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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 11, 2008 | MI | SB 505 | Authorizing Judges to Carry Concealed Weapons in Courtrooms | Bill Passed - House (80 - 18) |
Sept. 17, 2008 | National | HR 6842 | Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban | Bill Passed - House (266 - 152) |
Aug. 19, 2008 | CA | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Aug. 13, 2008 | CA | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 32) |
July 29, 2008 | MA | Peterson Amdt to H 5022 | Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee | Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59) |
June 27, 2008 | AZ | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 21) |
June 27, 2008 | AZ | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 5) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
June 20, 2008 | LA | SB 51 | Guns in Parked Locked Cars | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
May 29, 2008 | OH | SB 184 | Lethal Force Against Intruders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2062 | Regulation Of Ammunition Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
May 28, 2008 | OH | SB 184 | Lethal Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
May 21, 2008 | AZ | HB 2629 | Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 26) |
May 21, 2008 | LA | SB 51 | Guns in Parked Locked Cars | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
May 19, 2008 | AZ | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9) |
May 12, 2008 | AZ | HB 2629 | Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7) |
May 7, 2008 | IL | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
April 23, 2008 | AZ | HB 2630 | Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
April 9, 2008 | FL | HB 503 | Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
April 3, 2008 | AZ | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
April 2, 2008 | GA | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
April 1, 2008 | PA | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
March 31, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
March 27, 2008 | AZ | HB 2788 | Relaxing Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (51 - 5) |
March 26, 2008 | FL | HB 503 | Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (72 - 42) |
March 19, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1441 | Prohibiting Local Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (60 - 9) |
March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
March 11, 2008 | AZ | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
March 6, 2008 | WY | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2) |
March 5, 2008 | WY | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
March 4, 2008 | AZ | HB 2630 | Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | AM 1 | Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | HB 473 | Campus Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
Feb. 28, 2008 | WI | AB 581 | Gun Possession During Emergencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | WI | AR 13 | Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms | Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4070 | Prohibiting Funds in the Bill S 1200 from Being Used to Decrease Gun Ownership | Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 11) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | WY | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - House (54 - 4) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
Feb. 12, 2008 | VA | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
Feb. 11, 2008 | VA | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
Feb. 4, 2008 | SD | HB 1261 | Firearm Possession on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (63 - 3) |
Jan. 31, 2008 | GA | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
Jan. 17, 2008 | GA | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15) |
Jan. 16, 2008 | TN | SB 23 | Allowing Guns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/11 | SB 505 | Authorizing Judges to Carry Concealed Weapons in Courtrooms | Bill Passed - House (80 - 18) |
9/17 | HR 6842 | Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban | Bill Passed - House (266 - 152) |
8/19 | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
8/13 | SB 1171 | Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 32) |
7/29 | Peterson Amdt to H 5022 | Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee | Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59) |
6/27 | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 21) |
6/27 | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 5) |
6/23 | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
6/20 | SB 51 | Guns in Parked Locked Cars | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
5/29 | SB 184 | Lethal Force Against Intruders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
5/29 | AB 2062 | Regulation Of Ammunition Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
5/28 | SB 184 | Lethal Force Against Intruders | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
5/21 | HB 2629 | Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 26) |
5/21 | SB 51 | Guns in Parked Locked Cars | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 4) |
5/19 | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9) |
5/12 | HB 2629 | Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7) |
5/07 | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
4/30 | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
4/23 | HB 2630 | Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
4/09 | HB 503 | Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
4/03 | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
4/02 | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
4/01 | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
3/31 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
3/27 | HB 2788 | Relaxing Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (51 - 5) |
3/26 | HB 503 | Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (72 - 42) |
3/19 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
3/19 | S 1441 | Prohibiting Local Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (60 - 9) |
3/12 | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
3/11 | HB 2389 | Involving Gun Owners' Rights | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
3/06 | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2) |
3/05 | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
3/04 | HB 2630 | Illegally Concealed Weapon Penalty Reduction | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
3/03 | AM 1 | Mandating the Concealment of Firearms on Campus | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 29) |
3/03 | HB 473 | Campus Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
2/28 | AB 581 | Gun Possession During Emergencies | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
2/26 | AR 13 | Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms | Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18) |
2/25 | S Amdt 4070 | Prohibiting Funds in the Bill S 1200 from Being Used to Decrease Gun Ownership | Amendment Adopted - Senate (78 - 11) |
2/25 | HB 137 | Deadly Force in Self Defense | Bill Passed - House (54 - 4) |
2/21 | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
2/21 | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
2/21 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
2/12 | SB 476 | Prohibiting Drinking with a Concealed Weapon | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
2/11 | SB 436 | Concealed Weapons in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
2/04 | HB 1261 | Firearm Possession on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (63 - 3) |
1/31 | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (111 - 58) |
1/17 | HB 89 | Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15) |
1/16 | SB 23 | Allowing Guns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |