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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2022 | SC | H 3050 | Specifies Actions That Constitute Unlawful Use of Force by Police | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 4) |
| March 3, 2022 | HI | HB 1567 | Limits Use of Monetary Bail | Bill Passed - House (43 - 5) |
| May 12, 2022 | MO | HB 1606 | Limits Where Homeless People May Sleep | Bill Passed - House (109 - 34) |
| May 3, 2022 | HI | HB 2075 | Requires Inspection of Firearms | Conference Report Adopted - House (43 - 8) |
| March 10, 2022 | SD | SB 53 | Authorizes Community Work Center for Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 19) |
| May 11, 2022 | CO | HB 22-1326 | Increases Penalties for Distribution and Manufacturing of Fentanyl | Conference Report Adopted - House (35 - 30) |
| May 3, 2022 | HI | HB 2075 | Requires Inspection of Firearms | Conference Report Adopted - House (43 - 8) |
| May 11, 2022 | CO | HB 22-1326 | Increases Penalties for Distribution and Manufacturing of Fentanyl | Conference Report Adopted - House (35 - 30) |
| June 24, 2022 | National | S 2938 | Bipartisan Safer Communities Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (234 - 193) |
| April 1, 2022 | KS | HB 2279 | Authorizes Prescribing of Drugs without Supervising Physician | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 34) |
| March 12, 2022 | VA | SB 348 | Amends Child and Spousal Support Orders | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 19) |
| June 6, 2022 | LA | HB 729 | Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 27) |
| June 6, 2022 | LA | HB 729 | Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 27) |
| March 9, 2022 | SD | SB 24 | Limits Cultivation of Cannabis Plants | Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 19) |
| May 10, 2022 | CO | SB 22-150 | Expands Response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| May 10, 2022 | CO | HB 22-1077 | Increases Security at Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| April 20, 2022 | OK | SB 1708 | Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Old Employees to Sell Mixed Beverages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 33) |
| April 18, 2022 | ME | LD 1862 | Expands Maine's Good Samaritan Law Concerning Drug-Related Medical Assistance | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (83 - 52) |
| April 18, 2022 | ME | LD 1862 | Expands Maine's Good Samaritan Law Concerning Drug-Related Medical Assistance | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (83 - 52) |
| March 29, 2022 | MS | HB 936 | Authorizes Hospice Care Services for Terminally Ill Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 9) |
| June 6, 2022 | LA | HB 746 | Limits Solitary Confinement of Children | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 11) |
| June 30, 2022 | MI | HB 4195 | Amends Divorce Filing Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 3) |
| March 29, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| Dec. 1, 2022 | IL | HB 1095 | Amends Previously Passed Criminal Justice Reforms Known as the SAFE-T Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 40) |
| March 10, 2022 | WY | HB 91 | Amends Specified County Officer Salary Levels | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| March 29, 2022 | AL | HB 17 | Authorizes Deploying Wiretaps for Drug Related Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 7) |
| March 12, 2022 | WV | HB 4848 | Amends Alcohol Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 37) |
| March 26, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 39) |
| Nov. 15, 2022 | PA | HB 1546 | Prohibits "Endangerment" of Public Safety Officials | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (158 - 39) |
| Sept. 19, 2022 | PA | HB 146 | Prohibits Premature Release of an Individual who has Committed a Violent Offense while Imprisoned | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (133 - 69) |
| Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2658 | Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Aug. 25, 2022 | CA | AB 2147 | Limits Police Enforcement of Prohibition on Pedestrian Jaywalking | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| July 1, 2022 | NC | HB 674 | Prohibits Medical Billing of Rape Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 1) |
