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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Dec. 16, 2019 | NJ | A 5823 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration for Individuals Released from Prison | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
Nov. 20, 2019 | PA | HB 1402 | Establishes and Defines the Crime of Sexual Extortion | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
Nov. 13, 2019 | National | PN 410 | Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security | (54 - 41) |
Nov. 12, 2019 | National | PN 410 | Nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans for the Department of Homeland Security | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 40) |
Nov. 5, 2019 | WI | SB 49 | Prohibits Prostitution Charges Against Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
Oct. 29, 2019 | IL | SB 667 | Limits the Cost of Insulin to $100 per 30-day Supply | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 7) |
Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
Sept. 26, 2019 | National | SJ Res 54 | Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41) |
Sept. 24, 2019 | MI | HB 4231 | Appropriates $2.2 Billion for the State Corrections Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | SB 310 | Authorizes Felons to Serve on Juries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Sept. 11, 2019 | CA | AB 1215 | Prohibits Facial Recognition in Police Body-Cams | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 963 | Establishes a Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Program at Public Post-Secondary Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 32 | Prohibits Private Prisons and ICE Detention Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 521 | Authorizes Healthcare Professions be Trained to Reduce Firearm-Related Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 12 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
Sept. 9, 2019 | CA | AB 1669 | Increases Firearm Purchasing Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1282 | Prohibits Prisons from Working with ICE Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 1076 | Requires Criminal Record Expungement for Individuals Never Convicted | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Sept. 5, 2019 | CA | AB 51 | Prohibits Forced Employment Arbitration Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 61 | Amends Restraining Order Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
Sept. 4, 2019 | CA | AB 61 | Amends Restraining Order Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
Aug. 19, 2019 | CA | AB 467 | Requires Competitions Held on Public Lands to Offer Equal Prize Compensation Regardless of Gender | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
Aug. 12, 2019 | CA | AJR 5 | Urges the Federal Government to Pass Universal Firearm Safety Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
July 23, 2019 | National | HR 1327 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 2) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | SB 233 | Authorizes Immunity from Arrest to Sex Workers Reporting Certain Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 1054 | Establishes Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | AB 392 | Increases Public Oversight and Police Accountability when Deadly Use of Force is Used | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
June 27, 2019 | NH | HB 315 | Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
June 26, 2019 | National | HR 3401 | Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 8) |
June 26, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
June 25, 2019 | NJ | S 761 | Establishes Inmate Re-Entry Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
June 24, 2019 | NC | HB 370 | Requires Sheriffs to Cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | S 101 | Requires Firearm Retailers to Sell Personalized Handguns | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | S 824 | Requires Ignition interlock Devices for Sentenced Drunk Drivers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 4135 | Establishes Procedures for Digital Parking Meters and a Fund for Encouraging Designated Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 314 | Amends Solitary Confinement Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
June 20, 2019 | DE | SB 45 | Establishes Marijuana Usage by a Juvenile as a Civil Violation | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
June 20, 2019 | NJ | A 3696 | Amends Firearms Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 18) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | S 3909 | Establishes a Hate Crimes Training Program for Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
June 19, 2019 | NY | S 3909 | Establishes a Hate Crimes Training Program for Law Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0) |
June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 18, 2019 | ME | LD 1312 | Establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 15) |
June 17, 2019 | NY | S 6209 | Expands the Definition of Race and Prohibits Racial Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16) |
June 14, 2019 | NY | S 5864 | Establishes the Television Diversity Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18) |
June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 777 | Establishes a Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1529 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees Sign Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
June 10, 2019 | ME | LD 1529 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees Sign Nondisclosure Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
June 5, 2019 | LA | HB 518 | Exempts Certain Non-Violent Crimes From Habitual Offender Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 6) |
June 5, 2019 | ME | LD 795 | Amends State Constitution to Include a Right to Food | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
June 4, 2019 | ME | LD 665 | Prohibits Restrictions of Free Speech on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
June 3, 2019 | OR | HB 3216 | Prohibits Discriminatory 911 Calls | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
June 3, 2019 | OR | HB 3216 | Prohibits Discriminatory 911 Calls | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 1) |
May 31, 2019 | NV | AB 291 | Establishes Various Provisions to Increase Gun Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8) |
May 30, 2019 | AL | HB 225 | Prohibits Pay Discrimination Based on Sex and Race | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 0) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | SB 1609 | Authorizes Incarcerated Persons on Bailable Offenses to Receive a Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 608 | Expands Definition of Gender Discrimination | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 8) |
May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 637 | Establishes Online Criminal Record Database | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9) |
May 30, 2019 | IL | HB 3394 | Requires Women and African Americans on Corporate Boards | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16) |
May 30, 2019 | NH | HB 105 | Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
May 29, 2019 | IL | HB 3534 | Establishes a Non-Binary Gender Option on IDs | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
May 29, 2019 | CA | SB 144 | Repeals Various Administrative Fees Within the Criminal Justice System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
May 24, 2019 | IL | HB 94 | Establishes Specific Rehabilitation Classes as a Means of Reducing Prison Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
May 23, 2019 | OK | HB 1269 | Amends Criminal Sentencing Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 11) |
May 23, 2019 | National | HR 2157 | Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 | Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 8) |
May 23, 2019 | CT | HB 7223 | Prohibits Unlocked Vehicle Storage of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 23, 2019 | CT | HB 7219 | Establishes Regulations on Manufacturing Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
May 23, 2019 | CT | HB 7218 | Amends Firearm Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 2) |
May 23, 2019 | IL | HB 246 | Requires Public Schools to Teach about Prominent LGBTQ Figures | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
May 23, 2019 | ME | LD 264 | Authorizes Certain EMS Personnel to Draw Blood at the Scene of Fatal Accidents | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 132 | Authorizes Inmate Housing According to Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 55 | Expands List of Persons Prohibited from Owning Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
May 23, 2019 | CA | SB 329 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Section 8 Housing Renters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
May 22, 2019 | IL | HB 834 | Requires Equal Pay | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14) |
May 22, 2019 | OR | HB 2303 | Repeals Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine as Class 3 Controlled Substances | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
May 22, 2019 | TX | HB 2536 | Establishes Drug-Pricing Transparency Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 22, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
May 22, 2019 | NV | AB 431 | Expands Voting Rights for Convicted Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 61 | Prohibits Purchasing More than One Gun per Month | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
May 22, 2019 | CA | SB 172 | Amends Firearm Storage Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
May 21, 2019 | TX | HB 1143 | Authorizes Storage and Transportation of Firearms in School Parking Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
May 21, 2019 | ME | LD 1025 | Prohibits the Practice of Conversion Therapy | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 1613 | Requires Police Keep Racial Profiling Records | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
May 21, 2019 | IL | HB 2670 | Expands Definition of "Mitigating Factors" | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
May 21, 2019 | CA | SB 159 | Authorizes Use of HIV Prevention Drugs Without Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1) |
May 21, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
May 21, 2019 | OR | SB 1013 | Redefines the Crime of Aggravated Murder | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
May 17, 2019 | OK | SB 252 | Amends the State Cash Bail System | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
May 16, 2019 | National | PN 526 | Nomination of Jeffrey Rosen to be Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice | (52 - 45) |
May 16, 2019 | IL | HB 2040 | Prohibits Private Prisons and Civil Detention Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
May 15, 2019 | NV | SB 312 | Requires Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 0) |