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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2013 | National | S Amdt 923 | Prohibits the Payment of the Premium for an Insurance Policy For Tobacco | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 52) |
| May 22, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24) |
| May 22, 2013 | ME | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| May 21, 2013 | KS | HB 2162 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used to Lobby for Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 28) |
| May 20, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 16, 2013 | AZ | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 14, 2013 | MO | SJR 16 | Establishes an Additional Sales Tax for Local Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (100 - 57) |
| May 14, 2013 | OK | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| May 9, 2013 | MO | HB 19 | Appropriates Funds for Capitol Renovations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 42) |
| May 9, 2013 | MO | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 51) |
| May 9, 2013 | National | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| May 9, 2013 | OK | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| May 8, 2013 | MO | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| May 8, 2013 | NC | HB 101 | Repeals the Estate Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 37) |
| May 8, 2013 | TX | HB 500 | Expands Franchise Tax Exemption for Certain Businesses | Bill Passed - House (117 - 24) |
| May 7, 2013 | TX | HB 928 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| May 7, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - House (117 - 26) |
| May 6, 2013 | OK | HB 2005 | Extends Tax Credits for Qualified Clean-Burning Motor Vehicle Property | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 29) |
| May 6, 2013 | OK | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| May 6, 2013 | National | S 743 | Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27) |
| May 6, 2013 | PA | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| May 2, 2013 | ND | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| May 2, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| May 1, 2013 | ND | HB 1234 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Conference Report Rejected - House (21 - 71) |
| May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7007 | Exempts Manufacturing Equipment from Sales Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 48) |
| May 1, 2013 | OK | HB 1910 | Amends State Property Sale Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| May 1, 2013 | OK | HB 2032 | Reduces Certain Income Tax Rates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35) |
| May 1, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| April 30, 2013 | HI | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| April 30, 2013 | IA | HF 638 | Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 30, 2013 | OR | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| April 30, 2013 | MI | SB 197 | Requires the State Prison Food Service To Seek Competitive Bids From Private Entities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| April 29, 2013 | FL | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/23 | S Amdt 923 | Prohibits the Payment of the Premium for an Insurance Policy For Tobacco | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 52) |
| 5/22 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 5/22 | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| 5/21 | HB 2162 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used to Lobby for Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 28) |
| 5/20 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 5/19 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| 5/19 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/18 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |
| 5/17 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| 5/17 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| 5/16 | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 5/14 | SJR 16 | Establishes an Additional Sales Tax for Local Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - House (100 - 57) |
| 5/14 | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| 5/09 | HB 19 | Appropriates Funds for Capitol Renovations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 42) |
| 5/09 | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 51) |
| 5/09 | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| 5/09 | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 5/08 | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 5/08 | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 5/08 | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 5/08 | HB 101 | Repeals the Estate Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 37) |
| 5/08 | HB 500 | Expands Franchise Tax Exemption for Certain Businesses | Bill Passed - House (117 - 24) |
| 5/07 | HB 928 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| 5/07 | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - House (117 - 26) |
| 5/06 | HB 2005 | Extends Tax Credits for Qualified Clean-Burning Motor Vehicle Property | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 29) |
| 5/06 | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 5/06 | S 743 | Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27) |
| 5/06 | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
| 5/02 | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| 5/02 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| 5/01 | HB 1234 | Reduces Oil Extraction Tax | Conference Report Rejected - House (21 - 71) |
| 5/01 | HB 7007 | Exempts Manufacturing Equipment from Sales Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 48) |
| 5/01 | HB 1910 | Amends State Property Sale Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 5/01 | HB 2032 | Reduces Certain Income Tax Rates | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 35) |
| 5/01 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 5/01 | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| 5/01 | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| 4/30 | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| 4/30 | HF 638 | Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/30 | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| 4/30 | SB 197 | Requires the State Prison Food Service To Seek Competitive Bids From Private Entities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 4/29 | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |