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 4, 2013 GA HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
March 1, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
Feb. 28, 2013 National H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
Feb. 28, 2013 MO HB 34 Authorizes School Districts To Opt Out of Prevailing Wage Requirement Bill Passed - House (89 - 59)
Feb. 27, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Feb. 27, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
Feb. 27, 2013 KY HB 416 Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
Feb. 27, 2013 NM HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2013 NM HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2013 ND HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 26, 2013 NC SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2013 ND HB 1385 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
Feb. 22, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2013 NM HB 300 Authorizes Extended School Absences for Pregnant Teens Bill Passed - House (56 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 21, 2013 CO HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
Feb. 21, 2013 CO HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
Feb. 21, 2013 AZ HB 2147 Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
Feb. 20, 2013 WV HB 2434 Increases Compensation for Court Magistrates Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 19, 2013 IA HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
Feb. 15, 2013 National HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
Feb. 15, 2013 National HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
Feb. 15, 2013 National HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
Feb. 15, 2013 UT HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
Feb. 15, 2013 UT HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
Feb. 14, 2013 NJ AR 91 Extends the Term of a Special Committee Investigating the Finances of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Resolution Passed - House (46 - 29)
Feb. 14, 2013 ID H 88 Expands Tax Credit for New Employees Bill Passed - House (62 - 7)
Feb. 7, 2013 MT HB 239 Requires Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
Feb. 6, 2013 NH CACR1 Requires Three-Fifths Majority for Tax Increases "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (206 - 149)
Feb. 4, 2013 UT HB 274 Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
Jan. 31, 2013 KS HB 2023 Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes Bill Passed - House (68 - 56)
Jan. 31, 2013 SD SB 70 Establishes Alternative Court Programs for Nonviolent Offenders Bill Passed - House (63 - 7)
Jan. 30, 2013 WY HB 168 Authorizes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
Jan. 28, 2013 NJ A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
Jan. 25, 2013 WY SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
Jan. 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
Jan. 23, 2013 National HR 325 No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (285 - 144)
Jan. 8, 2013 IL SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/04 HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
3/01 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - House (73 - 50)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
2/28 H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
2/28 HB 34 Authorizes School Districts To Opt Out of Prevailing Wage Requirement Bill Passed - House (89 - 59)
2/27 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
2/27 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 45)
2/27 HB 416 Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
2/27 HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/27 HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/27 HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/26 SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
2/25 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/22 HB 1385 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
2/22 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
2/22 HB 300 Authorizes Extended School Absences for Pregnant Teens Bill Passed - House (56 - 12)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/21 HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
2/21 HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
2/21 HB 2147 Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
2/20 HB 2434 Increases Compensation for Court Magistrates Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/19 HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
2/15 HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
2/15 HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
2/15 HR 273 Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees Bill Passed - House (261 - 154)
2/15 HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
2/15 HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
2/14 HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
2/14 AR 91 Extends the Term of a Special Committee Investigating the Finances of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Resolution Passed - House (46 - 29)
2/14 H 88 Expands Tax Credit for New Employees Bill Passed - House (62 - 7)
2/07 HB 239 Requires Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
2/06 CACR1 Requires Three-Fifths Majority for Tax Increases "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (206 - 149)
2/04 HB 274 Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
1/31 HB 2023 Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes Bill Passed - House (68 - 56)
1/31 SB 70 Establishes Alternative Court Programs for Nonviolent Offenders Bill Passed - House (63 - 7)
1/30 HB 168 Authorizes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
1/28 A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
1/25 SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
1/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
1/23 HR 325 No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (285 - 144)
1/08 SB 957 Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (65 - 46)

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