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
April 14, 2021 OR SB 704 Prohibits the Use of the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
April 13, 2021 HI SB 726 Requires Officers Serving a Warrant to Wait Thirty Seconds Before Entry Bill Passed - House (43 - 5)
April 13, 2021 AR SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
April 13, 2021 WI AB 241 Requires Governor to Allocate Federal Money to State Public Debt and Transportation Revenue Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
April 12, 2021 ND HB 1323 Repeals Future Mask Mandates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 24)
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 12, 2021 MT SB 283 Specifies Response to Guns in Schools Bill Passed - House (87 - 13)
April 12, 2021 ID S 1193 Appropriates $6 Million for Early Childhood Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 11, 2021 WA HB 1140 Requires Law Enforcement Provide Attorney Access to Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
April 10, 2021 WA HB 1411 Prohibits the Automatic Disqualification of Individuals with Criminal Records from Providing Care to Vulnerable Adults or Children Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 10, 2021 WA HB 1220 Requires Housing Goals in the Growth Management Act to Include Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
April 10, 2021 WA HB 1320 Amends Protection Order Laws to include Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Anti-Harassment, Vulnerable Adult, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 10, 2021 MD HB 18 Establishes When The State Must Provide Tenants With A Right To Counsel In Eviction Cases Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
April 10, 2021 WA HB 1127 Increases Security and Privacy for COVID-19 Health Data Collected by Private Entities Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 566 Requires Minutes of Meetings in Nonpublic Sessions to be Made Available Unless it Would Damage the Reputation of the Body "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (201 - 178)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 111 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (178 - 184)
April 9, 2021 WA HB 1267 Establishes the Office of Independent Investigations within the Governor's Office to Investigate Deadly Use of Force Incidents Involving Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
April 9, 2021 AK HB 10 Establishes Protections for a Unangan Cemetery Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 69 Authorizes the Display of the National Motto "In God We Trust" on School Property "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (204 - 169)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 319 Requires College Students Pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (188 - 187)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 388 Authorizes School Transfers Due to Educational Hardship "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (199 - 175)
April 8, 2021 SC S 177 Prohibits Business from Firing Employees if they Don't Get Vaccinated Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
April 8, 2021 AL SB 267 Prohibits Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Passports Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
April 8, 2021 SC H 3620 Increases Penalties for Hate Crimes Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
April 7, 2021 VA HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
April 7, 2021 VA SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 40)
April 7, 2021 MD SB 71 Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
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 ND HB 1323 Repeals Future Mask Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 7, 2021 AR SB 494 Extends Qualified Immunity to Law Enforcement who Patrol Higher Education Institutions Bill Passed - House (76 - 10)
April 7, 2021 OR SB 204 Expands Criminal Justice Agencies to Include Citizen Review Boards Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
April 7, 2021 PA HB 951 Expands the Window for Underage Victims to Sue for Sexual Abuse Bill Passed - House (149 - 52)
April 7, 2021 AR HB 1701 Authorizes Teachers to Teach Creationism as a "Theory of How the Earth Came to Exist" Bill Passed - House (72 - 21)
April 7, 2021 PA HB 184 Increases Penalties for Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (162 - 39)
April 6, 2021 NY S 2508 Amends the New York Multiple Dwelling Law to Encourage the Conversion of Commercial and Hotel Properties to Residential Use Bill Passed - House (106 - 43)
April 6, 2021 MD SB 178 Authorizes Certain Officer Misconduct Records to be Available to the Public Bill Passed - House (88 - 46)
April 6, 2021 NY S 2508 Amends the New York Multiple Dwelling Law to Encourage the Conversion of Commercial and Hotel Properties to Residential Use Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
April 6, 2021 PA HB 605 Establishes Protections For Businesses From Certain COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 94)
April 6, 2021 IA SF 587 Rescinds the Property Tax Levy on Mental Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 6, 2021 IA SF 587 Rescinds the Property Tax Levy on Mental Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 6, 2021 MO SB 63 Establishes a Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 6, 2021 OR HB 2009 Establishes Foreclosure and Mortgage Assistance Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
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 3, 2021 WA HB 1214 Establishes the Category of Safety and Security Staff for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
April 2, 2021 MD SB 71 Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (92 - 38)
April 1, 2021 WY HB 207 Appropriates $1.2 Million to the Governor and Attorney General to Challenge Other State's Coal Mining Projects Impacting Wyoming Coal Exports Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 24)
April 1, 2021 AL HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
April 1, 2021 AZ HB 2770 Authorizes Businesses to Ignore Mask Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
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)
April 1, 2021 OR SB 398 Establishes the Presence of a Noose as a Hate Crime Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/14 SB 704 Prohibits the Use of the "Gay Panic" Murder Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
4/13 SB 726 Requires Officers Serving a Warrant to Wait Thirty Seconds Before Entry Bill Passed - House (43 - 5)
4/13 SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
4/13 AB 241 Requires Governor to Allocate Federal Money to State Public Debt and Transportation Revenue Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
4/12 HB 1323 Repeals Future Mask Mandates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 24)
4/12 SB 525 Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box Bill Passed - House (95 - 43)
4/12 SB 283 Specifies Response to Guns in Schools Bill Passed - House (87 - 13)
4/12 S 1193 Appropriates $6 Million for Early Childhood Education Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/11 HB 1140 Requires Law Enforcement Provide Attorney Access to Juveniles Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
4/10 HB 1411 Prohibits the Automatic Disqualification of Individuals with Criminal Records from Providing Care to Vulnerable Adults or Children Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/10 HB 1220 Requires Housing Goals in the Growth Management Act to Include Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
4/10 HB 1320 Amends Protection Order Laws to include Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, Anti-Harassment, Vulnerable Adult, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/10 HB 18 Establishes When The State Must Provide Tenants With A Right To Counsel In Eviction Cases Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
4/10 HB 1127 Increases Security and Privacy for COVID-19 Health Data Collected by Private Entities Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
4/09 HB 566 Requires Minutes of Meetings in Nonpublic Sessions to be Made Available Unless it Would Damage the Reputation of the Body "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (201 - 178)
4/09 HB 111 Repeals Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (178 - 184)
4/09 HB 1267 Establishes the Office of Independent Investigations within the Governor's Office to Investigate Deadly Use of Force Incidents Involving Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
4/09 HB 10 Establishes Protections for a Unangan Cemetery Bill Passed - House (31 - 8)
4/08 HB 69 Authorizes the Display of the National Motto "In God We Trust" on School Property "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (204 - 169)
4/08 HB 319 Requires College Students Pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (188 - 187)
4/08 HB 388 Authorizes School Transfers Due to Educational Hardship "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (199 - 175)
4/08 S 177 Prohibits Business from Firing Employees if they Don't Get Vaccinated Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
4/08 SB 267 Prohibits Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccine Passports Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
4/08 H 3620 Increases Penalties for Hate Crimes Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
4/07 HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
4/07 SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 40)
4/07 SB 71 Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/07 SB 600 Requires Independent Investigation of Police Use of Force Incidents that Result in Death Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/07 HB 1323 Repeals Future Mask Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/07 SB 494 Extends Qualified Immunity to Law Enforcement who Patrol Higher Education Institutions Bill Passed - House (76 - 10)
4/07 SB 204 Expands Criminal Justice Agencies to Include Citizen Review Boards Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
4/07 HB 951 Expands the Window for Underage Victims to Sue for Sexual Abuse Bill Passed - House (149 - 52)
4/07 HB 1701 Authorizes Teachers to Teach Creationism as a "Theory of How the Earth Came to Exist" Bill Passed - House (72 - 21)
4/07 HB 184 Increases Penalties for Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (162 - 39)
4/06 S 2508 Amends the New York Multiple Dwelling Law to Encourage the Conversion of Commercial and Hotel Properties to Residential Use Bill Passed - House (106 - 43)
4/06 SB 178 Authorizes Certain Officer Misconduct Records to be Available to the Public Bill Passed - House (88 - 46)
4/06 S 2508 Amends the New York Multiple Dwelling Law to Encourage the Conversion of Commercial and Hotel Properties to Residential Use Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 20)
4/06 HB 605 Establishes Protections For Businesses From Certain COVID-19 Related Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (107 - 94)
4/06 SF 587 Rescinds the Property Tax Levy on Mental Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/06 SF 587 Rescinds the Property Tax Levy on Mental Health Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/06 SB 63 Establishes a Statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/06 HB 2009 Establishes Foreclosure and Mortgage Assistance Bill Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/05 SB 600 Requires Independent Investigation of Police Use of Force Incidents that Result in Death Bill Passed - House (98 - 39)
4/03 HB 1214 Establishes the Category of Safety and Security Staff for K-12 Schools Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
4/02 SB 71 Requires Police to Wear Body Cameras Bill Passed - House (92 - 38)
4/01 HB 207 Appropriates $1.2 Million to the Governor and Attorney General to Challenge Other State's Coal Mining Projects Impacting Wyoming Coal Exports Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 24)
4/01 HB 103 Prohibits the Government Selecting Which Entities Can Remain Open During COVID-19 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
4/01 HB 2770 Authorizes Businesses to Ignore Mask Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
4/01 HB 670 Repeals the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights and Replaces it With a Multistep System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/01 SB 398 Establishes the Presence of a Noose as a Hate Crime Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)

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