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
Feb. 27, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
Feb. 27, 2013 WI SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2013 WI SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 26, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2013 NM HB 316 Prohibits Animal Killing Contests Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
Feb. 26, 2013 UT SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 25, 2013 MS HB 844 Exempts Certain Sales Taxes for Agricultural Businesses Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
Feb. 25, 2013 MT HB 396 Requires County Board Approval for Bison Relocation Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 25, 2013 MS HB 844 Exempts Certain Sales Taxes for Agricultural Businesses Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
Feb. 22, 2013 MT HB 205 Authorizes Use of Suppressors for Hunting Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 22, 2013 MD HB 226 Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits Bill Passed - House (86 - 48)
Feb. 20, 2013 OK HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
Feb. 20, 2013 OK SB 375 Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
Feb. 19, 2013 AK HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
Feb. 19, 2013 AK HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
Feb. 19, 2013 SD SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 18, 2013 NM SB 73 Amends Game and Fish License Suspension Periods Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2013 NM HB 63 Prohibits Breed-Specific Dog Regulations Bill Passed - House (48 - 14)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY SB 50 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Farming Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
Feb. 14, 2013 MI SB 48 Authorizes Businesses to Allow Contact Between Customers and Small Bears Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 13, 2013 WY SF 132 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - House (44 - 14)
Feb. 13, 2013 NC HB 66 Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities Bill Passed - House (98 - 20)
Feb. 11, 2013 IN SJR 7 Guarantees Right to Hunt and Fish Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Feb. 11, 2013 IN SJR 7 Guarantees Right to Hunt and Fish Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2013 AK HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - House (27 - 10)
Feb. 6, 2013 MT HB 27 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - House (63 - 33)
Jan. 28, 2013 WY SF 132 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
Nov. 28, 2012 National S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
Oct. 25, 2012 NJ S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Oct. 18, 2012 NJ S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - House (53 - 23)
Oct. 18, 2012 NJ A 2641 Stormwater Management Bill Passed - House (48 - 31)
Sept. 25, 2012 PA SB 367 Authorizes Natural Resource Development Concurrence Vote Passed - House (136 - 62)
Sept. 21, 2012 National HR 3409 Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (233 - 175)
Sept. 21, 2012 National HR 3409 Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (233 - 175)
Sept. 14, 2012 National HR 6213 No More Solyndras Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 161)
Aug. 31, 2012 CA AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 20)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA ACR 161 Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2012 CA SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Aug. 22, 2012 CA SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
Aug. 22, 2012 CA ACR 161 Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" Resolution Passed - House (53 - 21)
Aug. 20, 2012 CA AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Aug. 2, 2012 National HR 6233 Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (223 - 197)
July 18, 2012 MI SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - House (63 - 40)
July 18, 2012 MI SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
July 12, 2012 National HR 4402 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (256 - 160)
July 12, 2012 National HR 4402 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (256 - 160)
June 30, 2012 PA HB 761 Exempts Certain Transfers from the Realty Transfer Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 56)
June 27, 2012 MA S 2214 Amends Renewable Energy Contract Requirements Bill Passed - House (135 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/27 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
2/27 SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/27 SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/26 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/26 HB 316 Prohibits Animal Killing Contests Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
2/26 SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/25 HB 844 Exempts Certain Sales Taxes for Agricultural Businesses Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
2/25 HB 396 Requires County Board Approval for Bison Relocation Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/25 HB 844 Exempts Certain Sales Taxes for Agricultural Businesses Bill Passed - House (75 - 43)
2/22 HB 205 Authorizes Use of Suppressors for Hunting Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/22 HB 226 Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits Bill Passed - House (86 - 48)
2/20 HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
2/20 SB 375 Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
2/19 HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
2/19 HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
2/19 SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/18 SB 73 Amends Game and Fish License Suspension Periods Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/18 HB 63 Prohibits Breed-Specific Dog Regulations Bill Passed - House (48 - 14)
2/14 SB 50 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Farming Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
2/14 SB 48 Authorizes Businesses to Allow Contact Between Customers and Small Bears Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/13 SF 132 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - House (44 - 14)
2/13 HB 66 Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities Bill Passed - House (98 - 20)
2/11 SJR 7 Guarantees Right to Hunt and Fish Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
2/11 SJR 7 Guarantees Right to Hunt and Fish Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
2/06 HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - House (27 - 10)
2/06 HB 27 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - House (63 - 33)
1/28 SF 132 Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
11/28 S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
10/25 S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
10/18 S 1816 Authorizes Delaware Port Authority to Inspect Hazardous Materials Bill Passed - House (53 - 23)
10/18 A 2641 Stormwater Management Bill Passed - House (48 - 31)
9/25 SB 367 Authorizes Natural Resource Development Concurrence Vote Passed - House (136 - 62)
9/21 HR 3409 Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (233 - 175)
9/21 HR 3409 Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (233 - 175)
9/14 HR 6213 No More Solyndras Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 161)
8/31 AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33)
8/30 AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 20)
8/30 AB 1478 Appropriates Funds for State Parks for 2 Years Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
8/30 ACR 161 Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
8/27 SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
8/22 SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
8/22 ACR 161 Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" Resolution Passed - House (53 - 21)
8/20 AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
8/02 HR 6233 Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (223 - 197)
7/18 SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - House (63 - 40)
7/18 SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
7/12 HR 4402 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (256 - 160)
7/12 HR 4402 National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (256 - 160)
6/30 HB 761 Exempts Certain Transfers from the Realty Transfer Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - House (140 - 56)
6/27 S 2214 Amends Renewable Energy Contract Requirements Bill Passed - House (135 - 16)

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