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. 18, 2020 NJ S 3256 Reduces Penalties for Psilocybin Possession Bill Passed - House (51 - 23)
Dec. 17, 2020 OH SB 175 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws Bill Passed - House (52 - 31)
Dec. 4, 2020 National HR 3884 Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 164)
Dec. 3, 2020 National HR 1380 Big Cat Public Safety Act Bill Passed - House (272 - 114)
Dec. 2, 2020 OH SB 40 Prohibits State Universities from Enacting Limitations on Campus Free Speech Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
Dec. 2, 2020 MI HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
Dec. 2, 2020 MI HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
Dec. 2, 2020 MI HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
Dec. 1, 2020 MA S 2963 Amends Various Police Accountability and Reform Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 67)
Dec. 1, 2020 MI SB 70 Authorizes Certain Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, or Human Trafficking Bill Passed - House (102 - 1)
Nov. 19, 2020 OH HB 310 Increases Penalties for Bullying and Hazing Bill Passed - House (74 - 14)
Nov. 18, 2020 OH HB 208 Amends Previous Law to Make Assaulting a Sports Referee a Felony Bill Passed - House (74 - 13)
Nov. 16, 2020 NJ S 1163 Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 15)
Nov. 9, 2020 VA HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
Oct. 29, 2020 NJ A 4545 Requires Instruction on Racial Discrimination, Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion Bill Passed - House (56 - 7)
Oct. 23, 2020 LA HB 38 Establishes the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 29)
Oct. 21, 2020 LA SB 77 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Gambling Bill Passed - House (72 - 15)
Oct. 21, 2020 LA SB 77 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Gambling Bill Passed - House (72 - 15)
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 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. 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 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 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
Oct. 7, 2020 VA HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5043 Establishes Procedures of Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5034 Expands the State Earned Sentence Credit System Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1154 Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes Bill Passed - House (371 - 18)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
Oct. 2, 2020 National H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
Oct. 2, 2020 LA HB 1 Establishes Parole Eligibility for Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (81 - 10)
Sept. 30, 2020 National HR 6270 Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (253 - 163)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5035 Authorizes Localities to Establish Law-Enforcement Civilian Oversight Bodies Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Sept. 25, 2020 VA SB 5013 Authorizes Individuals Charged with Marijuana Possession to Prepay Civil Penalty Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 4982 Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 4980 Establishes a System to Automatically Set Aside Certain Convictions Under Certain Circumstances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 12)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI SB 977 Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (77 - 26)
Sept. 24, 2020 NJ S 2519 Authorizes Public Health Emergency Credits for Certain Inmates Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
Sept. 24, 2020 MI HB 5881 Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Absentee Voting Law Violations Bill Passed - House (74 - 29)
Sept. 22, 2020 VT S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
Sept. 22, 2020 VT S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/18 S 3256 Reduces Penalties for Psilocybin Possession Bill Passed - House (51 - 23)
12/17 SB 175 Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws Bill Passed - House (52 - 31)
12/04 HR 3884 Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 164)
12/03 HR 1380 Big Cat Public Safety Act Bill Passed - House (272 - 114)
12/02 SB 40 Prohibits State Universities from Enacting Limitations on Campus Free Speech Bill Passed - House (66 - 27)
12/02 HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
12/02 HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
12/02 HB 5679 Amends the Sex Offender Registry Act Bill Passed - House (80 - 24)
12/01 S 2963 Amends Various Police Accountability and Reform Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 67)
12/01 SB 70 Authorizes Certain Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, or Human Trafficking Bill Passed - House (102 - 1)
11/19 HB 310 Increases Penalties for Bullying and Hazing Bill Passed - House (74 - 14)
11/18 HB 208 Amends Previous Law to Make Assaulting a Sports Referee a Felony Bill Passed - House (74 - 13)
11/16 S 1163 Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 15)
11/09 HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
10/29 A 4545 Requires Instruction on Racial Discrimination, Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion Bill Passed - House (56 - 7)
10/23 HB 38 Establishes the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 29)
10/21 SB 77 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Gambling Bill Passed - House (72 - 15)
10/21 SB 77 Establishes Regulations for Fantasy Sports Gambling Bill Passed - House (72 - 15)
10/16 SB 5007 Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43)
10/16 SB 5007 Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43)
10/14 SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34)
10/14 SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34)
10/14 HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 35)
10/14 SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 37)
10/14 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
10/14 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
10/07 HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
10/02 HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
10/02 HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
10/02 SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
10/02 SB 5043 Establishes Procedures of Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
10/02 SB 5034 Expands the State Earned Sentence Credit System Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
10/02 SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
10/02 SB 5024 Authorizes the Attorney General to File a Civil Suit or Inquire into Law Enforcement Engaging in Unlawful Practices Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
10/02 H Res 1154 Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes Bill Passed - House (371 - 18)
10/02 H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
10/02 H Res 1153 Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent Bill Passed - House (232 - 157)
10/02 HB 1 Establishes Parole Eligibility for Juvenile Offenders Bill Passed - House (81 - 10)
9/30 HR 6270 Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020 Bill Passed - House (253 - 163)
9/25 SB 5035 Authorizes Localities to Establish Law-Enforcement Civilian Oversight Bodies Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
9/25 SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (51 - 45)
9/25 SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
9/25 SB 5013 Authorizes Individuals Charged with Marijuana Possession to Prepay Civil Penalty Bill Passed - House (63 - 34)
9/24 HB 4982 Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7)
9/24 HB 4980 Establishes a System to Automatically Set Aside Certain Convictions Under Certain Circumstances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 12)
9/24 SB 977 Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (77 - 26)
9/24 S 2519 Authorizes Public Health Emergency Credits for Certain Inmates Bill Passed - House (41 - 34)
9/24 HB 5881 Amends Sentencing Guidelines for Absentee Voting Law Violations Bill Passed - House (74 - 29)
9/22 S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)
9/22 S 119 Amends Standards for Police Use of Force Policies Bill Passed - House (106 - 37)

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