Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
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:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2024 | PA | SB 228 | Establishes a Process for Museums to Claim Property Rights on Abandoned, Unclaimed, or Undocumented Property | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| June 27, 2023 | PA | SB 838 | Amends the State Probation Program to Make it Easier for Individuals that Meet Educational or Employment Goals | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| May 10, 2023 | PA | SB 245 | Establishes New Rules Regarding Eligibility for Welfare Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Jan. 18, 2023 | PA | SB 84 | Authorizes Teacher Religious Garb in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 26, 2022 | PA | HB 1393 | Defines Testing of Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Compounds in Relation to Controlled Substances | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| Oct. 25, 2022 | PA | HB 1546 | Prohibits "Endangerment" of Public Safety Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| July 6, 2022 | PA | SB 1183 | Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 2) |
| July 6, 2022 | PA | HB 146 | Prohibits Premature Release of an Individual who has Committed a Violent Offense while Imprisoned | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 29, 2022 | PA | HB 972 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| June 29, 2022 | PA | SB 1278 | Prohibits Instruction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for K-5 Students | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 14, 2022 | PA | SB 1237 | Establishes a State Horse Racing Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1) |
| June 7, 2022 | PA | SB 1191 | Prohibits Transgender Girls from Playing on Female Sports Teams | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Jan. 25, 2022 | PA | HB 979 | Authorizes Gun Owners and Organizations to Challenge Local Guns Laws that are Stricter than State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Nov. 9, 2021 | PA | SB 448 | Authorizes Municipalities and Counties to be Sued for Gun Ordinances | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Nov. 9, 2021 | PA | SB 565 | Expands Concealed Carry Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Oct. 26, 2021 | PA | SB 814 | Classifies Fleeing an Officer Attempting to Arrest and Injuring a Police Dog as a Crime | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| Oct. 26, 2021 | PA | SB 814 | Increases Penalties For Fleeing the Police on Foot | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| June 24, 2021 | PA | SB 618 | Prohibits Vaccine Passports and Limits Powers of the Secretary of Health | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Jan. 27, 2021 | PA | SB 87 | Establishes a Task Force on Child Pornography | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2) |
| Nov. 18, 2020 | PA | HB 1747 | Limits the Governors Ability to Restrict Firearm Access During a Disaster Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Nov. 18, 2020 | PA | HB 2440 | Classifies Shooting Ranges, Sportsman Clubs, Hunting Facilities, and Firearm Businesses as "Life-Sustaining" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Nov. 18, 2020 | PA | HB 2440 | Classifies Shooting Ranges, Sportsman Clubs, Hunting Facilities, and Firearm Businesses as "Life-Sustaining" | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Oct. 21, 2020 | PA | HB 440 | Repeals Obligation to Pay Outstanding Court-Ordered Finances Before Eligible Cases Are Sealed | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 5, 2020 | PA | HB 1984 | Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| Sept. 9, 2020 | PA | HB 2787 | Authorizes Individual School Districts to Make Decisions Surrounding Activities and COVID-19 | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| July 15, 2020 | PA | SB 14 | Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 30, 2020 | PA | HB 1910 | Establishes New Training Requirements for Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 30, 2020 | PA | HB 1910 | Establishes New Training Requirements for Police Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | SB 1205 | Prohibits the Use of Police Chokeholds | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | SB 459 | Requires Municipal Law Enforcement Department Adoption of Use of Force Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| June 24, 2020 | PA | SB 1205 | Prohibits the Use of Police Chokeholds | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0) |
| Dec. 18, 2019 | PA | SB 501 | Amends Parole, Probation, and Criminal Sentencing Guidelines | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| Nov. 21, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Nov. 20, 2019 | PA | HB 1402 | Establishes and Defines the Crime of Sexual Extortion | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| Nov. 20, 2019 | PA | HB 321 | Prohibits Abortions Based on a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Oct. 23, 2019 | PA | HB 49 | Authorizes School Police to Make Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| June 26, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 26, 2019 | PA | SB 147 | Establishes Hunting Regulations on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 11, 2019 | PA | SB 621 | Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 17, 2018 | PA | SB 554 | Establishes Protections for Juvenile Human Trafficking Victims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| Oct. 3, 2018 | PA | HB 2060 | Requires Surrender of Firearms in Protection Abuse Situations | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 864 | Amends Gaming and Gambling Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 29) |
| June 22, 2018 | PA | HB 1419 | Authorizes Limited Access to Certain Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0) |
| April 18, 2018 | PA | SB 961 | Increases OWI Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| June 28, 2017 | PA | SB 383 | Authorizes Teachers to Carry Firearms on School Property | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| May 24, 2017 | PA | HB 271 | Establishes Internet Gambling Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Feb. 1, 2017 | PA | SB 261 | Increases the Statute of Limitations for Victims of Sexual Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0) |
| July 13, 2015 | PA | SB 683 | Requires DNA Sample from Individuals Arrested for Certain Crimes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| Oct. 16, 2014 | PA | HB 80 | Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| Oct. 15, 2014 | PA | HB 1750 | Prohibits Pigeon Shoots | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| March 19, 2013 | PA | SB 644 | Amends the Definition of "Wild Animal" | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | SB 850 | Repeals Mandatory Life Sentences for Certain Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| March 7, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | HB 960 | Public Assistance Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| Oct. 14, 2010 | PA | HB 1926 | Amending Self-Protection Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 8, 2010 | PA | SB 1161 | Authorizing Qualified Inmate Transfer to Pre-Release Centers | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| Jan. 5, 2010 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Dec. 16, 2009 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| June 10, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| July 16, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36) |
| June 26, 2007 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 25, 2007 | PA | A 2062 | Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| June 21, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| June 21, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| June 21, 2006 | PA | HB 2381 | Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| March 20, 2006 | PA | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |