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
March 11, 2013 OK SB 585 Reduces Personal Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 7, 2013 MN HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28)
March 7, 2013 CA SB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
March 5, 2013 HI SB 69 Requires Background Checks at Gun Registration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
Feb. 28, 2013 AL HB 84 Authorizes Schools to Apply for Waivers from State Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2013 IL SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2013 MO SB 120 Amends Certain State Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Feb. 23, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2013 MT SB 175 Increases Public Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 20, 2013 KS SCR 1608 Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 20, 2013 ND SB 2267 Appropriates Funding for School Safety Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2013 SD SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 19, 2013 IN SB 91 Establishes Motorsports Investment District Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Feb. 16, 2013 MT SB 81 Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Feb. 16, 2013 MT SB 81 Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Feb. 14, 2013 MN HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 IA SF 161 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 IA SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 13, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 13, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2013 MT SB 96 Reduces Business Equipment Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Jan. 31, 2013 National HR 325 No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
Jan. 30, 2013 IA SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Jan. 28, 2013 National HR 152 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
Jan. 1, 2013 National HR 8 Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 8)
Oct. 17, 2012 PA HB 2626 Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Sept. 22, 2012 National H J Res 117 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (62 - 30)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
July 25, 2012 National S Amdt 2573 Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2012 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
July 25, 2012 National S 3412 Middle Class Tax Cut Act Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 48)
July 19, 2012 National S 3364 Bring Jobs Home Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
July 12, 2012 National S 2237 Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
July 6, 2012 CA SB 1029 Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
July 2, 2012 NC HB 950 2012-2013 Budget Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 10)
June 29, 2012 PA SB 1466 2012-2013 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
June 28, 2012 NJ A 3201 Increases the Income Tax Rate on Incomes Over $1 million Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
June 21, 2012 NC HB 950 2012-2013 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 15)
June 15, 2012 CA AB 1464 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
June 13, 2012 DE SB 204 Extends the Gun Buy-back Program Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 13)
June 11, 2012 RI H 7323 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 11, 2012 RI H 7323 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
June 6, 2012 NH CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
June 6, 2012 NH HB 1490 Authorizes New Hamshire to Leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
May 31, 2012 MI HB 5365 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (33 - 21)
May 31, 2012 IL HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
May 29, 2012 IL SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/11 SB 585 Reduces Personal Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/07 HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28)
3/07 SB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
3/05 SB 69 Requires Background Checks at Gun Registration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
2/28 HB 84 Authorizes Schools to Apply for Waivers from State Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11)
2/28 SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
2/28 SB 120 Amends Certain State Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
2/23 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
2/23 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
2/23 SB 175 Increases Public Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/20 SCR 1608 Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
2/20 SB 2267 Appropriates Funding for School Safety Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
2/19 SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/19 SB 91 Establishes Motorsports Investment District Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
2/16 SB 81 Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
2/16 SB 81 Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
2/14 HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
2/14 SF 161 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/14 SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/13 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/13 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/09 SB 96 Reduces Business Equipment Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
1/31 HR 325 No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34)
1/30 SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
1/28 HR 152 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
1/01 HR 8 Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 8)
10/17 HB 2626 Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
9/22 H J Res 117 Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (62 - 30)
8/30 AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
7/25 S Amdt 2573 Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2012 Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
7/25 S 3412 Middle Class Tax Cut Act Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 48)
7/19 S 3364 Bring Jobs Home Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
7/12 S 2237 Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44)
7/06 SB 1029 Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
7/02 HB 950 2012-2013 Budget Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 10)
6/29 SB 1466 2012-2013 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
6/28 A 3201 Increases the Income Tax Rate on Incomes Over $1 million Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
6/21 HB 950 2012-2013 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 15)
6/15 AB 1464 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
6/13 SB 204 Extends the Gun Buy-back Program Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 13)
6/11 H 7323 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/11 H 7323 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/06 CACR 12 Legislative Authority of Education Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
6/06 CACR 6 Requires a Supermajority for Budget Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
6/06 HB 1490 Authorizes New Hamshire to Leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
5/31 HB 5365 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16)
5/31 SB 1566 Increases License Plate Fees Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (33 - 21)
5/31 HB 5440 Establishes a 5 Percent Fee on Satellite TV Companies Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 27)
5/29 SB 2194 Increases Cigarette Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 27)

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