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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 33 | Authorizes Inmates to Apply for Parole | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 16) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 971 | Establishes the COVID-19 Relief Fund and Amends Gambling Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | S 1163 | Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 15) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 479 | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Protective Order From Possessing Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 42) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 437 | Increases Penalty for Motor Accidents Involving a Cyclist or Vulnerable Road User | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 36) |
Nov. 9, 2020 | VA | HB 5109 | Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
May 13, 2020 | OK | HB 2742 | Reduces Contributions to Retirement Systems for Police and Firefighters | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | SB 5007 | Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34) |
June 30, 2020 | MS | SB 2123 | Establishes the "Mississippi Correctional Safety and Rehabilitation Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 17) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5104 | Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 5) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5148 | Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
June 26, 2020 | NC | S 168 | Prohibits Public Disclosure of Internal Police Investigations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 0) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
March 8, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | HB 5043 | Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 12) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5049 | Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
July 6, 2020 | HI | HB 285 | Requires Law Enforcement Transparency | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19) |
June 1, 2020 | LA | HB 826 | Establishes Legal Immunity for COVID-19 Claims to Businesses and Government Agencies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34) |
Oct. 16, 2020 | VA | SB 5007 | Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43) |
March 26, 2020 | KY | SB 150 | Establishes Emergency Response to COVID-19 Coronavirus | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 0) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | HB 205 | Appropriate Funds to Various Government Agencies, Including for COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - House (23 - 13) |
March 28, 2020 | AK | SB 241 | Appropriates Emergency Funds for COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 1) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | SB 479 | Prohibits Individuals Subject to a Protective Order From Possessing Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
March 27, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House |
April 15, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Nov. 16, 2020 | NJ | S 1163 | Requires Law Enforcement to Wear Body Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 0) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44) |
Nov. 9, 2020 | VA | HB 5109 | Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
March 12, 2020 | GA | HB 792 | Amends the 2020 Fiscal Year Budget to Appropriate Funds to Combat COVID-19 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 1) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 1250 | Establishes the "Community Policing Act" | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35) |
May 13, 2020 | MO | HB 1693 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 59) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 812 | Prohibits Unlicensed Individuals to Deal Firearms from Purchasing More Than One Gun in a 30-Day Period | Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 48) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 1150 | Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | HB 33 | Authorizes Inmates to Apply for Parole | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
March 5, 2020 | VA | SB 70 | Requires Background Check for Firearm Transfers | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 46) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5030 | Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | SB 5038 | Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 37) |
July 6, 2020 | HI | HB 285 | Requires Law Enforcement Transparency | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 4) |
Oct. 23, 2020 | LA | HB 38 | Establishes the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 29) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5104 | Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 35) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | VA | HB 5099 | Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41) |
March 19, 2020 | FL | H 5001 | Appropriates Funds for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget and Related COVID-19 Containment Efforts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 0) |
Dec. 18, 2020 | OH | SB 175 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | MI | SB 604 | Extends Unemployment Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 4) |
May 12, 2020 | SC | H 3411 | Establishes Allocations of Federal COVID-19 Appropriations to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | HB 4982 | Authorizes Convicts of Marijuana Misdemeanors to Apply for Expungement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 7) |
June 13, 2020 | CO | SB 20-007 | Requires Insurance Carriers Provide Coverage for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 13, 2020 | FL | HB 1259 | Prohibits Putting Pregnant Prisoners in Restrictive Housing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
March 9, 2020 | WA | HB 1783 | Establishes the Washington State Office of Equity | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
Dec. 1, 2020 | MA | S 2963 | Amends Various Police Accountability and Reform Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 67) |
Dec. 21, 2020 | National | HR 133 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (359 - 53) |
March 25, 2020 | National | HR 748 | Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 0) |
April 14, 2020 | PA | SB 613 | Requires the Governor's Office to Follow Federal Guidelines to Reopen Businesses During COVID-19 | Bill Passed - House (107 - 95) |
March 3, 2020 | WA | SB 5434 | Establishes Restrictions for Firearms in Daycare and Child Care Facilities | Bill Passed - House (56 - 40) |
Jan. 17, 2020 | WA | SB 5165 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Citizenship or Immigration Status | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | (24 - 16) |
July 1, 2020 | NH | HB 1645 | Amend Various Law Enforcement Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (255 - 74) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1166 | Extends Emergency Benefit Enhancements Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (178 - 154) |
June 30, 2020 | NH | HB 1639 | Establishes the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund, Among Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (201 - 121) |
May 21, 2020 | HI | SB 75 | Appropriates Funds to the Departments of Health, Transportation, and Defense to Help Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 2) |
June 29, 2020 | NH | SB 34 | Exempts Sleeping and Other Activities From DWI Charges | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
May 23, 2020 | IL | SB 2135 | Establishes the "Government Emergency Administration Act" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
June 24, 2020 | GA | SB 288 | Authorizes Record Restriction for Certain Misdemeanor and Conditional Discharges | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
June 24, 2020 | GA | SB 288 | Authorizes Record Restriction for Certain Misdemeanor and Conditional Discharges | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
Oct. 14, 2020 | MI | HB 6030 | Establishes a Minimum Threshold for COVID-19 Business Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 15) |
May 28, 2020 | NC | HB 536 | Authorizes the Reopening of Bars and Restaurants During COVID-19 Pandemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 53) |
June 23, 2020 | GA | HB 838 | Increases Penalties for Crimes Against Police, Firefighters, and Paramedics | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 74) |
May 31, 2020 | LA | HB 434 | Establishes Outlines and Provisions Relating to Homicide | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 0) |
May 31, 2020 | LA | SB 508 | Limits Liability of Restaurants During the COVID-19 Epidemic | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 0) |
June 23, 2020 | GA | HB 426 | Increase Penalties for Bias-Motivated Crime | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (127 - 38) |
June 23, 2020 | GA | HB 426 | Increase Penalties for Bias-Motivated Crime | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (127 - 38) |
June 17, 2020 | RI | S 2004 | Prohibits Non-Metallic Firearms and "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
June 17, 2020 | RI | S 2004 | Prohibits Non-Metallic Firearms and "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
Oct. 7, 2020 | VA | HB 5108 | Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | SB 5033 | Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | HB 5047 | Prohibits Price-Gouging during a Declared State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | SB 5029 | Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
June 10, 2020 | IA | SF 2338 | Establishes Legal Protection to Businesses and Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | HB 5093 | Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
Oct. 2, 2020 | VA | HB 5093 | Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | VA | HB 618 | Specifies that Gender Related Crimes are Associated with Hate Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 43) |
Sept. 30, 2020 | MI | SB 977 | Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
Feb. 27, 2020 | CO | HB 20-1019 | Amends the State Department of Corrections Private Prison Populations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 9 | Requires Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 44) |
Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 9 | Requires Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 44) |
Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 1083 | Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 43) |
Dec. 2, 2020 | CO | HB 20B-1002 | Appropriates $45 Million in Funds for Grants Programs to Assist Childcare Providers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |