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
Aug. 31, 2024 CA SB 399 Prohibits an Employer from Requiring an Employee to Come to Certain Political Meetings or Religious Outings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 30, 2024 CA SB 1340 Amends State Definitions of Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 30, 2024 CA AB 1008 Extends Privacy Laws to AI Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Aug. 28, 2024 CA AB 3089 Authorizes Apology for State's Role in Slavery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
Aug. 27, 2024 CA AB 2499 Expands Paid Sick Leave Requirements and Amends Unlawful Employment Practices to Include New Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Aug. 26, 2024 CA SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 26, 2024 CA AB 1815 Prohibts Discrimination on Hair Texture and Hair Style Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 26, 2024 CA AB 1186 Exempts Youth Restitution Charges Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Aug. 12, 2024 CA AB 2867 Authorizes Expropriation of Artwork Recovered by Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
July 9, 2024 PA HB 1466 Increases Pennsylvanians' Freedom of Speech and Those Subject to Frivolous Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
June 26, 2024 MI SB 670 Expands Coverage of Freedom of Information Requests Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
June 18, 2024 DE HCR 155 Establishes June 2024 as Pride Month In the State of Delaware Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
June 11, 2024 RI H 8155 Amends and Simplifies Name Change Process Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
June 4, 2024 NY S 7506 Prohibits Child Removal Based on Receiving of Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
May 26, 2024 IL SB 3649 Prohibits Forced Partiicpation in Employer Mandated Religious or Political Meetings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 1340 Amends State Definitions of Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 1403 Exempts the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency from Certain Prohibitions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
May 21, 2024 CA SB 1286 Amend Sections of the Civil and Financial Code Regarding Debt Collection Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
May 20, 2024 LA HB 737 Prohibits Anyone from Protesting in a Group Within 50 Feet of a Home Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
May 20, 2024 NJ A 2280 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in Real Estate Appraisals and Requires Appraisers Complete Anti-Bias Training Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
May 6, 2024 CO SB 24-053 Establishes an Independent Study on an Evaluation of Racial Equity for Black Coloradans Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 2, 2024 IL SB 3649 Prohibits Forced Partiicpation in Employer Mandated Religious or Political Meetings Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 18)
May 1, 2024 HI SB 2919 Authorizes Counties to Enact Zoning Ordinances Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
April 30, 2024 CO SB 24-131 Prohibits Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 19, 2024 National HR 7888 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34)
April 18, 2024 National HR 7888 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 32)
April 18, 2024 NE LB 1092 Requires Online Age Verification Liability Act Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
April 12, 2024 IL SB 3762 Establishes the Language and Access Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
April 11, 2024 NE LB 631 Expands the Board of Parole in Nebraska Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 10, 2024 ID H 538 Prohibits Governmental Entities From Compelling Employees to Use Certain Pronouns or Titles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
March 28, 2024 ID SCR 135 Establishes Opposition to Racism and Hate Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
March 25, 2024 ID H 620 Prohibits Local Regulation of the Carrying of Knives Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
March 18, 2024 CA SR 70 Establishes a Transgender Day of Visibility Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
March 14, 2024 ID H 578 Prohibits Religious Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care Cases Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
March 13, 2024 DE SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
March 12, 2024 WI AJR 109 Prohibits Governments from Giving Preferential Treatment to Staff on the Basis of Race, Sex, or National Origin Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 5, 2024 IN HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
March 4, 2024 WA SB 5824 Increases Legal Protections for State Public Libraries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
March 4, 2024 ID S 1362 Prohibits display of Certain Flags in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Feb. 29, 2024 IN SB 202 Amends State University Tenure, Promotion and Diversity Policies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2024 SD HB 1098 Repeals the Fee for Homeless Individuals to Obtain a Copy of Their Birth Certificate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
Feb. 15, 2024 FL HB 1377 Establishes Exemptions From Public Document Requests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Feb. 15, 2024 UT HB 249 Prohibits Government Entities from Granting or Recognizing Legal Personhood in Certain Categories of Nonhumans Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2024 NJ S 1602 Prohibits Discrimination Based On Height and Weight Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Feb. 12, 2024 NY S 8058 Defines Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
Feb. 6, 2024 IN SB 128 Prohibits Schools from Using Learning Materials for Instruction on Human Sexuality Without Board Approval Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Jan. 25, 2024 GA HB 30 Defines "Antisemitism" into State Law Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6)
Jan. 19, 2024 LA HB 17 Authorizes Certain Offices to Conduct Closed Party Primary Elections and Amends Election Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Jan. 18, 2024 MA S 2551 Repeals Certain Language in Several State Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Jan. 8, 2024 NJ S 723 Establishes a Domestic Bill of Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
