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
April 25, 2013 MI SB 288 Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
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 AL SB 191 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
April 23, 2013 MT HB 297 Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
April 23, 2013 OR SB 833 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
April 22, 2013 IN SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 22, 2013 ND HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 22, 2013 NV SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 18, 2013 AR SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 18, 2013 MT HB 377 Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
April 18, 2013 CT HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 17, 2013 IA SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 16, 2013 MT HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 11, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 10, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
April 10, 2013 OR SB 215 Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 9, 2013 AR HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 8, 2013 AR SB 38 Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 8, 2013 AR SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
April 4, 2013 MD SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 2, 2013 KS HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 27, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 27, 2013 MD SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
March 25, 2013 IA SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 25, 2013 MD SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 21, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 20, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
March 20, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
March 19, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
March 19, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
March 18, 2013 CO HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 18, 2013 NJ A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
March 14, 2013 KS HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 14, 2013 National S Amdt 66 Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
March 14, 2013 MO SB 29 Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 13, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
March 13, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
March 13, 2013 KS HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
March 13, 2013 OR SB 444 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 7, 2013 CA SB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/25 SB 288 Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
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 191 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
4/23 HB 297 Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
4/23 SB 833 Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
4/22 SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/22 HCR 3047 Establishes a Commission of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/22 SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/18 SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/18 HB 377 Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
4/18 HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/17 SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/16 HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/16 SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/11 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/10 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
4/10 SB 215 Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/09 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/08 SB 38 Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/08 SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
4/04 SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/02 HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/27 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/27 SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
3/25 SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/25 SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/21 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/20 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
3/20 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
3/19 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
3/19 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
3/18 HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/18 A 3614 Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16)
3/14 HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/14 S Amdt 66 Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54)
3/14 SB 29 Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/13 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
3/13 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
3/13 HB 2019 Authorizes Governor to Appoint Judges to Kansas Court of Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
3/13 SB 444 Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/07 SB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)

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