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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 16, 2021 VA SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
Feb. 15, 2021 VA SB 1281 Specifies that the General Registrar of a Locality Does Not Need to be a Resident of that Locality Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 15, 2021 VA SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Feb. 15, 2021 VA HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA SB 1406 Expands Adult Cannabis Use and Eliminates Criminal Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA HB 2312 Authorizes the Simple Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA HB 2137 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for In-House Healthcare Workers and Prohibits Retaliatory Action from Employers Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA HB 2132 Repeals the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 4, 2021 VA HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
Feb. 3, 2021 VA SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 3, 2021 VA HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
Feb. 1, 2021 VA HB 2125 Authorizes a Person Who is 16 Years of Age or Older to Preregister to Vote Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
Feb. 1, 2021 VA SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2021 VA SB 1413 Increases Broadband by Allowing Deals with the State Corporation Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Jan. 28, 2021 VA HB 1930 Prohibits Public Institutions of Higher Education from Asking About an Individual's Criminal Record During the Application Process and From Denying Admission Based on Criminal History. Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
Jan. 27, 2021 VA HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Bill Passed - House (55 - 44)
Jan. 27, 2021 VA HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Jan. 27, 2021 VA HB 2276 Classifies the Manufacture, Import, Sale, Transfer, and Possession of Certain Firearms as a Class 5 Felony Bill Passed - House (52 - 48)
Jan. 25, 2021 VA SB 1281 Specifies that the General Registrar of a Locality Does Not Need to be a Resident of that Locality Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Jan. 25, 2021 VA HB 2081 Prohibits the Possession of Firearms Within 40 Feet of a Polling Place Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
Jan. 25, 2021 VA HB 1968 Authorizes the Electoral Board or General Registrar of a County or City to Provide Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Jan. 25, 2021 VA SB 1239 Authorizes the General Registrar to Contract with a Third Party for the Printing, Assembly, and Mailing of Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Jan. 22, 2021 VA SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Nov. 9, 2020 VA HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Nov. 9, 2020 VA HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
Oct. 16, 2020 VA HB 5043 Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 12)
Oct. 16, 2020 VA SB 5007 Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43)
Oct. 16, 2020 VA HB 5106 Requires Landlords to Establish Payment Plans for Tenants Prior to Eviction Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 42)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 5)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5148 Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5049 Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 37)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 35)
Oct. 14, 2020 VA SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 7, 2020 VA HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
Oct. 7, 2020 VA SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5047 Prohibits Price-Gouging during a Declared State of Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5043 Establishes Procedures of Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5069 Prohibits Use of Chokeholds by Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA HB 5029 Establishes a Felony Charge for Officers that Fail to Intervene When Witnessing Unlawful Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Oct. 2, 2020 VA SB 5034 Expands the State Earned Sentence Credit System Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/16 SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
2/15 SB 1281 Specifies that the General Registrar of a Locality Does Not Need to be a Resident of that Locality Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/15 SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
2/15 HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
2/05 SB 1406 Expands Adult Cannabis Use and Eliminates Criminal Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/05 HB 2312 Authorizes the Simple Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
2/05 HB 2137 Establishes Paid Sick Leave for In-House Healthcare Workers and Prohibits Retaliatory Action from Employers Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/05 HB 2132 Repeals the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
2/05 SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/04 HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
2/03 SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/03 HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
2/01 HB 2125 Authorizes a Person Who is 16 Years of Age or Older to Preregister to Vote Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
2/01 SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/29 SB 1413 Increases Broadband by Allowing Deals with the State Corporation Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
1/28 HB 1930 Prohibits Public Institutions of Higher Education from Asking About an Individual's Criminal Record During the Application Process and From Denying Admission Based on Criminal History. Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
1/27 HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Bill Passed - House (55 - 44)
1/27 HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
1/27 HB 2276 Classifies the Manufacture, Import, Sale, Transfer, and Possession of Certain Firearms as a Class 5 Felony Bill Passed - House (52 - 48)
1/25 SB 1281 Specifies that the General Registrar of a Locality Does Not Need to be a Resident of that Locality Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
1/25 HB 2081 Prohibits the Possession of Firearms Within 40 Feet of a Polling Place Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
1/25 HB 1968 Authorizes the Electoral Board or General Registrar of a County or City to Provide Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
1/25 SB 1239 Authorizes the General Registrar to Contract with a Third Party for the Printing, Assembly, and Mailing of Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
1/22 SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
11/09 HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
11/09 HB 5109 Amends Existing Law Enforcement Officer Training and Qualifications Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 39)
10/16 HB 5043 Authorizes Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police Officers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 12)
10/16 SB 5007 Authorizes Defendants to Be Sentenced by a Judge Rather Than a Jury Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 43)
10/16 HB 5106 Requires Landlords to Establish Payment Plans for Tenants Prior to Eviction Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 42)
10/14 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16)
10/14 HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 5)
10/14 SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 34)
10/14 HB 5148 Establishes a 4-Level Earned Sentence Credit Classification System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
10/14 HB 5049 Prohibits the Acquisition and Use of Military Property by Law Enforcement Agencies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
10/14 HB 5099 Prohibits No-Knock Search Warrants Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 41)
10/14 SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 37)
10/14 HB 5104 Increases Employment Assessment and Review Requirements for Law Enforcement Hiring Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 35)
10/14 SB 5030 Establishes and Amends Various Provisions Relating to Law Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
10/07 HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 41)
10/07 SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
10/02 HB 5047 Prohibits Price-Gouging during a Declared State of Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 43)
10/02 SB 5029 Prohibits Search and Seizure Based Solely on the Odor of Marijuana Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
10/02 SB 5033 Amends Court Authority in Criminal Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
10/02 HB 5093 Expands the Violation of a Pandemic-Related Executive Order to Include a Fine Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 37)
10/02 SB 5038 Requires the Development of a Comprehensive Crisis Service Continuum Including a MARCUS Alert System Bill Passed - House (57 - 40)
10/02 HB 5108 Amends the Makeup of the Criminal Justice Services Board Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
10/02 SB 5043 Establishes Procedures of Automatic Expungement of Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (58 - 39)
10/02 HB 5069 Prohibits Use of Chokeholds by Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
10/02 HB 5029 Establishes a Felony Charge for Officers that Fail to Intervene When Witnessing Unlawful Deadly Force Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
10/02 SB 5034 Expands the State Earned Sentence Credit System Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)

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