Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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 5, 2013 MI SB 78 Removes Biodiversity and Restoration as Forest Management Goals for Department of Natural Resources Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 82 Extends Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 23)
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 UT SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
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. 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. 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)
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)
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. 20, 2012 CA AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
July 18, 2012 MI SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
June 21, 2012 National S Amdt 2372 Prohibits the EPA from Conducting Aerial Surveillance of Agricultural Operations Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
June 21, 2012 National S Amdt 2310 Requires Labels on Foods with Genetically Modified Ingredients Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 73)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/05 SB 78 Removes Biodiversity and Restoration as Forest Management Goals for Department of Natural Resources Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/28 SB 82 Extends Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 23)
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 SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
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)
2/14 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)
2/11 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)
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)
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)
8/20 AB 1313 Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
7/18 SB 1130 Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
6/21 S Amdt 2372 Prohibits the EPA from Conducting Aerial Surveillance of Agricultural Operations Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 43)
6/21 S Amdt 2310 Requires Labels on Foods with Genetically Modified Ingredients Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 73)

arrow_upward