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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 16, 2014 | MA | H 4184 | Requires Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4) |
Jan. 16, 2020 | MA | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
April 25, 2024 | MA | H 4582 | Appropriates Funding for Homeless Shelter Costs and Amends Stay Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
July 30, 2024 | MA | H 4750 | Amends and Redefines Parentage | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
March 14, 2024 | MA | S 2697 | Expands Childcare Affordability Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
July 7, 2022 | MA | S 2973 | Expands Access to Childcare | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
June 30, 2022 | MA | S 2987 | Prohibits Juvenile Diversion Under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
7/16 | H 4184 | Requires Parole Eligibility for Certain Juveniles Sentenced to Life Imprisonment | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4) |
1/16 | H 4218 | Requires School Districts Offer Breakfast After Instruction Begins | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
4/25 | H 4582 | Appropriates Funding for Homeless Shelter Costs and Amends Stay Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
7/30 | H 4750 | Amends and Redefines Parentage | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
3/14 | S 2697 | Expands Childcare Affordability Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
7/07 | S 2973 | Expands Access to Childcare | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0) |
6/30 | S 2987 | Prohibits Juvenile Diversion Under Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |