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
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. 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 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. 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 AB 570 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Make Coverage Available to their Members' Dependent Parents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 15)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA AB 1084 Requires Retailers and Department Stores to Have a Gender Neutral Section Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Sept. 2, 2021 CA SB 714 Authorizes DREAMers to Participate in County Central Committees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
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 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 570 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Make Coverage Available to their Members' Dependent Parents Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Sept. 1, 2021 CA SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Bill Passed - House (57 - 13)
Sept. 1, 2021 CA AB 1084 Requires Retailers and Department Stores to Have a Gender Neutral Section Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
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 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Sept. 1, 2021 CA SB 714 Authorizes DREAMers to Participate in County Central Committees Bill Passed - House (57 - 11)
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. 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. 19, 2021 NC SB 688 Authorizes Sports Betting in North Carolina Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
Aug. 18, 2021 NC HB 398 Repeals Previous State Handgun Buying Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Aug. 11, 2021 TX SB 2 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Gender Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
July 22, 2021 National HR 3985 Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (407 - 16)
July 22, 2021 MA H 3977 Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (156 - 3)
July 21, 2021 LA SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 30)
July 21, 2021 LA SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 30)
July 20, 2021 LA SB 118 Amends Laws Related to Concealed Carrying of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
July 20, 2021 LA SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
July 20, 2021 LA SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
July 16, 2021 TX SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
July 15, 2021 CA AB 133 Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
July 14, 2021 TX SB 2 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Gender Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 3)
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 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 30, 2021 AZ HB 2550 Prohibits False Complaints Against a Peace Officer Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 30, 2021 NJ S 3319 Repeals Certain Juvenile Justice Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
June 29, 2021 AZ SB 1082 Authorizes Certain Contraceptive Products to be Dispensed Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
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 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)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/09 AB 173 Requires the California DOJ to Supply Information to the California Firearm Violence Research Center Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
9/08 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
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)
9/03 SB 2 Prohibits the Transfer of Police Officers to Other Departments Following Misconduct Convictions Bill Passed - House (49 - 21)
9/02 AB 570 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Make Coverage Available to their Members' Dependent Parents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 15)
9/02 AB 1084 Requires Retailers and Department Stores to Have a Gender Neutral Section Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 16)
9/02 SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/02 SB 714 Authorizes DREAMers to Participate in County Central Committees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
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 HB 324 Prohibits the Teaching of Certain Topics Related to Racism, Civics, and American History Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 41)
9/01 AB 570 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Make Coverage Available to their Members' Dependent Parents Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
9/01 SB 16 Expands the Public's Access to Police Records Bill Passed - House (57 - 13)
9/01 AB 1084 Requires Retailers and Department Stores to Have a Gender Neutral Section Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
9/01 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
9/01 AB 1356 Prohibits Patients and Providers at Reproductive Healthcare Facilities from Being Recorded Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
9/01 SB 714 Authorizes DREAMers to Participate in County Central Committees Bill Passed - House (57 - 11)
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)
8/26 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)
8/19 SB 688 Authorizes Sports Betting in North Carolina Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
8/18 HB 398 Repeals Previous State Handgun Buying Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
8/11 SB 2 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Gender Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
7/22 HR 3985 Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (407 - 16)
7/22 H 3977 Authorizes the Legalization of Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (156 - 3)
7/21 SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 30)
7/21 SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Failed - House (68 - 30)
7/20 SB 118 Amends Laws Related to Concealed Carrying of Firearms Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
7/20 SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
7/20 SB 156 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating Against Sports Teams that do Not Match Their Birth Sex Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
7/16 SB 3 Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4)
7/15 AB 133 Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
7/14 SB 2 Prohibits Transgender Athletes from Participating on Sports Teams that do Not Match their Birth Gender Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 3)
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 2906 Prohibits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/30 HB 2550 Prohibits False Complaints Against a Peace Officer Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/30 S 3319 Repeals Certain Juvenile Justice Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
6/29 SB 1082 Authorizes Certain Contraceptive Products to be Dispensed Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
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 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)

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