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
Dec. 1, 2022 National H J Res 100 To provide for a resolution with respect to the unresolved disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of their employees. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (80 - 15)
Dec. 1, 2022 National H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (52 - 43)
Aug. 24, 2022 CA AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Aug. 23, 2022 CA AB 485 Amends the California Penal Code on Hate Crimes for Transparency of Police Departments Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
Aug. 18, 2022 CA AB 2799 Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
June 3, 2022 LA HB 729 Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
June 1, 2022 OH SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
June 1, 2022 OH SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
June 1, 2022 NY S 8922 Establishes Worker Protections for Warehouse Workers Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 18)
May 31, 2022 NY S 9039 Prohibits Interference with Protected Rights Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
May 11, 2022 AK SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 0)
May 9, 2022 CO HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 3, 2022 VT H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 25, 2022 KS SB 366 Establishes a Mechanism for Drug Offenders to Seek Relief from the Kansas Offender Registration Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
April 18, 2022 OK HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
April 18, 2022 OK HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
April 7, 2022 ME LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 11)
April 6, 2022 AZ HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
April 4, 2022 GA HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
March 31, 2022 MA H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
March 23, 2022 KS HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
March 22, 2022 MD HB 1 Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 22, 2022 IA SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
March 21, 2022 TN HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 21, 2022 AZ HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
March 15, 2022 GA SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
March 11, 2022 GA SB 377 Prohibits Teaching "Divisive Concepts" Such as Systematic Racism Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
March 10, 2022 FL HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 7, 2022 National HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - Senate (100 - 0)
March 7, 2022 FL HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
March 3, 2022 FL SB 1798 Increases the Monetary Damages an Individual May Receive as a Result of Violations Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
Feb. 24, 2022 MS HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
Feb. 23, 2022 ME LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2022 ME LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2022 WY SF 103 Limits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
Feb. 22, 2022 WI AB 884 Classifies Courses on U.S. Constitution as Diversity, Ethnic Studies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 14, 2022 AZ SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
Jan. 25, 2022 WI AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Jan. 25, 2022 GA SR 363 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum on Limiting Voting Rights to U.S. Citizens Motion Agreed - Senate (33 - 18)
Jan. 21, 2022 MS SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
Jan. 10, 2022 NE LR 14 Establishes a Resolution to Amend the United States Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/01 H J Res 100 To provide for a resolution with respect to the unresolved disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of their employees. Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (80 - 15)
12/01 H Con Res 119 Providing for a Correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100. Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (52 - 43)
8/24 AB 2658 Prohibits Excessive Electronic Monitoring of Minors in Home Detention Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
8/23 AB 485 Amends the California Penal Code on Hate Crimes for Transparency of Police Departments Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
8/18 AB 2799 Requires Criminal Courts Consider Potential Prejudice when Weighing Music Lyrics as Evidence Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
6/03 HB 729 Limits the Release and Dissemination of Booking Photos of Arrested Persons Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5)
6/01 SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
6/01 SB 156 Expands Definition of "Right to Bear Arms" to Include Knives Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
6/01 S 8922 Establishes Worker Protections for Warehouse Workers Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 18)
5/31 S 9039 Prohibits Interference with Protected Rights Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
5/11 SB 174 Prohibits Hair Discrimination in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 0)
5/09 HB 22-1367 Expands Protections for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/03 H 96 Establishes a State Commission to Study Racism, Discrimination, and Eugenics Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/25 SB 366 Establishes a Mechanism for Drug Offenders to Seek Relief from the Kansas Offender Registration Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 3)
4/18 HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
4/18 HB 3543 Requires Toleration of Free Speech on College Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 2)
4/07 LD 965 Prohibits Certain Employer/Employee Contracts and Agreements "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 11)
4/06 HB 2707 Establishes New Requirements for Flags, Moments of Silence, and Other Displays in Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
4/04 HB 1390 Establishes a Cause of Action Against Government Employers Who Retaliate Against Employees Due to Complaints of Sexual Harassment Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
3/31 H 4554 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Hair or Hairstyle (40 - 0)
3/23 HCR 5014 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
3/22 HB 1 Authorizes the Use and Possession of Cannabis Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/22 SF 2363 Amends Requirements of Sex Offender Registry Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
3/21 HB 2670 Prohibits Teaching of Certain Concepts Relating to Race, Sex, or Religion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/21 HB 2659 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 0)
3/15 SB 171 Requires a Permit to Assemble and Increases Penalties for Unlawful Protest Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 21)
3/11 SB 377 Prohibits Teaching "Divisive Concepts" Such as Systematic Racism Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20)
3/10 HB 7 Limits Protected Speech in Specific Workplaces Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/07 HR 55 Emmett Till Antilynching Act Bill Passed - Senate (100 - 0)
3/07 HB 1571 Increases Protesting on Private Property to a Second Degree Misdemeanor Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3)
3/03 SB 1798 Increases the Monetary Damages an Individual May Receive as a Result of Violations Relating to Sexual Cyberharassment Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0)
2/24 HB 20 Prohibits Organ Donor Discrimination Based on Disability Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
2/23 LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
2/23 LD 344 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sex "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 12)
2/23 SF 103 Limits the Teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
2/22 AB 884 Classifies Courses on U.S. Constitution as Diversity, Ethnic Studies Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/14 SB 1163 Expands Healthcare Options for Individuals with Terminal Illness/Disease Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
1/25 AB 411 Amends Current Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism Instructions and Training for Employees of School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
1/25 SR 363 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum on Limiting Voting Rights to U.S. Citizens Motion Agreed - Senate (33 - 18)
1/21 SB 2113 Prohibits Teaching the Topic Known as "Critical Race Theory" Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
1/10 LR 14 Establishes a Resolution to Amend the United States Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 10)

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