Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 20, 2016 | NJ | S 51 | Authorizes Restrictions on Solitary Confinement | Bill Passed - House (45 - 26) |
| Sept. 28, 2016 | National | S 2040 | Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act | Veto Override Passed - House (348 - 77) |
| Sept. 15, 2016 | National | HR 5351 | To Prohibit the Transfer of Any Individual Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba | Bill Passed - House (244 - 174) |
| Sept. 14, 2016 | MO | SB 656 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit | Veto Override Passed - House (112 - 41) |
| Aug. 31, 2016 | CA | SB 1241 | Amends Current Provisions of Labor Contracts | Bill Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| Aug. 18, 2016 | CA | SB 1322 | Exempts Minors from Prostitution Charges | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| Aug. 4, 2016 | CA | SB 759 | Authorizes Early Release for Certain Prisoners in Solitary Confinement | Bill Passed - House (41 - 31) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | AB 1135 | Prohibits Firearms with Bullet Button | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | AB 1674 | Limits the Purchase of Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | AB 1695 | Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | AB 1695 | Prohibits Falsely Reporting the Loss or Theft of a Firearm | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | SB 1235 | Requires Background Checks to Buy Ammunition | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| June 30, 2016 | CA | SB 1446 | Prohibits the Possession of High-Capacity Gun Magazines | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| June 16, 2016 | NJ | A 3689 | Requires Justifiable Need for Firearm Permits | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| June 1, 2016 | CA | AB 2607 | Authorizes Certain Individuals to Request a Gun Violence Restraining Order | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| May 31, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| May 21, 2016 | MN | SF 498 | Amends Police Body Camera Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 34) |
| May 13, 2016 | MO | SB 656 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Without a Permit | Conference Report Adopted - House (114 - 36) |
| May 11, 2016 | AK | SB 91 | Amends Criminal Justice System | Bill Passed - House (28 - 10) |
| May 11, 2016 | NH | SB 336 | Amends Requirements to Obtain Concealed Carry License | Bill Passed - House (217 - 132) |
| May 5, 2016 | AZ | SB 1377 | Establishes Criminal Sentencing Requirements for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Failed - House (29 - 31) |
| May 4, 2016 | AZ | SB 1377 | Establishes Criminal Sentencing Requirements for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Failed - House (28 - 32) |
| May 4, 2016 | LA | HB 453 | Requires Sanctuary Cities to be Liable for Damages Caused by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (65 - 20) |
| April 27, 2016 | LA | HB 598 | Amends Voter Registration Policies for Convicted Felons | Bill Failed - House (37 - 60) |
| April 26, 2016 | AZ | SB 1257 | Authorizes Concelead Carry of Firearms in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| April 21, 2016 | DE | HB 325 | Amends Requirements for Purchasing a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (22 - 17) |
| April 20, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| April 20, 2016 | TN | SB 2376 | Authorizes University of Tennessee Employees to Carry a Handgun on Campus | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| April 18, 2016 | TN | SJR 467 | Urges Attorney General to File Lawsuit in Relation to Refugee Resettlement Program | Bill Passed - House (69 - 25) |
| April 7, 2016 | HI | SB 2954 | Requires Gun Owners to Register in Database | Bill Passed - House (26 - 21) |
| April 5, 2016 | LA | HB 580 | Limits Time Frame for Real Estate Appraisal Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (45 - 47) |
| March 28, 2016 | CO | HB 1296 | Increases Penalties for Unlicensed Car Dealers | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| March 25, 2016 | MS | SB 2237 | Establishes Identity Protections for Execution Teams | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
| March 24, 2016 | MI | HB 4787 | Prohibits Coercing a Pregnant Woman to Have an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
| March 21, 2016 | MD | HB 1016 | Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures | Bill Passed - House (92 - 44) |
| March 17, 2016 | National | H Res 639 | Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House of Representatives in the Matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al., No. 15-674 | Resolution Passed - House (234 - 186) |
| March 12, 2016 | MD | HB 1002 | Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
| March 11, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 32) |
| March 10, 2016 | IN | HB 1127 | Establishes Regulations on Lawsuit Funding Practices | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 32) |
| March 10, 2016 | NH | HB 1270 | Requires Courts to Notify Jurors of Jury Nullification | Bill Passed - House (184 - 145) |
| March 10, 2016 | OK | HB 2504 | Expands Punishments for Theft of Domestic Animals | Bill Passed - House (71 - 21) |
