Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. 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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 52)
April 4, 2007 VA Governor's Recommendation: Restaurant Smoking Ban Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 59)
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
April 19, 2006 VA Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 18 Reducing Funding for Public Media Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 52)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 91 Limiting State Funding of Abortion Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 91 Limiting State Funding of Abortion Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 135-4h Direct Aid To Public Education Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 391-4h New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 462-4h Central Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 35)
March 7, 2006 VA Amendment LeBlanc Nomination Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
Feb. 15, 2010 VA Gilbert Amdt "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 26, 2020 VA HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
Feb. 24, 2020 VA HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1 Defines Life as Beginning at Conception Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
Jan. 27, 2020 VA HB 10 Establishes Rules for Student Loan Lenders Bill Passed - House (84 - 15)
Feb. 2, 2006 VA HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
Jan. 22, 2014 VA HB 1052 Authorizes the Use of Alternative Methods of Execution Bill Passed - House (64 - 32)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
Feb. 6, 2020 VA HB 108 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 28, 2020 VA HB 1083 Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 43)
Feb. 26, 2020 VA HB 1083 Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties (22 - 18)
March 7, 2016 VA HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2016 VA HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
Feb. 11, 2016 VA HB 1096 Prohibits Regulation of Firearms without Legislative Authorization Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
Feb. 25, 2008 VA HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 6, 2014 VA HB 11 Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea Bill Passed - House (81 - 15)
Feb. 11, 2022 VA HB 11 Reduces Penalties for Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
Feb. 1, 2024 VA HB 110 Repeals the State Prohibition on For-Profit Surrogacy Brokers Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
Feb. 7, 2020 VA HB 1103 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
April 19, 2006 VA HB 1106 Possession of Concealed Weapons Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA HB 1108 "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Feb. 27, 2012 VA HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 17)
Jan. 27, 2012 VA HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement Bill Passed - House (62 - 34)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA HB 1129 Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
Feb. 27, 2020 VA HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Jan. 29, 2020 VA HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
April 28, 2022 VA HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Veto Override Failed - House (48 - 52)
March 8, 2022 VA HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 15, 2022 VA HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
March 6, 2008 VA HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 2)
Feb. 11, 2008 VA HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - House (91 - 7)
March 2, 2020 VA HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2020 VA HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
March 6, 2012 VA HB 1228 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 31)
Feb. 15, 2016 VA HB 1234 Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
Feb. 18, 2014 VA HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Jan. 28, 2014 VA HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
March 8, 2020 VA HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 1251 Authorizes Enrollee not to Pay Out-of-Network Amount Except Applicable Cost-sharing Requirement (40 - 0)
April 22, 2020 VA HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 45)
March 6, 2018 VA HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2018 VA HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
March 8, 2022 VA HB 127 Prohibits Governor's School's from Using Race as a Factor in the Admissions Process Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2022 VA HB 127 Prohibits Governor's School's from Using Race as a Factor in the Admissions Process Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
Jan. 31, 2006 VA HB 1308 Student Club Restrictions Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2016 VA HB 1348 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 26, 2016 VA HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2016 VA HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - House (65 - 34)
Feb. 7, 2023 VA HB 1387 Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
Feb. 4, 2020 VA HB 1429 Prohibits Denying or Limiting Coverage based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
April 22, 2020 VA HB 1442 Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
April 22, 2020 VA HB 1442 Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44)
Jan. 31, 2013 VA HB 1442 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students To Participate In Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 27, 2015 VA HB 1570 Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 52)
4/04 Governor's Recommendation: Restaurant Smoking Ban Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 59)
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
4/19 Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70)
4/21 Amdt 18 Reducing Funding for Public Media Amendment Rejected - House (43 - 52)
4/21 Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
