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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 872 | Amends Statue of Limitations for Sexual Misconduct Cases Going Back until 1997 | Bill Passed - House (99 - 10) |
Dec. 27, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Veto Override Passed - House (67 - 22) |
Nov. 27, 2018 | IL | SB 3136 | Authorizes More Discretion by the State Police in Positive Cannabis Testing Terminations | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 24) |
June 14, 2018 | DE | HB 300 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 2) |
April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 786 | Amends Burglary Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 33) |
May 1, 2018 | HI | SB 270 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy for Minors | Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 5) |
May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
May 3, 2018 | OK | SB 1098 | Establishes the Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 31) |
April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 793 | Amends Drug Possession Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
April 24, 2018 | OK | SB 793 | Amends Drug Possession Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 20) |
Sept. 27, 2018 | NJ | A 2762 | Amends Temporary Disability Leave Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 8) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | National | S 756 | First Step Act of 2018 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (358 - 36) |
July 26, 2018 | National | HR 5515 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Conference Report Adopted - House (359 - 54) |
June 7, 2018 | NJ | A 2761 | Prohibits Firearm Magazines with More than 10 Rounds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 20) |
March 10, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11) |
March 10, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11) |
March 10, 2018 | WY | HB 168 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11) |
Dec. 6, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 22) |
March 22, 2018 | KY | HB 198 | Limits Fees for Attorneys Contracting with State Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 36) |
April 13, 2018 | KY | HB 169 | Amends Criminal Laws Related to Gang Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 30) |
June 28, 2018 | MA | H 4670 | Authorizes Temporary Firearm Removal to Those Deemed a Threat | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (132 - 15) |
April 12, 2018 | TN | HB 849 | Authorizes GPS Monitoring for Domestic Abuse Defendants | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 5) |
April 5, 2018 | MD | HB 819 | Amends Handgun Permit Rules and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 31) |
March 3, 2018 | OR | HB 4111 | Authorizes DMV to Renew and Replace Limited-Term Driver's Licenses for DACA Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22) |
March 6, 2018 | WA | HB 2578 | Establishes Source-of-Income Housing Non-Discrimination Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 1302 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Order | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 46) |
March 7, 2018 | SD | HB 1083 | Amends Concealed Carry Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 3) |
June 7, 2018 | NJ | A 1217 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 11) |
Aug. 20, 2018 | CA | SB 10 | Establishes New Provisions for the Criminal Justice System | Bill Passed - House (42 - 31) |
June 6, 2018 | NY | A 2142 | Requires Certain Marijuana Convictions be Sealed | Bill Passed - House (98 - 41) |
April 26, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
April 26, 2018 | NH | SB 593 | Repeals Death Penalty | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (223 - 116) |
April 4, 2018 | MA | S 2371 | Amends Criminal Justice Law | Conference Report Adopted - House (148 - 5) |
Dec. 4, 2018 | MI | SB 1175 | Amends Laws Regarding State Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (60 - 48) |
Jan. 11, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 164) |
Jan. 11, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 164) |
Aug. 23, 2018 | CA | SB 820 | Prohibits Non-Disclosure Agreements in Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination Cases | Bill Passed - House (56 - 19) |
Feb. 23, 2018 | WA | SB 5992 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | SB 616 | Establishes Heroin And Opioid Prevention and Enforcement Act | Bill Passed - House (87 - 25) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | SB 616 | Establishes Heroin And Opioid Prevention and Enforcement Act | Bill Passed - House (87 - 25) |
June 13, 2018 | NC | SB 768 | Amends Law to Include Person-First Lanugage | Bill Passed - House (109 - 2) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3256 | Requires 72 Hour Waiting Period for Guns | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2562 | Authorizes Police Drone Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (74 - 35) |
May 29, 2018 | IL | SB 337 | Amends Gun Dealer Licensing Rules | Bill Passed - House (65 - 49) |
May 24, 2018 | MI | SB 871 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault Offenses | Bill Passed - House (108 - 1) |
May 23, 2018 | IL | SB 2428 | Requires Schools Provide Lunch to All Students | Bill Passed - House (66 - 44) |
May 23, 2018 | NC | SB 470 | Amends Asbestos Claim Filing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
May 9, 2018 | SC | S 109 | Prohibits Flying Drones Over Military Installations | Bill Passed - House (88 - 1) |
