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. 13, 2023 CA AB 352 Requires Information on Fertility and Menstrual Tracking Apps Be Subject to Medical Privacy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Sept. 13, 2023 CA AB 280 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Sept. 7, 2023 CA AB 1078 Prohibits School Book Bans Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
July 25, 2023 ME LD 279 Prohibits Public Entities from Discriminating Against Individuals "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
July 6, 2023 ME LD 1756 Expands Employee's Freedom of Association and Speech in the Workplace "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
June 22, 2023 DE SB 184 Prohibits Discrimination Based On Non-Pending Arrests in Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
June 21, 2023 OR HB 2281 Requires School Districts Hire a Civil Rights Coordinator Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
June 13, 2023 AZ SB 1013 Extends Expanded Free Speech Protections to College Campuses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
June 13, 2023 DE SB 145 Expands the Limits on the Dollar Amount of Awards of Compensatory or Punitive Damages for Employment Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
June 8, 2023 LA HB 160 Authorizes Victims and Family in Juvenile Court Proceedings to Openly Share Information Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
June 8, 2023 LA SB 159 Amends Previous Law to Automatically Classify 17-Year-Old Defendants as Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11)
June 7, 2023 ME LD 1423 Increase the Limits on Awards for Compensatory and Punitive Damages Under the Maine Human Rights Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
June 6, 2023 NY S 1783 Establishes the LGBT and People Living with HIV and in Long-Term Care Facility Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 7)
June 5, 2023 NV AB 404 Authorizes Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits to Increase Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
June 5, 2023 NV AB 452 Amends Regulations and Visitation Rights of Prisoners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
May 25, 2023 CA SB 399 Prohibits an Employer from Requiring an Employee to Come to Certain Political Meetings or Religious Outings Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
May 23, 2023 MI SB 90 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
May 11, 2023 ME LD 53 Repeals Intentional Torts from Workers Compensation Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
May 11, 2023 CA SB 403 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Ancestry Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
May 10, 2023 PA SB 245 Establishes New Rules Regarding Eligibility for Welfare Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
May 5, 2023 MO SB 106 Requires Patient Approval before Doctors Give Prostate, Anal, or Pelvic Exams to Unconscious Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
May 4, 2023 IL HB 1596 Amends the Children Family Services Act by Removing Gender Specific Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
May 2, 2023 FL HB 931 Prohibits Public Institutions from Requiring Students, Faculty, or Staff Take Political Loyalty Tests Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
April 28, 2023 FL SB 266 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Spending Federal or State Funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
April 25, 2023 NV SB 391 Prohibits Local Government Use of "Sundown Sirens" Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 19, 2023 NV SB 239 Authorizes Medical Aid-In-Dying for Terminally Ill Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 13, 2023 MT HB 693 Prohibits State Agencies from Denying Individual Records Request Due To Ongoing Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
April 12, 2023 VA SB 989 Establishes Greater Victims Rights in Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1249 Requires Classification of Student Athletes Based on "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
April 3, 2023 ND HB 1489 Prohibits Collegiate Transgender Athletes from Competing with the Gender They Identify As Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
March 30, 2023 CO HB 23-1011 Authorizes Individuals Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
March 30, 2023 FL SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 14, 2023 NM HB 207 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
March 7, 2023 MS HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
March 7, 2023 IA SF 507 Prohibits Investment of Public Funds from Management by Firms that Account for "Environmental, Social and Governance Factors" Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
March 3, 2023 KY SB 129 Prohibits Selling Data Obtained by Automated License Plate Readers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 1, 2023 MI SB 4 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 7, 2023 VA SB 1515 Establishes Civil Liability for or Publishing or Distributing Material Harmful to Minors on the Internet Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
Jan. 31, 2023 VA SB 1455 Authorizes Law Enforcement to Establish a Curfew Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Jan. 26, 2023 MN HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
Jan. 25, 2023 NY S 345 Establishes 6-Year Statute of Limitations for Employment Discrimination Claims Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
Jan. 24, 2023 NY A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
