Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Dec. 14, 2021 National HR 5665 Combating International Islamophobia Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
May 21, 2021 TX HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
May 14, 2021 MO SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (97 - 57)
May 11, 2021 MO HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
April 28, 2021 MO HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 27, 2021 CT HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
April 27, 2021 MO SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 20, 2021 OK HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 20, 2021 CT HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - House (90 - 53)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 542 Authorizes Places of Worship to Stay Open During States of Emergency Bill Passed - House (199 - 173)
April 9, 2021 TX HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 69 Authorizes the Display of the National Motto "In God We Trust" on School Property "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (204 - 169)
April 8, 2021 NH CACR 3 Authorizes Public Funds to be Used for Private Religious Schools Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 175)
April 1, 2021 AL HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 30, 2021 DE SB 72 Classifies Discrimination Against Any Person Because of their Religion as Illegal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
March 26, 2021 FL HB 259 Authorizes Individuals to Carry Concealed Weapons on Church Property Bill Passed - House (76 - 37)
March 23, 2021 WI AB 24 Prohibits Closing Places of Worship Due to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (61 - 33)
March 17, 2021 SC H 3105 Establishes Churches as Essential Services Bill Passed - House (83 - 22)
March 15, 2021 AR SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - House (72 - 20)
March 11, 2021 NC HB 134 Authorizes Possession of Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - House (72 - 44)
March 5, 2021 GA SB 200 Authorizes Businesses and Religious Operations to Continue During the Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 3, 2021 OK HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
March 2, 2021 AL HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
March 1, 2021 MT SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
March 1, 2021 NC SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
Feb. 23, 2021 MO SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2021 AR SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Feb. 3, 2021 ND SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 22)
Jan. 28, 2021 AR HB 1211 Prohibits the State From Closing Churches During Emergency Declarations Bill Passed - House (75 - 10)
Jan. 9, 2021 KY HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/14 HR 5665 Combating International Islamophobia Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
5/21 HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
5/14 SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (97 - 57)
5/11 HB 557 Increases Oversight Over Unlicensed Religious Boarding Schools Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
4/28 HB 271 Limits the Authority of Local Health Officials to Close Organizations During a Public Health Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/27 HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
4/27 SB 323 Authorizes Public Schools to Teach Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/20 HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/20 HB 6423 Rescinds the Religious Exemption for Mandatory Childhood Vaccines Bill Passed - House (90 - 53)
4/09 HB 542 Authorizes Places of Worship to Stay Open During States of Emergency Bill Passed - House (199 - 173)
4/09 HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
4/08 HB 69 Authorizes the Display of the National Motto "In God We Trust" on School Property "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (204 - 169)
4/08 CACR 3 Authorizes Public Funds to be Used for Private Religious Schools Amendment Rejected - House (197 - 175)
4/01 HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/30 SB 72 Classifies Discrimination Against Any Person Because of their Religion as Illegal Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0)
3/26 HB 259 Authorizes Individuals to Carry Concealed Weapons on Church Property Bill Passed - House (76 - 37)
3/23 AB 24 Prohibits Closing Places of Worship Due to COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (61 - 33)
3/17 H 3105 Establishes Churches as Essential Services Bill Passed - House (83 - 22)
3/15 SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - House (72 - 20)
3/11 HB 134 Authorizes Possession of Firearms on School Grounds Bill Passed - House (72 - 44)
3/05 SB 200 Authorizes Businesses and Religious Operations to Continue During the Pandemic Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/03 HB 2648 Specifies the Free Exercise of Religion During an Emergency Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
3/02 HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
3/01 SB 215 Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
3/01 SB 43 Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
2/23 SB 51 Establishes Protections for Various Organizations from COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/10 SB 289 Authorizes Denial of Healthcare on the Basis of Religious Principles Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
2/03 SB 2308 Authorizes Public Schools to Display the 10 Commandments in Classrooms Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/02 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 22)
1/28 HB 1211 Prohibits the State From Closing Churches During Emergency Declarations Bill Passed - House (75 - 10)
1/09 HB 1 Authorizes Businesses, Organizations, and Schools to Remain Open if they are Following CDC Guidelines Regardless of Governor Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)

arrow_upward