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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 2, 2014 | MA | H 4026 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (125 - 24) |
| April 1, 2014 | MO | SB 509 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| March 31, 2014 | NE | LB 943 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| March 27, 2014 | NH | SB 329 | Repeals the Prohibition on Alcoholic Beverage Billboard Advertisements | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11) |
| March 27, 2014 | KY | HB 407 | Authorizes Framework for Public-Private Partnerships | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| March 27, 2014 | IA | HF 2438 | Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 26, 2014 | CT | SB 32 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (87 - 54) |
| March 26, 2014 | NH | HB 1508 | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Educational Standards | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 138) |
| March 26, 2014 | OH | HB 352 | Authorizes Private Non-Profit Wilderness Camps to Obtain a License | Bill Passed - House (58 - 32) |
| March 26, 2014 | CT | SB 32 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| March 18, 2014 | ME | LD 1487 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (97 - 49) |
| March 17, 2014 | ID | S 1314 | Amends the Provisions of Payday Loans | Bill Passed - House (35 - 34) |
| March 17, 2014 | ID | S 1314 | Amends the Provisions of Payday Loans | Bill Passed - House (35 - 34) |
| March 17, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 18) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 32) |
| March 13, 2014 | OK | SB 1495 | Establishes a Pilot Managed Care System under Medicaid | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
| March 12, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 13) |
| March 12, 2014 | ME | LD 1487 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| March 12, 2014 | NH | HB 1403 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (173 - 118) |
| March 10, 2014 | ID | S 1314 | Amends the Provisions of Payday Loans | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 10, 2014 | ID | S 1314 | Amends the Provisions of Payday Loans | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 10, 2014 | OK | SB 1023 | Prohibits Any Municipality from Establishing a Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| March 8, 2014 | WV | SB 6 | Authorizes Pharmacists to Refuse to Dispense Pseudophedrine without a Prescription | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| March 7, 2014 | WA | SB 6065 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 7, 2014 | MD | HB 295 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 46) |
| March 6, 2014 | AL | HB 379 | Requires Confidentiality for Lethal-Injection Drug Suppliers | Bill Passed - House (77 - 19) |
| March 5, 2014 | NY | A 1793b | Amends Worker Paid Leave Laws | Bill Passed - House (89 - 44) |
| March 4, 2014 | HI | SB 2609 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1) |
| March 4, 2014 | HI | HB 2580 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 3) |
| Feb. 28, 2014 | CO | SB 29 | Requires Paint Manufacturers to Establish Recycling Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | CO | HB 1054 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Facilities By Minors | Bill Passed - House (33 - 31) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | MI | HB 5108 | Authorizes Individuals to Resell Admission Tickets | Bill Passed - House (66 - 42) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | IN | SB 340 | Amends Customer Participation Requirements in Certain Energy Efficiency Programs | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | KS | HB 2456 | Amends Property Tax Laws for Certain Equipment | Bill Passed - House (100 - 23) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | KY | SB 116 | Amends Patent Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | WV | HB 4001 | Authorizes False Claims Lawsuits | Bill Failed - House (42 - 55) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HB 1253 | Reduces Tax Rates for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (106 - 49) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | SB 694 | Amends Payday Loan Terms and Interest Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | SB 694 | Amends Payday Loan Terms and Interest Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HB 1295 | Reduces Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (106 - 47) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (33 - 29) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | WV | SB 6 | Prohibits Sale of Medicines Containing Pseudoephedrine without Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| Feb. 14, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | AL | SB 168 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | VA | SB 590 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | KY | HB 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | MD | SB 75 | Prohibits the Sale of Alcoholic Products with Alcohol Content Above 95 Percent | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IN | SB 404 | Establishes Regulations for High-Fence Hunting Preserves | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IN | SB 91 | Repeals Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | IN | SB 340 | Amends Customer Participation Requirements in Certain Energy Efficiency Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | HB 1321 | Authorizes Certain School Corporations to Establish Innovation Network Schools | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | HB 1001 | Authorizes Property Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | CA | SB 383 | Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | IN | HB 1205 | Establishes Civil Proceeding Advance Payment Transactions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | IN | HB 1205 | Establishes Civil Proceeding Advance Payment Transactions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Jan. 23, 2014 | SC | SB 308 | Authorizes Carrying Concealed Weapons into Businesses that Serve Alcohol | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 18) |
| Jan. 8, 2014 | NH | HB 544 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (182 - 154) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (87 - 22) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | MI | Initiation of Legislation | Requires Abortion Coverage To Be Optional In Health Care Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | MI | Initiation of Legislation | Requires Abortion Coverage To Be Optional In Health Care Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 47) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 521 | Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | H Amdt 524 | Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue | Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266) |
| Dec. 5, 2013 | National | HR 3309 | Innovation Act | Bill Passed - House (325 - 91) |
| Dec. 4, 2013 | National | HR 1105 | Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 159) |
| Nov. 19, 2013 | MA | Amdt 1 | Increases the Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Nov. 19, 2013 | MA | S 1925 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| Nov. 13, 2013 | MI | SB 660 | Authorizes the Growth and Sale of Pharmaceutical-Grade Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Nov. 7, 2013 | National | S 815 | Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 32) |
| Nov. 7, 2013 | National | S Amdt 2013 | Exempts Religiously Affiliated Employers from the Prohibition on Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Nov. 4, 2013 | National | S 815 | Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 | Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 30) |