8/31 SB 399 Prohibits an Employer from Requiring an Employee to Come to Certain Political Meetings or Religious Outings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/30 SB 1340 Amends State Definitions of Discrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/30 AB 1008 Extends Privacy Laws to AI Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
8/28 AB 3089 Authorizes Apology for State's Role in Slavery Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
8/27 AB 2499 Expands Paid Sick Leave Requirements and Amends Unlawful Employment Practices to Include New Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
8/26 SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/26 AB 1815 Prohibts Discrimination on Hair Texture and Hair Style Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/26 AB 1186 Exempts Youth Restitution Charges Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
8/12 AB 2867 Authorizes Expropriation of Artwork Recovered by Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
7/09 HB 1466 Increases Pennsylvanians' Freedom of Speech and Those Subject to Frivolous Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
6/26 SB 670 Expands Coverage of Freedom of Information Requests Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
6/18 HCR 155 Establishes June 2024 as Pride Month In the State of Delaware Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
6/11 H 8155 Amends and Simplifies Name Change Process Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
6/04 S 7506 Prohibits Child Removal Based on Receiving of Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
5/26 SB 3649 Prohibits Forced Partiicpation in Employer Mandated Religious or Political Meetings Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
5/21 SB 1340 Amends State Definitions of Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
5/21 SB 1022 Amend Sections Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
5/21 SB 1403 Exempts the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency from Certain Prohibitions Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
5/21 SB 1286 Amend Sections of the Civil and Financial Code Regarding Debt Collection Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
5/20 HB 737 Prohibits Anyone from Protesting in a Group Within 50 Feet of a Home Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
5/20 A 2280 Prohibits Discriminatory Practices in Real Estate Appraisals and Requires Appraisers Complete Anti-Bias Training Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
5/06 SB 24-053 Establishes an Independent Study on an Evaluation of Racial Equity for Black Coloradans Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/02 SB 3649 Prohibits Forced Partiicpation in Employer Mandated Religious or Political Meetings Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 18)
5/01 SB 2919 Authorizes Counties to Enact Zoning Ordinances Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3)
4/30 SB 24-131 Prohibits Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/19 HR 7888 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34)
4/18 HR 7888 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 32)
4/18 LB 1092 Requires Online Age Verification Liability Act Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 1)
4/12 SB 3762 Establishes the Language and Access Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
4/11 LB 631 Expands the Board of Parole in Nebraska Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/10 H 538 Prohibits Governmental Entities From Compelling Employees to Use Certain Pronouns or Titles Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
3/28 SCR 135 Establishes Opposition to Racism and Hate Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 1)
3/25 H 620 Prohibits Local Regulation of the Carrying of Knives Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
3/18 SR 70 Establishes a Transgender Day of Visibility Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
3/14 H 578 Prohibits Religious Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care Cases Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
3/13 SB 203 Expands Codes Related to Official Misconduct Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
3/12 AJR 109 Prohibits Governments from Giving Preferential Treatment to Staff on the Basis of Race, Sex, or National Origin Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/05 HB 1002 Defines Antisemitism as Discrimination on the Basis of the Jewish Religion Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6)
3/04 SB 5824 Increases Legal Protections for State Public Libraries Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
3/04 S 1362 Prohibits display of Certain Flags in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
2/29 SB 202 Amends State University Tenure, Promotion and Diversity Policies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
2/27 HB 1098 Repeals the Fee for Homeless Individuals to Obtain a Copy of Their Birth Certificate Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
2/15 HB 1377 Establishes Exemptions From Public Document Requests Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
2/15 HB 249 Prohibits Government Entities from Granting or Recognizing Legal Personhood in Certain Categories of Nonhumans Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
2/12 S 1602 Prohibits Discrimination Based On Height and Weight Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
2/12 S 8058 Defines Gender-Affirming Care Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 21)
2/06 SB 128 Prohibits Schools from Using Learning Materials for Instruction on Human Sexuality Without Board Approval Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
1/25 HB 30 Defines "Antisemitism" into State Law Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 6)
1/19 HB 17 Authorizes Certain Offices to Conduct Closed Party Primary Elections and Amends Election Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
1/18 S 2551 Repeals Certain Language in Several State Laws Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
1/08 S 723 Establishes a Domestic Bill of Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)

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