| June 30, 2022 | CA | AB 2571 | Prohibits Marketing of Firearms to Minors; Authorizes Lawsuits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 1621 | Limits the Manufacture of Ghost Guns | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 14) |
| June 29, 2022 | CA | AB 311 | Prohibits the Sale of Firearms in Certain Areas | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| June 28, 2022 | DE | HB 451 | Increases the Minimum Age to Handle and Purchase Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (24 - 15) |
| June 5, 2022 | LA | HB 8 | Authorizes Current and Former Officials to Carry Handguns | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| May 13, 2022 | MO | HB 1667 | Establishes the Kratom Consumer Protection Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 31) |
| Dec. 23, 2022 | National | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201) |
| March 2, 2022 | IN | HB 1079 | Amends Definition of Rape | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 1) |
| April 8, 2022 | IL | HB 4383 | Prohibits the Sale and Possession of "Ghost Guns" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 36) |
| April 8, 2022 | IL | HB 4667 | Amends Requirements to be Considered a Qualified Law Enforcement Officer | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 6) |
| March 3, 2022 | IN | HB 1001 | Amends COVID-19 Immunization and Vaccine Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 10) |
| March 4, 2022 | OR | HB 4008 | Repeals Restrictions on Police Use of Tear Gas | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 4) |
| March 7, 2022 | WA | HB 1630 | Prohibits Carrying Firearms in Certain Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| March 7, 2022 | WA | HB 2057 | Establishes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Standards for State Patrol | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | HB 63 | Requires School Boards Implement School Resource Officers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 16) |
| Dec. 14, 2022 | OH | HB 513 | Prohibits Local Government Control of Flavored Tobacco Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 35) |
| Dec. 13, 2022 | OH | HB 286 | Requires Legal Challenges for Certain Agency Orders Occur in the County Where a Business or Individual Resides | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 31) |
| March 10, 2022 | FL | HB 1435 | Specifies Police Ability to Impound Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 32) |
| March 10, 2022 | FL | HB 3 | Expands Police Recruitment Efforts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (114 - 3) |
| Feb. 3, 2022 | GA | HB 218 | Requires the State to Recognize Gun Carry Permits from Other States | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (96 - 70) |
| June 30, 2022 | NC | SB 101 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with ICE | Bill Passed - House (65 - 47) |
| Jan. 27, 2022 | VT | S 30 | Establishes A Ban On Firearms In Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (97 - 49) |
| March 4, 2022 | WA | SB 5078 | Prohibits Sale of High-Capacity Firearm Magazines | Bill Passed - House (55 - 42) |
| June 8, 2022 | NC | SB 448 | Reduces Restrictions on Prescribed Controlled Substances, Cannabis | Bill Passed - House (92 - 9) |
| Jan. 19, 2022 | NY | A 6319 | Amends the State Definition of Rape to Include Additional Forms of Non-Consensual Sexual Conduct | Bill Passed - House (129 - 16) |
| April 1, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
| June 3, 2022 | NY | S 6363 | Reduces Judicial Discretion in Certain Firearm Cases | Bill Passed - House |
| April 25, 2022 | AZ | HB 2696 | Expands Prohibition on Human Smuggling | Bill Passed - House (37 - 20) |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | NJ | S 896 | Exempts Public Defender Fee Requirements for Defendants Under the Age of 18 | (56 - 23) |
| March 30, 2022 | GA | SB 319 | Reduces Weapons Restrictions in Certain Public Places | (100 - 67) |
| Feb. 24, 2022 | MI | SB 720 | Expands Tobacco Regulations; Establishes Taxes; Authorizes Seizure and Sale of Property | (78 - 23) |
| April 5, 2022 | MD | SB 861 | Increases Firearm Misdemeanors into Felonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | WI | SB 296 | Establishes Penalties for "Rioting" or Protesting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 34) |