| March 10, 2016 | OK | HB 3098 | Amends License and Training Requirements for Gun Possession | Bill Passed - House (73 - 15) |
| March 9, 2016 | FL | HB 1411 | Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 40) |
| March 9, 2016 | FL | HB 4027 | Prohibits Traffic Infraction Detectors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 33) |
| March 8, 2016 | WA | HB 2362 | Amends Police Body Camera Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| March 4, 2016 | WV | HB 4145 | Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit | Veto Override Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| March 3, 2016 | FL | HB 1411 | Amends Requirements for Disposal of Fetal Tissue | Bill Passed - House (74 - 44) |
| March 3, 2016 | SC | H 4701 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Restrictions on Firearms | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| March 1, 2016 | CO | HB 1231 | Limits Use of Automated Vehicle Identification Systems | Bill Passed - House (33 - 31) |
| March 1, 2016 | AZ | HB 2524 | Authorizes Compacts with Other States to Develop Firearm Transfer Laws | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| March 1, 2016 | MS | HB 738 | Amends Attorney General Hiring and Filing Oversight Processes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | MS | HB 782 | Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Law Relating to Firearms | Bill Passed - House (75 - 46) |
| Feb. 29, 2016 | AZ | HB 2338 | Authorizes Concealed Carry near Schools | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2016 | National | HR 2406 | Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015 | Bill Passed - House (242 - 161) |
| Feb. 24, 2016 | WV | HB 4145 | Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | SD | HB 1206 | Authorizes the Use of Handguns to Hunt Game Birds | Bill Failed - House (23 - 44) |
| Feb. 23, 2016 | IA | HF 2281 | Authorizes Individuals Under the age of 14 to Posses a Handgun | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | WA | HB 2362 | Amends Police Body Camera Regulations | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | GA | HB 859 | Authorizes Concealed Carry at Postsecondary Education Institutions | Bill Passed - House (113 - 59) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | OK | HB 2275 | Requires Collection of DNA upon Arrest for a Felony Charge | Bill Failed - House (38 - 56) |
| Feb. 22, 2016 | OR | HB 4147 | Extends the Background Check Waiting Period for Gun Sales | Bill Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| Feb. 19, 2016 | VA | SB 610 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Out-of-State License Holders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 29) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | AZ | HB 2446 | Amends the Definition of Prohibited Weapons | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| Feb. 18, 2016 | AZ | HB 2451 | Amends Requirements for Release of Undocumented Inmates | Bill Passed - House (36 - 21) |
| Feb. 17, 2016 | MS | HB 786 | Authorizes Designated Individuals to Carry Firearms in Church | Bill Passed - House (85 - 33) |
| Feb. 16, 2016 | MS | HB 578 | Establishes Civil and Criminal Immunity for Individuals who Report Suspicious Terrorist Activity | Bill Passed - House (89 - 30) |
| Feb. 15, 2016 | VA | HB 1234 | Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| Feb. 12, 2016 | UT | HB 136 | Classifies Certain Cases of Human Trafficking as Capital Offense | Bill Passed - House (44 - 28) |
| Feb. 11, 2016 | VA | HB 1096 | Prohibits Regulation of Firearms without Legislative Authorization | Bill Passed - House (63 - 35) |
| Feb. 10, 2016 | VA | HB 815 | Amends Death Penalty Procedures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 560 | Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear | Bill Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| Feb. 9, 2016 | VA | HB 560 | Amends Brandishing Conviction to Include Intent to Induce Fear | Bill Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| Feb. 8, 2016 | WV | HB 4145 | Authorizes Concealed Carry without Permit | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 5, 2016 | KS | SB 133 | Establishes Immunity for Underage Drinkers Who Seek Medical Help | Bill Passed - House (92 - 27) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | FL | HB 163 | Authorizes Open Carry of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (80 - 38) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | FL | HB 4001 | Authorizes Open-Carry on State College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| Feb. 3, 2016 | VA | HB 766 | Authorizes Individual with Restraining Order to Carry Concealed Gun without Permit | Bill Passed - House (68 - 29) |
| Jan. 28, 2016 | DE | SB 40 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Failed - House (16 - 23) |
| Jan. 28, 2016 | SC | H 3521 | Prohibits Courts From Enforcing Foreign Law | Bill Passed - House (68 - 42) |
| Jan. 26, 2016 | IN | HB 1019 | Limits Public Access to Police Body Camera Footage | Bill Passed - House (65 - 30) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 528 | Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 55) |
| Jan. 8, 2016 | National | HR 1927 | Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2016 | Bill Passed - House (211 - 188) |