4/21 Amdt 91 Limiting State Funding of Abortion Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
4/21 Amdt 91 Limiting State Funding of Abortion Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
4/11 Amdt Item 135-4h Direct Aid To Public Education Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
4/11 Amdt Item 391-4h New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-5.04-2h Abortion Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 34)
4/11 Amdt Item 462-4h Central Appropriations Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 35)
3/07 Amendment LeBlanc Nomination Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 42)
2/05 Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
2/15 Gilbert Amdt "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39)
2/26 HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
2/24 HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/14 HB 1 Defines Life as Beginning at Conception Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
1/27 HB 10 Establishes Rules for Student Loan Lenders Bill Passed - House (84 - 15)
2/02 HB 1050 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (76 - 23)
1/22 HB 1052 Authorizes the Use of Alternative Methods of Execution Bill Passed - House (64 - 32)
2/14 HB 1060 Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest Bill Passed - House (75 - 25)
2/06 HB 108 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
2/28 HB 1083 Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 43)
2/26 HB 1083 Amends Safety Requirements for Unsecured Firearms and Increases Penalties (22 - 18)
3/07 HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/16 HB 1090 Rescinds Funds from Certain Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
2/11 HB 1096 Prohibits Regulation of Firearms without Legislative Authorization Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
2/25 HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/06 HB 11 Requires New Textbooks to Refer to The East Sea Bill Passed - House (81 - 15)
2/11 HB 11 Reduces Penalties for Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit Bill Passed - House (53 - 46)
2/01 HB 110 Repeals the State Prohibition on For-Profit Surrogacy Brokers Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
2/07 HB 1103 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
4/19 HB 1106 Possession of Concealed Weapons Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36)
2/16 HB 1108 "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
2/27 HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 17)
1/27 HB 1112 Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement Bill Passed - House (62 - 34)
2/14 HB 1129 Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
3/07 HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 19)
3/05 HB 1150 Eliminates Requirement that Jails and Prisons Ascertain Citizenship Status of Inmates Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
2/27 HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
1/29 HB 119 Requires Milk be Defined as the Lacteal Secretion Obtained by the Complete Milking of a Hooved Animal Bill Passed - House (66 - 32)
4/28 HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Veto Override Failed - House (48 - 52)
3/08 HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
2/15 HB 1197 Establishes a Study Regarding Transferring the Department of Juvenile Justice to the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
3/06 HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 2)
2/11 HB 12 Payday Lending Restrictions Bill Passed - House (91 - 7)
3/02 HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/28 HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
3/06 HB 1228 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 31)
2/15 HB 1234 Authorizes School Security Officers to Carry Firearms Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
2/18 HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
1/28 HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
3/08 HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
3/07 HB 1250 Establishes the "Community Policing Act" Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 35)
3/05 HB 1251 Authorizes Enrollee not to Pay Out-of-Network Amount Except Applicable Cost-sharing Requirement (40 - 0)
4/22 HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
3/05 HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 45)
3/06 HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/13 HB 1257 Prohibits the Establishment of Sanctuary Cities Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
3/08 HB 127 Prohibits Governor's School's from Using Race as a Factor in the Admissions Process Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/02 HB 127 Prohibits Governor's School's from Using Race as a Factor in the Admissions Process Bill Passed - House (50 - 48)
1/31 HB 1308 Student Club Restrictions Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
2/12 HB 1348 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/26 HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/10 HB 1371 Prohibits Cities from Increasing Minimum Wage or Benefits Bill Passed - House (65 - 34)
2/07 HB 1387 Limits Participation in Women's Sports on Basis of Sex Assigned at Birth Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/09 HB 14 Provides Civil Immunity for the Use of Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (75 - 22)
2/04 HB 1429 Prohibits Denying or Limiting Coverage based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
4/22 HB 1442 Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
4/22 HB 1442 Authorizes the Use of Photo Speed Monitoring Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 44)
1/31 HB 1442 Authorizes Home-Schooled Students To Participate In Interscholastic Programs Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
2/08 HB 1465 Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Public Universities Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/27 HB 1570 Increases Regulations on Day Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 26)

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