Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. 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
Nov. 5, 2019 WI SB 49 Prohibits Prostitution Charges Against Minors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 27, 2019 DE HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 19, 2019 ME LD 1028 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 29, 2019 IL HB 2276 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10)
May 24, 2019 NE LB 149 Increases State Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
May 23, 2019 CA SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 21, 2019 ME LD 1417 Expands Access to Head Start Programs "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11)
May 20, 2019 LA SB 172 Requires Individuals to be At Least 16 Years Old to Marry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 2, 2019 CO HB 19-1120 Reduces the Age at Which a Child Can Seek Mental Health Treatment Without Parental Consent Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 1, 2019 TN HB 939 Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14)
April 29, 2019 CO HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 17, 2019 WA HB 1638 Prohibits Parental Exemptions of the Measles Vaccine Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
April 16, 2019 OR SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 2075 Requires 5-Year-Olds to Attend Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
April 9, 2019 TX SB 21 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 2, 2019 MD HB 1169 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
March 27, 2019 WA HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
March 26, 2019 GA HB 83 Requires Recess for Students in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
March 19, 2019 NY A 6449 Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
March 19, 2019 DE SB 25 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
March 14, 2019 IL HB 345 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
March 11, 2019 WA SB 5434 Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Feb. 27, 2019 WV SB 348 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 25, 2019 MT SB 21 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/05 SB 49 Prohibits Prostitution Charges Against Minors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/27 HB 79 Requires Beverages Included in Kids' Meals to be Milk or Water Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/19 LD 1028 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/29 HB 2276 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10)
5/24 LB 149 Increases State Smoking Age Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0)
5/23 SB 360 Requires Religious Officials Report Minor Sex Abuse Evidence to Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/21 LD 1417 Expands Access to Head Start Programs "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11)
5/20 SB 172 Requires Individuals to be At Least 16 Years Old to Marry Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/02 HB 19-1120 Reduces the Age at Which a Child Can Seek Mental Health Treatment Without Parental Consent Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/01 HB 939 Authorizes Education Savings Account Vouchers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14)
4/29 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/17 HB 1638 Prohibits Parental Exemptions of the Measles Vaccine Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/16 SB 1008 Amends Juvenile Offender Sentencing Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
4/11 SB 2075 Requires 5-Year-Olds to Attend Kindergarten Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
4/09 SB 21 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/02 HB 1169 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
3/27 HB 1074 Increases the Smoking and Vaping Age to 21 Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
3/26 HB 83 Requires Recess for Students in Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
3/19 A 6449 Increases Number of Speed Cameras in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
3/19 SB 25 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
3/14 HB 345 Prohibits Smoking Under the Age of 21 Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
3/11 SB 5434 Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
2/27 SB 348 Increases Age for Tobacco Sale Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/25 SB 21 Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)

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