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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 3, 2015 | OR | HB 2700 | Requires Redistribution of Unclaimed Damages from Class Action Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
Feb. 5, 2015 | MT | SB 143 | Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
Feb. 20, 2015 | NV | AB 125 | Amends Provisions Relating to Constructional Defects | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 12) |
Jan. 16, 2015 | WY | SF 13 | Authorizes Firing Squads as an Alternative Method of Execution | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Jan. 23, 2015 | WY | SF 14 | Amends Property Forfeiture Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3) |
Feb. 19, 2015 | CO | SB 32 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
Feb. 24, 2015 | IA | SF 219 | Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
Feb. 12, 2015 | NH | SB 116 | Repeals License Requirement for Concealed Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
April 2, 2015 | ND | HB 1328 | Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
April 2, 2015 | ND | HB 1328 | Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without a Warrant | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | KS | SB 45 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms Without a License | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Feb. 2, 2015 | MT | SB 154 | Amends Requirement to Wear Hunter Orange while Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | WY | HB 144 | Establishes a School Safety Tip Line | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
Feb. 10, 2015 | VA | SB 1393 | Authorizes Changes to Lethal Injection Drug Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
March 10, 2015 | UT | HB 11 | Authorizes Execution by Firing Squad | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
March 17, 2015 | TX | SB 17 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
March 5, 2015 | AZ | SB 1222 | Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
March 12, 2015 | NH | SB 40 | Amends Definition of "Another" for Certain Criminal Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
March 16, 2015 | ID | S 1092 | Prohibits Local Knife Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
March 12, 2015 | UT | HB 454 | Authorizes Construction of New State Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
April 16, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 6) |
April 1, 2015 | TN | HB 995 | Authorizes Firearms in Public Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
March 23, 2015 | TN | SB 1058 | Prohibits the Termination of Employees for Storing Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
March 17, 2015 | ID | S 1095 | Establishes 5-Tier Sexual Offender Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
March 20, 2015 | ND | HB 1195 | Authorizes Concealed Firearms in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 28) |
March 19, 2015 | TX | SB 11 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
March 25, 2015 | CO | SB 86 | Repeals Background Check Requirement for Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
April 9, 2015 | TX | SB 10 | Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 298 | Amends Concealed Weapons Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
March 12, 2015 | MT | HB 203 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Federal Gun Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 26, 2015 | AZ | SB 1094 | Prohibits "Aggressive" Solicitation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
April 13, 2015 | TN | SB 874 | Authorizes Exploding Targets for Sporting Use | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 3) |
March 16, 2015 | NJ | S 2791 | Environmental Protection Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
March 9, 2015 | UT | SB 256 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
April 28, 2015 | CO | SB 268 | Amends Definition of "Person" for Assault and Homicide | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
April 23, 2015 | TX | SB 158 | Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
March 24, 2015 | FL | SB 290 | Authorizes Concealed Carry During Emergency Evacuations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
April 2, 2015 | IN | SB 50 | Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
Feb. 26, 2015 | MI | SB 34 | Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Feb. 3, 2015 | MI | SB 34 | Amends Concealed Carry Licensing Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1145 | Requires Reimbursement to the Department of Health Services for Return to Competency Treatment | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate |
March 24, 2015 | AZ | SB 1445 | Prohibits Identification of Certain Police Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
May 27, 2015 | NE | LB 268 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
May 22, 2015 | TX | HB 910 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
April 14, 2015 | OR | SB 941 | Requires Background Checks For Firearm Transfers | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
May 7, 2015 | CA | SB 227 | Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 7, 2015 | CA | SB 227 | Prohibits Grand Juries from Investigating Certain Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
April 23, 2015 | MN | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
April 23, 2015 | MN | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
June 3, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
April 30, 2015 | TX | SB 1628 | Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
April 2, 2015 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
June 1, 2015 | CA | SB 707 | Prohibits Concealed Firearms on School Grounds | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
June 2, 2015 | CA | SB 124 | Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
June 9, 2015 | WI | SB 70 | Authorizes Certain Officers to Carry Firearms in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
May 28, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
June 24, 2015 | NC | HB 640 | Authorizes Hunting on Sundays | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 15) |
May 21, 2015 | IL | HB 352 | Authorizes Bobcat Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
May 27, 2015 | MI | HB 4467 | Authorizes Private High-Security Prisons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
April 29, 2015 | MI | HB 4151 | Repeals Age Limit for Possession of an Air Gun | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
July 13, 2015 | PA | SB 683 | Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
Feb. 9, 2015 | WV | HB 2002 | Amends Liability Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
July 27, 2015 | NC | HB 774 | Authorizes Certain Medical Professionals to Monitor Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
Feb. 3, 2015 | IN | SB 433 | Authorizes Possession of Sawed-off Shotguns | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6) |
June 29, 2015 | CT | HB 7104 | Amends Drug Sentencing Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
June 2, 2015 | National | HR 2048 | Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (67 - 32) |
March 27, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 46) |
June 30, 2015 | ME | LD 652 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
May 5, 2015 | National | S Con Res 11 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2016 and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2017 Through 2025 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 48) |
Sept. 9, 2015 | CA | AB 953 | Amends "Profiling" Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
March 11, 2015 | AZ | SB 1330 | Prohibits State Employees from Enforcing Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
Oct. 20, 2015 | National | S 2146 | Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
May 12, 2015 | DE | SB 75 | Prohibits Stock Corporations from Establishing Fee-Shifting Bylaws | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5) |
June 18, 2015 | DE | HB 39 | Decriminalizes Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
May 7, 2015 | MN | SF 86 | Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19) |
Oct. 27, 2015 | National | S 754 | Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 21) |
Oct. 22, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2564 | Prohibits Liability Immunity for Corporations that Break User Agreements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 65) |
April 23, 2015 | National | PN 4 | Nomination of Loretta E. Lynch to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
Oct. 21, 2015 | WI | SB 43 | Amends John Doe Law | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
May 17, 2015 | NV | AB 244 | Classifies Certain Graffiti Offenses as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2910 | Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
Dec. 3, 2015 | National | S Amdt 2915 | Defend Our Capital Act of 2015 | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
May 16, 2015 | NV | AB 193 | Authorizes a Court of Law to Admit Hearsay as Evidence | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |