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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 8, 2024 | MD | SB 949 | Prohibits the Self-Administering Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to be Used in Court | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 2) |
| April 2, 2024 | MD | HB 832 | Defines "Damages" or "Losses" in Statutory Causes of Action to Protect Civil Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 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 10, 2023 | MD | HB 1071 | Prohibits the Smell of Cannabis as Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause for Police | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 7, 2023 | MD | SB 341 | Requires Institutions of Higher Education Develop a Reproductive Health Services Plan in Consultation with Students | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 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 7, 2023 | MD | SB 858 | Defines Requirements Around Safe Storage of Firearms | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 12) |
| 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, 2023 | MD | HB 283 | Requires State Medicaid Cover Gender Affirming Care | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| March 31, 2023 | MD | HB 279 | Establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| March 20, 2023 | MD | SB 786 | Requires Maryland Health Care Commission Ensure the Confidentiality of Data of Patients who have Obtained "Legally Protected Healthcare" | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 12) |
| March 17, 2023 | MD | SB 859 | Prohibits Requiring an Individual Give Testimony or Statements in Another State Regarding Their "Legally Protected Healthcare" | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| March 14, 2023 | MD | SB 798 | Establishes a Voter Referendum for 2024 Election that Enshrines Individual's Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 9, 2023 | MD | SB 290 | Authorizes the State Attorney General to Prosecute Law Enforcement Officers Involved in Incidents Resulting in Death | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 21, 2023 | MD | SB 54 | Repeals Crimes of "Unnatural" or "Perverted" Sex Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| Feb. 21, 2023 | MD | SB 54 | Repeals Crimes of "Unnatural" or "Perverted" Sex Practices | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| Feb. 9, 2023 | MD | SB 141 | Increases Adoption Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 0) |
| April 8, 2022 | MD | HB 850 | Prohibits Certain Kinds of Discrimination in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 8, 2022 | MD | HB 1116 | Establishes Regulations for the Issuance of Alcoholic Beverage Licenses in Charles County | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 0) |
| April 7, 2022 | MD | HB 22 | Prohibits Declawing of Cats | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
| March 31, 2022 | MD | HB 837 | Establishes Regulations for the Legal Use of Cannabis and Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 22, 2022 | MD | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 22, 2022 | MD | SB 523 | Repeals Licensure Requirements for Immigrant Healthcare Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 16, 2022 | MD | SB 387 | Prohibits the Sale of Ghost Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 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 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) |
| March 12, 2021 | MD | SB 525 | Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| March 11, 2021 | MD | SB 10 | Prohibits Individuals from Possessing a Firearm Within 100 Feet of a Polling Site | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| March 3, 2021 | MD | SB 178 | Authorizes Certain Officer Misconduct Records to be Available to the Public | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 3, 2021 | MD | SB 626 | Establishes a Statewide Use of Force Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2021 | MD | SB 218 | Extends the Earned Income Tax Credit to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 18, 2020 | MD | SB 4 | Establishes Referendum to Authorize Sports and Event Wagering | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 0) |
| 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 15, 2020 | MD | SB 684 | Establishes a Prerelease Unit for Women | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| March 10, 2020 | MD | SB 35 | Amends Various Gun Laws Including Making Theft of a Firearm a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 4) |
| March 9, 2020 | MD | HB 4 | Requires Background Checks for Private Sales of Long Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| Feb. 7, 2020 | MD | SB 147 | Prohibits the Purchase, Distribution, or Sale of Kratom | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| April 8, 2019 | MD | SB 737 | Amends Long Gun License Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| March 31, 2019 | MD | HB 994 | Prohibits Employment Discrimination Based On an Applicants Criminal History | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 14) |
| March 26, 2019 | MD | HB 298 | Establishes Oyster Sanctuaries | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| Feb. 22, 2019 | MD | SB 196 | Authorizes Designation for Unspecified Gender on Licenses and ID Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | SB 101 | Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | SB 101 | Amends Certain Definitions and Regulations for Crimes of Violence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 3, 2018 | MD | HB 447 | Establishes Pretrial Services Program Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
| March 30, 2018 | MD | HB 908 | Requires Insurance Companies to Cover Fertility Treatments for Cancer Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 0) |
| March 22, 2018 | MD | HB 532 | Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 16, 2018 | MD | SB 790 | Repeals State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| March 12, 2018 | MD | SB 122 | Amends Criminal Law | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2018 | MD | SB 120 | Authorizes Mutual-Consent Divorce for Parents without Year Separation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 24, 2017 | MD | SB 1081 | Establishes Funds to Support Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 7, 2016 | MD | HB 1003 | Prohibits Wage Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| March 17, 2016 | MD | SB 49 | Amends the State Song | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 528 | Amends Asset Forfeiture Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Jan. 21, 2016 | MD | SB 517 | Authorizes Marijuana Paraphernalia | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 416 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover In Vitro Fertilization for Same-Sex Couples | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 743 | Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 24, 2015 | MD | SB 190 | Amends Taxable Price for Sale or Use of Accommodations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 16, 2015 | MD | SB 340 | Expands Voting Rights of Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 4, 2014 | MD | SB 212 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | MD | SB 263 | Amends Baltimore's Needle and Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6) |
| 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) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | SB 715 | Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | SB 339 | Classifies Using a Cell Phone While Driving As a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 20, 2013 | MD | SB 30 | Prohibits Smoking in Vehicles Containing Children | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| March 6, 2013 | MD | SB 276 | Repeals the Death Penalty | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| Feb. 8, 2013 | MD | SB 74 | Prohibits Operating a Vessel Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8) |
| March 27, 2012 | MD | SB 892 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | MD | HB 438 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | MD | HB 438 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | HB 235 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination | Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | MD | SB 116 | Civil Marriage Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | MD | SB 116 | Civil Marriage Protection Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 10, 2010 | MD | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 1035 | Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 785 | Inheritance Tax Exemption for Domestic Partners | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 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 2, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 2, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| March 24, 2008 | MD | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 20, 2008 | MD | SB 2 | Banning Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 18, 2008 | MD | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 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) |
| March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 461 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 461 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21) |
| March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |