Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
Sept. 10, 2021 CA SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
Sept. 10, 2021 CA SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 481 Requires Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Approval Before Acquiring Military-Grade Equipment Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 490 Prohibits Law Enforcements Agencies from Authorizing Certain Restraint Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 18)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 173 Requires the California DOJ to Supply Information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 173 Requires the California DOJ to Supply Information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA AB 481 Requires Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Approval Before Acquiring Military-Grade Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Sept. 9, 2021 CA SB 510 Requires Health Insurers to Cover the Cost of COVID-19 Testing Bill Passed - House (55 - 17)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 48 Prohibits Police from Using Tear Gas on Protestors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 19)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 490 Prohibits Law Enforcements Agencies from Authorizing Certain Restraint Techniques Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Sept. 8, 2021 CA SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
Sept. 7, 2021 KY HJR 1 Extends the Governor's Emergency Health Order Until January 15th Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Sept. 3, 2021 CA SB 2 Prohibits the Transfer of Police Officers to Other Departments Following Misconduct Convictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA AB 48 Prohibits Police from Using Tear Gas on Protestors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Sept. 1, 2021 NC HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41)
Sept. 1, 2021 CA AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Sept. 1, 2021 CA SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Bill Passed - House (57 - 13)
Sept. 1, 2021 MI HB 4061 Prohibits Using the Public Threat Alert System for Executive Orders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Aug. 31, 2021 TX SB 6 Amends Cash Bail Laws For Individuals Accused of Violent Crimes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
Aug. 30, 2021 TX SB 6 Amends Cash Bail Laws For Individuals Accused of Violent Crimes Bill Passed - House (85 - 40)
Aug. 26, 2021 NC HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
Aug. 25, 2021 NC HB 805 Increases Penalties for People Engaged in "Riots" Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19)
Aug. 18, 2021 NC HB 398 Repeals Previous State Handgun Buying Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
July 20, 2021 LA SB 118 Amends Laws Related to Concealed Carrying of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
July 16, 2021 TX SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
July 1, 2021 RI H 5245 Establishes Harm Reduction Centers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 30, 2021 ME LD 1592 Establishes Decriminalization of Prostitution and Strengthens Laws Against Sexual Exploitation Veto Override Failed - House (76 - 70)
June 30, 2021 WI SB 120 Establishes Use of Force Policies for Law Enforcement Officers Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 20)
June 30, 2021 AZ HB 2550 Prohibits False Complaints Against a Peace Officer Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 30, 2021 AZ HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 30, 2021 NJ S 3319 Repeals Certain Juvenile Justice Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
June 30, 2021 National H Res 503 Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Bill Passed - House (222 - 190)
June 29, 2021 DE SB 111 Specifies Automatic Expungement Process Bill Passed - House (36 - 5)
June 29, 2021 DE SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
June 29, 2021 DE SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
June 29, 2021 RI H 5245 Establishes Harm Reduction Centers Bill Passed - House (63 - 9)
June 29, 2021 National HR 3005 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (285 - 120)
June 28, 2021 OH HB 244 Prohibits COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements in State Public Schools and Universities Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
June 28, 2021 OH HB 244 Prohibits COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements in State Public Schools and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
June 28, 2021 National HR 391 Global Health Security Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (307 - 112)
June 25, 2021 AZ HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - House (31 - 25)
June 25, 2021 OH HB 22 Amends the Definition of Obstruction of Justice to Include Distracting a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (61 - 33)
June 24, 2021 PA SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
June 24, 2021 NJ S 2924 Appropriates $8.4 Million for a "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities" Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 21)
June 24, 2021 NJ A 5864 Authorizes Police to View Body Camera Footage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
June 24, 2021 DE SB 7 Requires Bond and Weapons Seizure for Those Facing Violent Crime Charges Bill Passed - House (32 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/10 SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
9/10 SB 98 Establishes Journalists Can Cover Events in Areas that Have Been Closed by Law Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 18)
9/09 AB 481 Requires Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Approval Before Acquiring Military-Grade Equipment Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 25)
9/09 AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12)
9/09 AB 490 Prohibits Law Enforcements Agencies from Authorizing Certain Restraint Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 18)
9/09 AB 173 Requires the California DOJ to Supply Information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18)
9/09 AB 173 Requires the California DOJ to Supply Information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
9/09 AB 481 Requires Law Enforcement Agencies Receive Approval Before Acquiring Military-Grade Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
9/09 SB 510 Requires Health Insurers to Cover the Cost of COVID-19 Testing Bill Passed - House (55 - 17)
9/08 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
9/08 AB 48 Prohibits Police from Using Tear Gas on Protestors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 19)
9/08 AB 490 Prohibits Law Enforcements Agencies from Authorizing Certain Restraint Techniques Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
9/08 AB 105 Requires State Boards and Committees to be More Diverse Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
9/08 SB 742 Prohibits Interfering with People in Connection with Any Vaccination Services Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
9/07 HJR 1 Extends the Governor's Emergency Health Order Until January 15th Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
9/03 SB 2 Prohibits the Transfer of Police Officers to Other Departments Following Misconduct Convictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
9/02 SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/02 AB 48 Prohibits Police from Using Tear Gas on Protestors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
9/01 HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41)
9/01 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
9/01 SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Bill Passed - House (57 - 13)
9/01 HB 4061 Prohibits Using the Public Threat Alert System for Executive Orders Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
8/31 SB 6 Amends Cash Bail Laws For Individuals Accused of Violent Crimes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
8/30 SB 6 Amends Cash Bail Laws For Individuals Accused of Violent Crimes Bill Passed - House (85 - 40)
8/26 HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
8/25 HB 805 Increases Penalties for People Engaged in "Riots" Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 19)
8/18 HB 398 Repeals Previous State Handgun Buying Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
7/20 SB 118 Amends Laws Related to Concealed Carrying of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
7/16 SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
7/01 H 5245 Establishes Harm Reduction Centers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/30 LD 1592 Establishes Decriminalization of Prostitution and Strengthens Laws Against Sexual Exploitation Veto Override Failed - House (76 - 70)
6/30 SB 120 Establishes Use of Force Policies for Law Enforcement Officers Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 20)
6/30 HB 2550 Prohibits False Complaints Against a Peace Officer Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/30 HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/30 S 3319 Repeals Certain Juvenile Justice Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
6/30 H Res 503 Establishing the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol Bill Passed - House (222 - 190)
6/29 SB 111 Specifies Automatic Expungement Process Bill Passed - House (36 - 5)
6/29 SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
6/29 SB 148 Expands the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trusts Responsibility to Review Deadly Use of Force Incidents Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
6/29 H 5245 Establishes Harm Reduction Centers Bill Passed - House (63 - 9)
6/29 HR 3005 To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Thurgood Marshall to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library and to remove certain statues from areas of the United States Capitol which are accessible to the public, to remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol, and for other purposes. Bill Passed - House (285 - 120)
6/28 HB 244 Prohibits COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements in State Public Schools and Universities Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
6/28 HB 244 Prohibits COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements in State Public Schools and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
6/28 HR 391 Global Health Security Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (307 - 112)
6/25 HB 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - House (31 - 25)
6/25 HB 22 Amends the Definition of Obstruction of Justice to Include Distracting a Police Officer Bill Passed - House (61 - 33)
6/24 SB 618 Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
6/24 S 2924 Appropriates $8.4 Million for a "Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities" Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 21)
6/24 A 5864 Authorizes Police to View Body Camera Footage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
6/24 SB 7 Requires Bond and Weapons Seizure for Those Facing Violent Crime Charges Bill Passed - House (32 - 8)

arrow_upward