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 4, 2007 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: Restaurant Smoking Ban | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 59) | |
June 12, 2008 | RI | H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors | Bill Passed - House (52 - 14) | |
March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
Feb. 12, 2007 | UT | 2SHB 235 | Abortion Law Revisions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 12) |
March 1, 2006 | UT | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
June 8, 2020 | NY | A 10609 | Requires Courts to Compile and Publish Data on Misdemeanors and Violations and Law Enforcement Departments on Arrest-Related Deaths | Bill Passed - House (100 - 44) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | A 1076 | Requires Attorney General to Collect and Report Prosecutorial and Criminal Justice Data | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
Jan. 24, 2023 | NY | A 1283 | Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. | (43 - 20) |
Jan. 24, 2023 | NY | A 1283 | Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. | (43 - 20) |
Jan. 24, 2023 | NY | A 1283 | Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
Jan. 24, 2023 | NY | A 1283 | Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
June 8, 2020 | NY | A 1531 | Prohibits Reporting a Non-Emergency Incident Involving a Member of a Protected Class | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6) |
June 8, 2020 | NY | A 1531 | Prohibits Reporting a Non-Emergency Incident Involving a Member of a Protected Class | Bill Passed - House (115 - 29) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | A 1906 | Establishes Crime of False 911 Calls with Purpose to Intimidate or Harass Based on Race | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
July 22, 2020 | NY | A 2176 | Prohibits Civil Arrest of Individuals Attending Court Proceedings | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 18) |
July 20, 2020 | NY | A 2176 | Prohibits Civil Arrest of Individuals Attending Court Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (97 - 44) |
June 18, 2020 | NJ | A 2394 | Establishes Minority Recruitment Program for Police Departments | Bill Passed - House (70 - 3) |
March 17, 2014 | NY | A 2597A | Establishes the New York DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Failed - Senate (30 - 29) |
Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 2762 | Amends Temporary Disability Leave Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 8) |
June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
June 18, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3686 | Increases State Protections for Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 3686 | Increases State Protections for Labor Unions | Bill Passed - House (50 - 22) |
June 25, 2018 | NJ | A 3861 | Amends Unemployment Insurance Law | (23 - 14) |
June 21, 2018 | NJ | A 3861 | Amends Unemployment Insurance Law | (48 - 25) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
July 30, 2020 | NJ | A 4170 | Limits the Use of Data Collected for Purposes of COVID-19 Contact Tracing | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4314 | Traffic Control Signal Monitoring | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 4320 | Expands Ballot Receipt and Election Deadlines | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Aug. 27, 2020 | NJ | A 4320 | Expands Ballot Receipt and Election Deadlines | Bill Passed - House (51 - 27) |
Jan. 11, 2021 | NJ | A 4454 | Requires School Districts to Include Instruction on Diversity and Inclusion as Part of New Education Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 29) |
Dec. 17, 2020 | NJ | A 4454 | Requires School Districts to Include Instruction on Diversity and Inclusion as Part of New Education Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Oct. 29, 2020 | NJ | A 4545 | Requires Instruction on Racial Discrimination, Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion | Bill Passed - House (56 - 7) |
June 8, 2020 | NY | A 4615 | Prohibits Police Officers from Racial and Ethnic Profiling | Bill Passed - House (105 - 39) |
July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5630 | Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (95 - 47) |
July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5630 | Amends Various Power of Attorney Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 17) |
March 2, 2010 | NY | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
Jan. 15, 2019 | NY | A 576 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 4) |
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) |
July 21, 2020 | NY | A 5991 | Amends Civil Rights Law in Relation to "Frivolous" Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (116 - 26) |
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) |
June 24, 2021 | NJ | A 698 | Requires Incarcerated Individuals be Counted for Municipal, County, and Congressional Redistricting Purposes | Bill Passed - House (50 - 25) |
June 8, 2023 | NY | A 7691 | Establishes a State Commission to Consider Reparations to Address Effects of Slavery | Bill Passed - House (105 - 42) |
April 22, 2009 | PA | A771 | Requiring Hands Free Devices for Cell Phones in Cars | Amendment Rejected - House (95 - 100) |
May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
Jan. 27, 2014 | NY | A 8070 | Requires Equal Pay | Bill Passed - House (88 - 43) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | A 8421 | Amends Requirements for Workplace Harassment Claims | Bill Passed - House (128 - 20) |
June 19, 2007 | NY | A 8590 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 61) |
March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45) |
May 7, 2007 | CA | AB 102 | Name Equality Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
Sept. 9, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12) |
Sept. 8, 2021 | CA | AB 105 | Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 1078 | Prohibits School Book Bans | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 17) |
Sept. 7, 2023 | CA | AB 1078 | Prohibits School Book Bans | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
May 13, 2021 | CA | AB 1184 | Establishes Privacy Rights for Gender-Affirming Care | Bill Passed - House (59 - 13) |
Aug. 30, 2020 | CA | AB 1196 | Prohibits Law Enforcement Agencies from Authorizing the Use of Carotid Restraints or Choke Holds | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 1) |
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) |
Aug. 26, 2014 | CA | AB 1327 | Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 29) |
Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
June 18, 2020 | CA | AB 1460 | Requires Ethnic Studies Course Completion in State Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | AB 1550 | Establishes the "Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act" | Bill Passed - House (78 - 0) |
Nov. 7, 2017 | WI | AB 165 | Authorizes Role in a Constitutional Convention | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
June 14, 2017 | WI | AB 165 | Authorizes Role in a Constitutional Convention | Bill Passed - House (58 - 37) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
Aug. 27, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 2542 | Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16) |
Aug. 31, 2020 | CA | AB 2542 | Prohibits Racial Discrimination in Criminal Courts | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Aug. 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
May 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2654 | Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws | Bill Passed - House (48 - 30) |
Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
Aug. 24, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
Aug. 18, 2022 | CA | AB 2799 | Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
Sept. 13, 2023 | CA | AB 280 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 31, 2023 | CA | AB 280 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
Aug. 6, 2018 | CA | AB 282 | Amends the End of Life Option Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
Jan. 18, 2018 | CA | AB 282 | Amends the End of Life Option Act | Bill Passed - House (45 - 17) |
May 21, 2024 | CA | AB 2925 | Amends Education Codes by Prohibiting Discrimination in Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (73 - 0) |
April 19, 2018 | CA | AB 2943 | Prohibits Advertising Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
June 21, 2017 | WI | AB 299 | Authorizes Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
June 16, 2021 | WI | AB 299 | Prohibits Requiring Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |