries and General Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (122 - 10) |
March 4, 2020 | VA | HB 623 | Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 117 | Appropriates Funds to Public Schools Amid COVID-19 Emergency Shut-Down | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 16, 2020 | CA | SB 89 | Amends 2019-2020 State Budget to Appropriate Funds for the COVID-19 Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
March 17, 2020 | KS | SB 142 | Authorizes Waiver for School Hour Requirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
March 17, 2020 | KS | SB 102 | Expands Flexibility in Courts | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1663 | Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3) |
March 25, 2020 | PA | SB 751 | Authorizes Financial Assistance for Schools Amid COVID-19-Related Shutdown | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
March 17, 2020 | MI | HB 4729 | Appropriates Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Response | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4615 | Increases Penalties for Critical Infrastructure Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
March 10, 2020 | SD | SB 151 | Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 4958 | Prohibits Suspension of Driver's License for Unpaid Fines | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 10) |
March 7, 2020 | WV | HB 2419 | Authorizes Release of Certain Individuals Without Bail Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21) |
April 8, 2020 | MO | HB 2014 | Establishes a Supplemental Budget to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (147 - 4) |
May 21, 2020 | HI | SB 75 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
March 3, 2020 | VA | SB 1030 | Prohibits Dangerous Captive Animal Exhibits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
April 23, 2020 | National | HR 266 | Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (388 - 5) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1336 | Authorizes Expungement of Some Misdemeanor Criminal Convictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 31) |
May 2, 2020 | NC | HB 1043 | Appropriates Funds from the CARES Act for COVID-19 Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (120 - 0) |
May 18, 2020 | AL | SB 161 | Appropriates CARES Act Funds to the State Government for the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
May 14, 2020 | NJ | S 2332 | Establishes the 2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
April 30, 2020 | MI | SB 858 | Establishes Deadlines for Governor's Stay At Home Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
May 14, 2020 | MO | HB 1896 | Requires Employees of Medical Marijuana Businesses to Submit Fingerprints for Criminal Background Checks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (124 - 21) |
May 28, 2020 | NC | HB 536 | Authorizes the Reopening of Bars and Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 53) |
Feb. 27, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1019 | Amends the State Department of Corrections Private Prison Populations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
June 10, 2020 | IA | SF 2338 | Establishes Legal Protection to Businesses and Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
March 25, 2020 | AK | HB 234 | Appropriates Supplemental Funds for COVID-19 Relief Efforts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (27 - 11) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 2135 | Establishes the "Government Emergency Administration Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
June 17, 2020 | RI | S 2004 | Prohibits Non-Metallic Firearms and "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
June 17, 2020 | RI | S 2004 | Prohibits Non-Metallic Firearms and "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
Sept. 1, 2020 | OH | HB 272 | Prohibits State Officials From Changing the Time and Place of an Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35) |