9/13 AB 352 Requires Information on Fertility and Menstrual Tracking Apps Be Subject to Medical Privacy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
9/13 AB 280 Limits the Use of Solitary Confinement in California State Prisons Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
9/07 AB 1078 Prohibits School Book Bans Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
7/25 LD 279 Prohibits Public Entities from Discriminating Against Individuals "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
7/06 LD 1756 Expands Employee's Freedom of Association and Speech in the Workplace "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 9)
6/22 SB 184 Prohibits Discrimination Based On Non-Pending Arrests in Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 1)
6/21 HB 2281 Requires School Districts Hire a Civil Rights Coordinator Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7)
6/13 SB 1013 Extends Expanded Free Speech Protections to College Campuses Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
6/13 SB 145 Expands the Limits on the Dollar Amount of Awards of Compensatory or Punitive Damages for Employment Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 1)
6/08 HB 160 Authorizes Victims and Family in Juvenile Court Proceedings to Openly Share Information Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
6/08 SB 159 Amends Previous Law to Automatically Classify 17-Year-Old Defendants as Adults Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11)
6/07 LD 1423 Increase the Limits on Awards for Compensatory and Punitive Damages Under the Maine Human Rights Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
6/06 S 1783 Establishes the LGBT and People Living with HIV and in Long-Term Care Facility Bill of Rights Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 7)
6/05 AB 404 Authorizes Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits to Increase Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
6/05 AB 452 Amends Regulations and Visitation Rights of Prisoners Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
5/25 SB 399 Prohibits an Employer from Requiring an Employee to Come to Certain Political Meetings or Religious Outings Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
5/23 SB 90 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
5/11 LD 53 Repeals Intentional Torts from Workers Compensation Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
5/11 SB 403 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Ancestry Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
5/10 SB 245 Establishes New Rules Regarding Eligibility for Welfare Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
5/05 SB 106 Requires Patient Approval before Doctors Give Prostate, Anal, or Pelvic Exams to Unconscious Individuals Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
5/04 HB 1596 Amends the Children Family Services Act by Removing Gender Specific Pronouns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
5/02 HB 931 Prohibits Public Institutions from Requiring Students, Faculty, or Staff Take Political Loyalty Tests Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
4/28 SB 266 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Spending Federal or State Funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/25 SB 391 Prohibits Local Government Use of "Sundown Sirens" Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/19 SB 239 Authorizes Medical Aid-In-Dying for Terminally Ill Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/13 HB 693 Prohibits State Agencies from Denying Individual Records Request Due To Ongoing Litigation Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
4/12 SB 989 Establishes Greater Victims Rights in Court Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 5)
4/03 HB 1249 Requires Classification of Student Athletes Based on "Biological Sex" Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
4/03 HB 1489 Prohibits Collegiate Transgender Athletes from Competing with the Gender They Identify As Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 7)
3/30 HB 23-1011 Authorizes Individuals Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
3/30 SB 450 Reduces Amount of Jurors Needed for Agreement on Death Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/14 HB 207 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
3/07 HB 1020 Establishes a Court System of Unelected Judges and Prosecutors for the City of Jackson, Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
3/07 SF 507 Prohibits Investment of Public Funds from Management by Firms that Account for "Environmental, Social and Governance Factors" Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
3/03 SB 129 Prohibits Selling Data Obtained by Automated License Plate Readers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/01 SB 4 Prohibits Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/07 SB 1515 Establishes Civil Liability for or Publishing or Distributing Material Harmful to Minors on the Internet Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 3)
1/31 SB 1455 Authorizes Law Enforcement to Establish a Curfew Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
1/26 HF 37 Prohibits Hair Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 19)
1/25 S 345 Establishes 6-Year Statute of Limitations for Employment Discrimination Claims Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 6)
1/24 A 1283 Authorizes Constitutional Referendum Prohibiting Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Reproductive Autonomy, Etc. (43 - 20)

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