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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 15, 2006 | MD | Amendment 553220 | Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32) |
April 13, 2009 | MD | HB 387 | "Lawful Status" Requirements for ID Cards, Vehicle Licenses and Permits | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 60) |
March 31, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
April 3, 2007 | MD | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (99 - 39) |
April 5, 2007 | MD | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
March 31, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
March 16, 2007 | MD | SB 533 | Removal of Remarriage Barriers | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22) |
April 2, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 461 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21) |
March 23, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
March 23, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
March 6, 2007 | MD | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
March 6, 2007 | MD | SB 160 | Discrimination Against the Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
Feb. 27, 2007 | MD | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Feb. 22, 2008 | MD | SB 243 | Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | MD | SB 111 | Expanding Hate Crimes Classification to Homeless | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 4) |
March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
March 24, 2007 | MD | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (98 - 40) |
March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 302 | Allowing Judges to Confiscate Firearms from Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - House (92 - 45) |
March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 302 | Allowing Judges to Confiscate Firearms from Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - House (92 - 45) |
March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 359 | Handgun Permit Eligibility for Domestic Abuse Victims | Bill Failed - House (51 - 86) |
March 17, 2009 | MD | HB 359 | Handgun Permit Eligibility for Domestic Abuse Victims | Bill Failed - House (51 - 86) |
March 20, 2008 | MD | SB 2 | Banning Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
March 18, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
March 18, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
April 10, 2010 | MD | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
April 6, 2009 | MD | HB 302 | Allowing Judges to Confiscate Firearms from Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
April 6, 2009 | MD | HB 302 | Allowing Judges to Confiscate Firearms from Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
April 10, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
April 10, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
March 26, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
March 5, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
April 2, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 528 | Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations | Veto Override Passed - House (89 - 52) |
Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 55) |
Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 528 | Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1336 | Authorizes Expungement of Some Misdemeanor Criminal Convictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 31) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1663 | Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 1302 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Order | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 46) |
April 8, 2023 | MD | HB 824 | Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 40) |
April 8, 2023 | MD | HB 824 | Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 40) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | SB 101 | Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
April 7, 2021 | MD | SB 600 | Requires Independent Investigation of Police Use of Force Incidents that Result in Death | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
April 7, 2021 | MD | SB 71 | Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
April 5, 2018 | MD | HB 819 | Amends Handgun Permit Rules and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 31) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | SB 101 | Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
March 26, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 39) |
April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
April 7, 2023 | MD | SB 37 | Reduces the Time Period to Apply for Criminal Record Expungement for Certain Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
April 10, 2023 | MD | SB 1 | Prohibits Open Carry in the State and Restricts Places Where Firearms can be Carried | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
April 7, 2023 | MD | SB 858 | Defines Requirements Around Safe Storage of Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 12) |
April 1, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
April 5, 2022 | MD | SB 861 | Increases Firearm Misdemeanors into Felonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39) |
April 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 65) |
March 22, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 37 | Reduces the Time Period to Apply for Criminal Record Expungement for Certain Offenses | Bill Passed - House (99 - 38) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 858 | Defines Requirements Around Safe Storage of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (100 - 37) |
March 28, 2019 | MD | SB 793 | Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University | Bill Passed - House (94 - 42) |
April 3, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 61) |
April 3, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 61) |
April 3, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 61) |
April 10, 2023 | MD | SB 1 | Prohibits Open Carry in the State and Restricts Places Where Firearms can be Carried | Bill Passed - House (93 - 42) |
April 5, 2021 | MD | SB 600 | Requires Independent Investigation of Police Use of Force Incidents that Result in Death | Bill Passed - House (98 - 39) |
April 2, 2021 | MD | SB 71 | Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras | Bill Passed - House (92 - 38) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 1006 | Reduces the Amount of Time Child Support May be Suspended While Parent is Incarcerated | Bill Passed - House (102 - 32) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 2 | Requires Maryland Department of Human Services to Restore Benefits Lost Through Theft of EBT Cards | Bill Passed - House (127 - 10) |
March 9, 2020 | MD | HB 4 | Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
April 7, 2023 | MD | HB 824 | Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
April 7, 2023 | MD | HB 824 | Prohibits Certain Individuals on Probation from Receiving a Concealed Carry Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
March 31, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 5 | Authorizes Victims of Hate Crimes to Bring Civil Lawsuits Against Those Who Committed the Act | Bill Passed - House (106 - 31) |
March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
March 15, 2013 | MD | SB 276 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (82 - 56) |
March 15, 2013 | MD | SB 276 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - House (82 - 56) |
March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 447 | Establishes Pretrial Services Program Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
March 16, 2020 | MD | HB 1444 | Prohibits Race-Based Hairstyle Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
March 16, 2020 | MD | HB 280 | Prohibits Suspension of Driver's License for Unpaid Fines | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 708 | Appropriates $10 Million to the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund | Bill Passed - House (104 - 28) |
March 29, 2022 | MD | SB 387 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - House (92 - 41) |
April 6, 2021 | MD | SB 178 | Authorizes Certain Officer Misconduct Records to be Available to the Public | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
April 1, 2021 | MD | HB 670 | Repeals the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights and Replaces it With a Multistep System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
April 8, 2022 | MD | HB 1116 | Establishes Regulations for the Issuance of Alcoholic Beverage Licenses in Charles County | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 0) |
April 12, 2021 | MD | SB 525 | Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box | Bill Passed - House (95 - 43) |
April 10, 2023 | MD | HB 1071 | Prohibits the Smell of Cannabis as Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause for Police | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 290 | Authorizes the State Attorney General to Prosecute Law Enforcement Officers Involved in Incidents Resulting in Death | Bill Passed - House (99 - 37) |