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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.

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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 21, 2012 NH HB 437 Repeals Same-Sex Marriage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 116)
March 15, 2012 MD SB 523 Increases State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 14, 2012 NH HB 1264 Authorizes Individuals to Refuse to Provide Services for Marriages "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (246 - 85)
Feb. 28, 2012 UT HB 316 Extends Waiting Period for Divorce Bill Passed - House (43 - 26)
Feb. 23, 2012 MD HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 17, 2012 MD HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (72 - 67)
Feb. 16, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 33)
Feb. 13, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 8, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Jan. 9, 2012 NJ A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 9, 2012 NJ A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - House (46 - 23)
Dec. 15, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Sept. 12, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
May 21, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
April 14, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
April 7, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
April 1, 2011 TX Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
March 24, 2011 CO SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 9, 2011 MD Amendment 223923 Civil Marriage Protection Act Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 28)
Feb. 28, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
Feb. 23, 2011 MD SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2011 UT SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
Feb. 18, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 16, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
Feb. 11, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - House (31 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2011 WY HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
Feb. 1, 2011 IA HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
Jan. 28, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Jan. 27, 2011 WY SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Jan. 24, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Dec. 18, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
Dec. 15, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
April 8, 2010 AZ HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
July 18, 2006 National H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
April 28, 2004 National HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
Sept. 13, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
July 21, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
July 20, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
Feb. 10, 2000 National HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
Sept. 26, 1998 National HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
July 29, 1998 National S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
July 12, 1996 National H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
July 12, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/21 HB 437 Repeals Same-Sex Marriage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 116)
3/15 SB 523 Increases State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/14 HB 1264 Authorizes Individuals to Refuse to Provide Services for Marriages "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (246 - 85)
2/28 HB 316 Extends Waiting Period for Divorce Bill Passed - House (43 - 26)
2/23 HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/17 HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (72 - 67)
2/16 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 33)
2/13 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/08 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
2/01 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
1/09 A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/09 A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - House (46 - 23)
12/15 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
9/12 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
6/24 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
6/15 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
5/21 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
5/11 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
4/14 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
4/07 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
4/01 Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
3/24 SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/09 Amendment 223923 Civil Marriage Protection Act Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 28)
2/28 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
2/23 SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/22 SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
2/18 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/16 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
2/11 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - House (31 - 19)
2/09 HB 256 Tenant Rights in Domestic and Sexual Violence Cases Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
2/01 HJR 6 Banning Same Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 37)
1/28 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
1/27 SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
1/24 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
12/18 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
12/15 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (250 - 175)
4/08 HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
7/18 H J Res 88 Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Joint Resolution Failed - House (236 - 187)
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
4/28 HR 4181 Marriage Penalty Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (323 - 95)
9/13 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158)
7/21 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
7/20 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156)
2/10 HR 6 Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples Bill Passed - House (268 - 158)
9/26 HR 4579 Tax Cut bill Bill Passed - House (229 - 195)
7/29 S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
7/12 H Amdt 1286 Definition of Marriage Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (103 - 311)
7/12 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - House (342 - 67)
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