Jan. 11, 2018 | National | S 139 | FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (256 - 164) |
April 26, 2018 | CO | SB 18-166 | Amends Sentencing Requirements for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
May 22, 2018 | National | S 204 | Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017 | Bill Passed - House (250 - 169) |
March 13, 2018 | ID | S 1313 | Authorizes "Stand Your Ground" Policy | Bill Passed - House (57 - 12) |
Sept. 25, 2018 | PA | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - House (173 - 21) |
Dec. 17, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
May 8, 2018 | National | S J Res 57 | A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act" | Bill Passed - House (234 - 175) |
May 31, 2018 | IL | SB 336 | Establishes the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (72 - 38) |
June 7, 2018 | DE | SB 65 | Prohibits the Practice of Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (24 - 14) |
March 7, 2018 | FL | SB 7026 | Establishes the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act | Bill Passed - House (67 - 50) |
March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 34) |
March 30, 2018 | NY | S 8121 | Prohibits Individuals Convicted of Domestic Abuse from Purchasing Firearms | Bill Passed - House (94 - 34) |
April 2, 2018 | TN | SB 1796 | Establishes Process to Remove Domestic Abusers from Cell Phone Plans | Bill Passed - House (94 - 0) |
Dec. 17, 2018 | NJ | S 1036 | Requires Attorney General to Appoint an Independent Prosecutor | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
June 20, 2018 | OH | SB 4 | Authorizes Expunged Convictions for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (81 - 12) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 2560 | Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
June 27, 2018 | OH | SB 81 | Amends Renewal Procedures for Veteran Concealed Carry Permits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 7) |
May 30, 2018 | IL | SB 3489 | Amends the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
April 17, 2018 | TN | SB 2133 | Prohibits Criminal Sentencing Based on Sterilization | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
May 24, 2018 | NJ | S 493 | Authorizes Transgender Death Certificates | Bill Passed - House (57 - 10) |
Feb. 28, 2018 | IL | SB 1657 | Requires State-Level License to Sell Firearms | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
Feb. 27, 2018 | WA | SB 5996 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Sexual Assault Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - House (98 - 0) |
Feb. 8, 2018 | NH | HB 587 | Prohibits Providing Conversion Therapy to Minors | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (179 - 171) |
March 7, 2018 | NH | HB 1319 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (195 - 129) |
April 4, 2018 | MA | S 2372 | Establishes the Garden of Peace Trust Fund | Conference Report Adopted - House (152 - 0) |
Nov. 14, 2018 | OH | HB 228 | Establishes New Self-Defense and Firearm Handling Rules | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
April 12, 2018 | MI | HB 4891 | Authorizes Parents to Monitor Child's Communications | Bill Passed - House (105 - 3) |
April 15, 2018 | AK | HB 316 | Amends Rules Concerning Release of Marijuana Conviction Records | Bill Passed - House (30 - 10) |
April 12, 2018 | NJ | A 764 | Requires Panic Alarms in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
April 18, 2018 | CO | HB 18-1391 | Establishes Requirements for Sexual Misconduct Policies | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
April 19, 2018 | CA | AB 2943 | Prohibits Advertising Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
April 23, 2018 | NY | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
April 23, 2018 | NY | A 3223 | Amends Penal Law for Victims of Human Trafficking | Bill Passed - House (131 - 0) |
April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7452 | Prohibits Sharing Explicit Images without Consent | Bill Passed - House (66 - 0) |
April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7688 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7688 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
April 12, 2018 | ME | LD 912 | Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
April 12, 2018 | RI | H 7075 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (65 - 3) |
April 11, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (188 - 2) |
April 30, 2018 | MO | HB 2499 | Amends Parole Hearing Procedures | Bill Passed - House (114 - 30) |
May 1, 2018 | CT | HB 5542 | Prohibits Bump Stocks | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
March 29, 2018 | DE | HB 399 | Amends State Constitution to Provide Equal Rights | Bill Passed - House (34 - 5) |
May 1, 2018 | MN | HF 2856 | Amends Public Safety Laws | Bill Passed - House (92 - 35) |
March 27, 2018 | VT | S 55 | Amends Various State Gun Laws | Bill Passed - House (89 - 54) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 2757 | Requires Background Checks for Private Gun Sales | Bill Passed - House (62 - 10) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1827 | Requires Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (50 - 24) |
May 9, 2018 | National | HR 2152 | Citizens' Right to Know Act of 2018 | Bill Passed - House (221 - 197) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 2761 | Prohibits Firearm Magazines with More than 10 Rounds | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1181 | Amends Various Firearm Confiscation Measures | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
March 26, 2018 | NJ | A 1217 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Orders | Bill Passed - House (59 - 12) |