| Dec. 14, 2022 | OH | SB 16 | Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20) |
| May 24, 2022 | RI | S 2430 | Authorizes Recreational Use of Cannabis/Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| Jan. 5, 2022 | IL | HB 3512 | Amends Criminal Justice Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42) |
| Dec. 14, 2022 | OH | SB 16 | Amends Various Criminal Justice Reforms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 20) |
| May 18, 2022 | AK | HB 291 | Establishes the Alaska Criminal Justice Data Analysis Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (21 - 18) |
| June 30, 2022 | PA | SB 814 | Increases Penalties For Fleeing the Police on Foot | Bill Passed - House (127 - 73) |
| April 4, 2022 | CO | SB 22-103 | Authorizes Criminal Defendants to Challenge Their Misdemeanor Guilty Pleas in Court if Not Advised of Immigration Consequences | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| May 10, 2022 | AK | SB 174 | Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (34 - 5) |
| June 30, 2022 | CA | SB 57 | Establishes Safe Injection Sites | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| July 1, 2022 | PA | SB 1183 | Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof | Bill Passed - House (135 - 65) |
| April 25, 2022 | TN | SB 2219 | Authorizes Smoking Bans | Bill Passed - House (56 - 33) |
| Aug. 8, 2022 | CA | SB 1106 | Prohibits Unpaid Restitution from Blocking an Individual from Clearing Their Record | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Aug. 11, 2022 | CA | SB 1384 | Requires Firearm Dealers to Use Video Surveillance Systems | Bill Passed - House (53 - 19) |
| March 7, 2022 | SD | SB 144 | Establishes The Incarceration Construction Fund | Bill Passed - House (66 - 3) |
| March 2, 2022 | UT | SB 176 | Amends Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws | Bill Passed - House (64 - 11) |
| Aug. 15, 2022 | CA | SB 960 | Repeals Citizenship and Permanent Resident Requirements for State Police | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| June 1, 2022 | OH | SB 156 | Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives | Bill Passed - House (59 - 32) |
| May 31, 2022 | LA | SB 379 | Prohibits Felons Convicted of Gun-Related Offenses at 16 or 17 From Carrying a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| May 31, 2022 | LA | SB 379 | Prohibits Felons Convicted of Gun-Related Offenses at 16 or 17 From Carrying a Firearm | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| May 18, 2022 | AK | SB 45 | Increases Minimum Age for Tobacco Use | Bill Passed - House (31 - 9) |
| March 29, 2022 | KY | SB 179 | Increases Penalties for Crimes Committed During States of Emergency | Bill Passed - House (84 - 10) |
| Feb. 17, 2022 | UT | SB 115 | Prohibits Local Jurisdiction of State Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (58 - 16) |
| May 12, 2022 | MO | SB 718 | Establishes a "Historically Black College and University Week" and Amends Provisions for Higher Learning | Bill Passed - House (148 - 1) |
| June 3, 2022 | LA | SB 304 | Reduces Rate of Diminution of Sentences for People Convicted of Killing a Law Enforcement Officer | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| June 27, 2022 | CA | SB 1327 | Authorizes Individuals to Sue Firearm Manufacturers | Bill Passed - House (52 - 21) |
| March 3, 2022 | OR | SB 1522 | Amends Provisions Relating to College Tuition | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| Feb. 23, 2022 | ID | S 1262 | Expands Firearm Protections During Declared Disaster Emergencies | Bill Passed - House (58 - 9) |
| Feb. 24, 2022 | AZ | HB 2707 | Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (47 - 12) |
| March 3, 2022 | SD | SB 151 | Requires Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Convictions | Bill Passed - House (38 - 31) |
| March 3, 2022 | OR | SB 1510 | Prohibits Police from Stopping Drivers Due to a Defective Tail Light, Headlight, or Brake Light | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| March 3, 2022 | MS | SB 2113 | Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" | Bill Passed - House (75 - 43) |
| March 9, 2022 | WY | SF 102 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Federal Regulations on Firearms | Bill Passed - House (43 - 15) |
| March 9, 2022 | WY | SF 77 | Requires 6 Months' Residency Before Changing One's Name | Bill Passed - House (55 - 3) |