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
May 16, 2013 CA AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement From Detaining Individuals Based Solely on Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (44 - 22)
May 16, 2013 AZ SB 1492 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
May 16, 2013 NC HB 730 Amends Abortion Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 39)
May 15, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
May 15, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
May 15, 2013 MN SF 778 Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32)
May 14, 2013 NV SB 139 Classifies Crimes Based on Gender Identity or Expression as Felonies Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
May 13, 2013 MN HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
May 13, 2013 MO SB 29 Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (85 - 69)
May 13, 2013 NY A 1792 Extends Worker's Benefits to Farm Laborers Bill Passed - House (83 - 53)
May 9, 2013 CA AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - House (46 - 25)
May 9, 2013 MN HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 59)
May 8, 2013 CO HB 1317 Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28)
May 8, 2013 CO HB 1317 Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
May 8, 2013 AZ HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
May 8, 2013 AZ HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
May 8, 2013 AZ HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
May 8, 2013 NC HB 9 Establishes Term Limits for House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34)
May 7, 2013 OK HB 2077 Establishes an Optional Defined Contribution Plan for New State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 20)
May 7, 2013 CO SB 251 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 7, 2013 CO SB 251 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
May 7, 2013 DE HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 7, 2013 NC HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Bill Passed - House (78 - 42)
May 7, 2013 NC HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Bill Passed - House (78 - 42)
May 6, 2013 MO HB 34 Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64)
May 2, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 15)
May 2, 2013 CA AB 277 Authorizes Gaming on Traditional Tribal Territory Bill Passed - House (41 - 12)
May 2, 2013 CA SB 501 Requires Social Networking Sites to Remove Personal Identifying Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 1, 2013 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
May 1, 2013 TX HB 489 Expands Access to Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD Bill Passed - House (120 - 21)
May 1, 2013 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
May 1, 2013 MN SF 723 Authorizes In-State Tuition and Financial Aid for Undocumented College Students Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23)
May 1, 2013 MI HB 4388 Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance Bill Passed - House (78 - 32)
May 1, 2013 MI HB 4388 Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance Bill Passed - House (78 - 32)
April 30, 2013 OK SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
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 FL HB 867 Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
April 30, 2013 ME SP 550 Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 55)
April 30, 2013 ME LD 134 Reduces Size of State Legislature "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (113 - 30)
April 30, 2013 DE SB 21 Requires the Governor to Appoint Labor Union Representatives to a State Benefits Committee Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
April 30, 2013 ME SP 550 Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
April 30, 2013 AL HB 8 Requires Courts to Apply "Strict Scrutiny" to Certain Firearm Regulation Laws Bill Passed - House (76 - 22)
April 29, 2013 MO HB 34 Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
April 25, 2013 MI SB 288 Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 25, 2013 CA AB 1401 Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
April 25, 2013 CA AB 1401 Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
April 25, 2013 AL SB 340 Amends the Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
April 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
April 24, 2013 OK SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (74 - 24)
April 24, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/16 AB 4 Prohibits Law Enforcement From Detaining Individuals Based Solely on Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (44 - 22)
5/16 SB 1492 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
5/16 HB 730 Amends Abortion Laws Bill Passed - House (73 - 39)
5/15 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
5/15 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
5/15 SF 778 Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32)
5/14 SB 139 Classifies Crimes Based on Gender Identity or Expression as Felonies Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
5/13 HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
5/13 SB 29 Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees Bill Passed - House (85 - 69)
5/13 A 1792 Extends Worker's Benefits to Farm Laborers Bill Passed - House (83 - 53)
5/09 AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - House (46 - 25)
5/09 HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 59)
5/08 HB 1317 Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28)
5/08 HB 1317 Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
5/08 HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
5/08 HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
5/08 HB 2608 Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
5/08 HB 9 Establishes Term Limits for House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34)
5/07 HB 2077 Establishes an Optional Defined Contribution Plan for New State Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 20)
5/07 SB 251 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/07 SB 251 Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
5/07 HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/07 HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Bill Passed - House (78 - 42)
5/07 HB 937 Amends Firearm Laws Bill Passed - House (78 - 42)
5/06 HB 34 Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64)
5/02 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 15)
5/02 AB 277 Authorizes Gaming on Traditional Tribal Territory Bill Passed - House (41 - 12)
5/02 SB 501 Requires Social Networking Sites to Remove Personal Identifying Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/01 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
5/01 HB 489 Expands Access to Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD Bill Passed - House (120 - 21)
5/01 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (77 - 33)
5/01 SF 723 Authorizes In-State Tuition and Financial Aid for Undocumented College Students Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23)
5/01 HB 4388 Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance Bill Passed - House (78 - 32)
5/01 HB 4388 Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance Bill Passed - House (78 - 32)
4/30 SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
4/30 SB 833 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence Bill Passed - House (38 - 20)
4/30 HB 867 Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
4/30 SP 550 Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 55)
4/30 LD 134 Reduces Size of State Legislature "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (113 - 30)
4/30 SB 21 Requires the Governor to Appoint Labor Union Representatives to a State Benefits Committee Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
4/30 SP 550 Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
4/30 HB 8 Requires Courts to Apply "Strict Scrutiny" to Certain Firearm Regulation Laws Bill Passed - House (76 - 22)
4/29 HB 34 Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
4/25 SB 288 Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/25 AB 1401 Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
4/25 AB 1401 Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
4/25 SB 340 Amends the Medicaid Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
4/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
4/24 SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - House (74 - 24)
4/24 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)

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