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:
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.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 28, 2024 | SD | SB 43 | Establishes Procedures for the Imposition of Fines and Probation Against Medical Cannabis Establishments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
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. 21, 2024 | SD | SB 203 | Authorizes Concealed Carry Permit Holders to Carry a Concealed Weapon on School Grounds with Permission | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Jan. 23, 2024 | SD | SB 57 | Prohibits Professional Agencies from Denying Convicted Felons from Obtaining Trade Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
Jan. 22, 2024 | SD | SB 71 | Repeals Prohibition on Law Enforcement Ability to Inspect, Search, Seize, and Prosecute Cannabis Dispensaries | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
March 27, 2023 | SD | SB 129 | Amends Rules Prohibiting Assault Against Teachers | Veto Override Failed - Senate (20 - 15) |
March 7, 2023 | SD | SB 1 | Expands Definition of Who Can Access Medical Marijuana Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
March 6, 2023 | SD | SB 4 | Amends Court Authority to Commit a Juvenile Habitual Offender to the Department of Corrections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
Feb. 27, 2023 | SD | HB 1135 | Establishes Transparency in the Pricing of Prescription Drugs | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0) |
Feb. 24, 2023 | SD | HB 1090 | Authorizes Protections for Farmers and Agricultural Operations from Frivolous Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
Feb. 13, 2023 | SD | SB 207 | Establishes Penalties for Appropriating Public Funds to Influence an Election Result | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
March 28, 2022 | SD | SB 151 | Requires Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Convictions | Veto Override Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
March 10, 2022 | SD | SB 53 | Authorizes Community Work Center for Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 2) |
March 9, 2022 | SD | SB 24 | Limits Cultivation of Cannabis Plants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 11) |
March 8, 2022 | SD | SB 144 | Establishes The Incarceration Construction Fund | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
Feb. 23, 2022 | SD | SB 32 | Authorizes Community Work Center for Inmates | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
Feb. 8, 2022 | SD | SB 20 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana as a Defense Against Prosecution for Possession and Use | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Jan. 26, 2022 | SD | SB 72 | Prohibits School, Organizational, or Sports Hazing | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 4, 2021 | SD | HCR 6013 | Specifies that the 2nd Amendment is Protected from Federal Overreach | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 20) |
March 4, 2021 | SD | HCR 6013 | Specifies that the 2nd Amendment is Protected from Federal Overreach | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 20) |
Feb. 8, 2021 | SD | HB 1046 | Establishes a COVID-19 Liability Shield for Businesses and Healthcare Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
Oct. 5, 2020 | SD | SCR 601 | Appropriates $597 Million in Federal Funds for COVID-19 Relief | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
March 10, 2020 | SD | SB 151 | Defines "Critical Infrastructure" and Restructures Associated Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 5, 2020 | SD | HB 1117 | Repeals and Revises Certain Provisions Regarding Riots | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Feb. 26, 2020 | SD | SB 96 | Repeals the Lifetime Ban on Drug Felons Receiving TANF Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
Feb. 25, 2020 | SD | SB 6 | Amends Conditions for Presumptive Probation | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
March 7, 2019 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
March 7, 2019 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
March 7, 2019 | SD | SB 189 | Establishes "Riot Boosting" as a Civil Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
Feb. 20, 2019 | SD | SB 115 | Authorizes Constitutional Carry Within the Capital | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
Jan. 22, 2019 | SD | SB 47 | Authorizes Concealed Carry to Individuals Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
March 5, 2014 | SD | HB 1229 | Requires Certain Individuals to be Reported to the National Background Check System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | SD | HB 1087 | Authorizes School Sentinel Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | SD | HB 1248 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
Jan. 30, 2012 | SD | HCR 1004 | Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
March 4, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Feb. 12, 2009 | SD | SB 156 | Expansion of Hate Crime Law | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
Feb. 12, 2009 | SD | SB 156 | Expansion of Hate Crime Law | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | SD | SB 83 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | SD | SB 79 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | SB 174 | Railroad Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
Feb. 6, 2008 | SD | SB 164 | Right to Obtain Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 22) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |