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 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 10, 2023 | MD | HB 1071 | Prohibits the Smell of Cannabis as Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause for Police | Bill Passed - House (101 - 36) |
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 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) |
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) |
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) |
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) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 450 | Prohibits Landlords from Limiting or Evicting Tenants for Repeatedly Calling Law Enforcement or Emergency Services | Bill Passed - House (99 - 37) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 293 | Amends Definition of "Prison Inmates" as Incarcerated Individuals | Bill Passed - House (102 - 35) |
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) |
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) |
April 4, 2023 | MD | SB 185 | Requires Maryland State Police Gun Center Track All Firearms Surrendered Through Final Protective Orders | Bill Passed - House (112 - 20) |
April 4, 2023 | MD | SB 54 | Repeals Crimes of "Unnatural" or "Perverted" Sex Practices | Bill Passed - House (115 - 13) |
April 4, 2023 | MD | SB 185 | Requires Maryland State Police Gun Center Track All Firearms Surrendered Through Final Protective Orders | Bill Passed - House (112 - 20) |
Feb. 16, 2023 | MD | HB 279 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board | Bill Passed - House (97 - 38) |
April 5, 2022 | MD | SB 861 | Increases Firearm Misdemeanors into Felonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 39) |
April 1, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
March 29, 2022 | MD | SB 387 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - House (92 - 41) |
March 26, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 39) |
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 6, 2021 | MD | SB 178 | Authorizes Certain Officer Misconduct Records to be Available to the Public | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
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 22, 2021 | MD | HB 222 | Expands Voting Access for Incarcerated Individuals | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
March 11, 2021 | MD | HB 670 | Repeals the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights and Replaces it With a Multistep System | Bill Passed - House (96 - 40) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1663 | Establishes the "COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 3) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | HB 1336 | Authorizes Expungement of Some Misdemeanor Criminal Convictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 31) |
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) |
March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 708 | Appropriates $10 Million to the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund | Bill Passed - House (104 - 28) |
March 11, 2020 | MD | HB 550 | Expands Marijuana Decriminalization Policies | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
March 11, 2020 | MD | HB 231 | Establishes the "Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act" | Bill Passed - House (95 - 42) |
Feb. 4, 2020 | MD | HB 4 | Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 40) |
March 28, 2019 | MD | SB 793 | Establishes a University Police Department at Johns Hopkins University | Bill Passed - House (94 - 42) |
March 18, 2019 | MD | HB 786 | Amends Hunting Rifle and Shotgun Regulations | Bill Passed - House (90 - 49) |
April 5, 2018 | MD | HB 819 | Amends Handgun Permit Rules and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 31) |
April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 1302 | Authorizes Extreme Risk Protective Order | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 46) |
March 15, 2018 | MD | HB 888 | Prohibits Certain Firearms Accessories | Bill Passed - House (128 - 7) |
March 8, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
March 21, 2016 | MD | HB 1016 | Amends Certain Law Enforcement Procedures | Bill Passed - House (92 - 44) |
March 12, 2016 | MD | HB 1002 | Prohibits Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
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) |
March 23, 2015 | MD | HB 121 | Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - House (85 - 55) |
March 23, 2015 | MD | HB 121 | Amends Mandatory Sentences for Certain Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - House (85 - 55) |
March 19, 2015 | MD | HB 124 | Authorizes Expungement of Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
March 19, 2015 | MD | HB 124 | Authorizes Expungement of Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
March 7, 2014 | MD | HB 354 | Amends the Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (84 - 51) |
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) |
March 21, 2013 | MD | HB 753 | Classifies Cell Phone Use While Driving as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (106 - 29) |
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 15, 2012 | MD | HB 650 | Reduces Prison Sentences for Inmates Seeking Education | Bill Passed - House (81 - 54) |
April 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 65) |
March 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (125 - 14) |
April 13, 2009 | MD | HB 387 | "Lawful Status" Requirements for ID Cards, Vehicle Licenses and Permits | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 60) |
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, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
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 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 31, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
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) |
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 24, 2007 | MD | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (98 - 40) |