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 12, 2015 AR HB 1489 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
March 12, 2015 NH SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 11, 2015 OK SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
March 6, 2015 UT SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
March 5, 2015 AZ SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 5, 2015 GA SB 129 Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
March 3, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 27, 2015 KY SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2015 MN SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
Feb. 25, 2015 WI SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2015 UT SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
Feb. 25, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2015 IA SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 23, 2015 MO SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
Feb. 23, 2015 AZ SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2015 SD SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 16, 2015 NV SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2015 WV SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 12, 2015 CO SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2015 MS SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Feb. 10, 2015 WY SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Feb. 5, 2015 IL SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
Feb. 5, 2015 NJ S 866 Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 3, 2015 VA SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
Jan. 27, 2015 CO SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Jan. 20, 2015 VA SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
Dec. 16, 2014 MI HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Dec. 10, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 11, 2014 FL SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
July 30, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
July 28, 2014 NC HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
July 16, 2014 National S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
July 2, 2014 AR HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
June 26, 2014 NJ S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
June 19, 2014 RI H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
June 12, 2014 MA S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
June 3, 2014 MI HB 5575 Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
May 30, 2014 IL SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
May 29, 2014 CA SB 935 Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 27, 2014 IL HB 1154 Amends Cook County Pension Laws Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
May 22, 2014 IL SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/12 HB 1489 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
3/12 SB 261 Increases Minimum Wage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/11 SJR 4 Requests Constitutional Convention Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
3/06 SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
3/05 SB 1222 Prohibits Plea Agreements for Individuals Deported During Trial Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/05 SB 129 Prohibits Government Interference with Religious Practice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 15)
3/03 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/27 SB 76 Prohibits Students from Using Restrooms Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
2/26 SF 174 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29)
2/26 SB 262 Establishes Water Rights Compact Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
2/25 SB 44 Prohibits Employers from Mandating Employees to Join or Pay Unions Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
2/25 SB 164 Establishes Medicaid Expansion Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
2/25 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/24 SF 269 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/23 SB 24 Reduces the Lifetime Limit for Certain Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
2/23 SB 1092 Requires Waivers for Certain Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
2/18 SB 177 Establishes a Youth Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/17 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/16 SB 119 Exempts Schools from Paying Prevailing Wages Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
2/12 SB 361 Amends Prevailing Wage Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/12 SB 77 Extends Parental Rights in Education and Health Care Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/11 SB 2695 Establishes Education Scholarship Accounts for Special Needs Students Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
2/10 SF 115 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Idenity Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
2/05 SB 11 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
2/05 S 866 Authorizes Gestational Surrogacy Contracts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/03 SB 785 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19)
1/27 SB 52 Expands Legislative Oversight of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
1/20 SB 722 Prohibits In-State Tuition for Students with Certain Temporary Visas Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
12/16 HB 6074 Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
12/10 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/27 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/11 SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
7/30 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10)
7/28 HB 1181 Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
7/16 S 2578 Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
7/02 HB 1004 Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
6/26 S 2264 Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
6/19 H 7194A Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5)
6/12 S 2123 Increases the Minimum Wage Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4)
6/03 HB 5575 Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
5/30 SB 274 Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18)
5/29 SB 1253 Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
5/29 SB 935 Increases the Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/27 HB 1154 Amends Cook County Pension Laws Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
5/22 SJRCA 75 Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)

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