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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| March 28, 2012 | NH | H Amdt 917h | Authorizing the Establishment of 4 Casinos | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 195) |
| March 27, 2012 | GA | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Failed - House (67 - 93) |
| March 27, 2012 | MN | HF 657 | Amends Ticket Sales Practices | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| March 22, 2012 | ID | S 1369 | Penalties for Failure to Report Hiring or Rehiring of Employees | Bill Passed - House (36 - 34) |
| March 22, 2012 | ID | S 1295 | Requires Massage Therapists to be Licensed | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| March 21, 2012 | MN | HF 2337 | Amends Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (72 - 62) |
| March 20, 2012 | ID | H 486 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| March 19, 2012 | SD | SB 157 | Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards | Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 24) |
| March 12, 2012 | ID | HCR 45 | Encourages the Establishment of Private Healthcare Exchanges | Resolution Passed - House (49 - 13) |
| March 5, 2012 | GA | HB 972 | Regulation of Pain Management Clinics | Bill Passed - House (124 - 38) |
| March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2815 | Establishes Tax Credits for Certain Businesses | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | FL | HB 213 | Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process | Bill Passed - House (94 - 17) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | CO | HB 1115 | Authorizes Businesses to Comment on Fiscal Impact of Proposed Legislation | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | IL | HB 1310 | Authorizes Certain Businesses to Permit Smoking | Bill Failed - House (30 - 82) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | OR | SB 1548 | Prohibits Employers from Limiting Job Vacancies to Employed Applicants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 4) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | AL | HB 160 | Authorizes Companies to Retain Employee Income Tax Deductions | Bill Passed - House (69 - 19) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | CO | HB 1088 | Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force Against Intruders in a Place of Business | Bill Passed - House (35 - 26) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| Jan. 25, 2012 | IN | HB 1001 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join a Labor Organization | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| Dec. 7, 2011 | National | HR 10 | Congressional Approval of Regulations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 184) |
| Dec. 2, 2011 | National | HR 3010 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| Dec. 1, 2011 | National | HR 527 | Increases Requirements for Agencies that Promulgate Regulations Affecting Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (263 - 159) |
| Nov. 29, 2011 | IL | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | National | H Amdt 853 | Requires Crowdfunding Intermediaries to Disclose Methods of Compensation to Investors | Amendment Rejected - House (189 - 234) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | National | H Amdt 849 | Requires Public Disclosure of Bonuses and Golden Parachute Arrangements | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 234) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | National | HR 2930 | Authorizes Crowdfunding for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (407 - 17) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - House (278 - 151) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - House (262 - 167) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - House (300 - 129) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | ABX1 40 | State Tax Code Restructuring | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| July 21, 2011 | National | HR 1315 | Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Bill Passed - House (241 - 173) |
| June 23, 2011 | National | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (304 - 117) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119) |
| June 20, 2011 | NY | A 6698A | Freelance Wage Protection | Bill Passed - House (84 - 58) |
| June 2, 2011 | NC | HB 810 | Consumer Finance Act Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | HB 1698 | Amends Workers' Compensation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| May 31, 2011 | CA | AB 155 | Online Sale Taxes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 20) |
| May 23, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 51) |
| May 11, 2011 | WI | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 35) |
| April 27, 2011 | SC | Amendment No. 1 | Distribution Facilities and the Sales Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 71) |
| April 27, 2011 | TX | HB 2403 | Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (125 - 20) |
| April 26, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 73) |
| April 18, 2011 | CO | HB 1141 | Reduces Business Taxes | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| April 13, 2011 | AZ | SB 1593 | Authorizing Out-of-State Insurance Policies in Arizona | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| April 11, 2011 | NY | A 6130 | Prohibiting Discrimination in Wages Based on Gender, Race or National Origin | Bill Passed - House (93 - 53) |
| March 30, 2011 | NH | HB 580 | Public Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (228 - 139) |
| March 11, 2011 | National | HR 836 | Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program | Bill Passed - House (242 - 177) |
| March 10, 2011 | National | HR 830 | Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program | Bill Passed - House (256 - 171) |
| March 10, 2011 | GA | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - House (111 - 47) |
| March 4, 2011 | UT | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| March 3, 2011 | MO | HB 61 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 60) |
| March 3, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (314 - 112) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | VA | SB 1367 | Motor Vehicle Title Loans for Non-Residents | Bill Passed - House (51 - 47) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | AZ | HB 2001 | Tax Reductions for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| Feb. 15, 2011 | ND | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | MT | HB 30 | Health Care Sharing Ministries | Bill Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | AR | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
| Jan. 25, 2011 | WI | AB 7 | Small Business Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | ND | HB 1255 | Lifting the Ban on Bottle Rocket Sales | Bill Failed - House (39 - 52) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | WI | AB 3 | Tax Incentives for Job Creation | Bill Passed - House (82 - 12) |
| Jan. 18, 2011 | MS | HB 455 | Payday Lending Provisions | Bill Passed - House (79 - 37) |
| Jan. 7, 2011 | ND | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | |
| Dec. 21, 2010 | National | HR 2751 | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 144) |
| Nov. 10, 2010 | MI | HB 6224 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 21) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | MI | HB 6007 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 30) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/28 | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| 3/28 | H Amdt 917h | Authorizing the Establishment of 4 Casinos | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 195) |
| 3/27 | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Failed - House (67 - 93) |
| 3/27 | HF 657 | Amends Ticket Sales Practices | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 3/22 | S 1369 | Penalties for Failure to Report Hiring or Rehiring of Employees | Bill Passed - House (36 - 34) |
| 3/22 | S 1295 | Requires Massage Therapists to be Licensed | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| 3/21 | HF 2337 | Amends Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (72 - 62) |
| 3/20 | H 486 | Prohibits Minors from Using Tanning Beds | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
| 3/19 | SB 157 | Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards | Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 24) |
| 3/12 | HCR 45 | Encourages the Establishment of Private Healthcare Exchanges | Resolution Passed - House (49 - 13) |
| 3/05 | HB 972 | Regulation of Pain Management Clinics | Bill Passed - House (124 - 38) |
| 3/01 | HB 2815 | Establishes Tax Credits for Certain Businesses | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| 2/29 | HB 213 | Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process | Bill Passed - House (94 - 17) |
| 2/28 | HB 1115 | Authorizes Businesses to Comment on Fiscal Impact of Proposed Legislation | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
| 2/28 | HB 1310 | Authorizes Certain Businesses to Permit Smoking | Bill Failed - House (30 - 82) |
| 2/27 | SB 1548 | Prohibits Employers from Limiting Job Vacancies to Employed Applicants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 4) |
| 2/14 | HB 160 | Authorizes Companies to Retain Employee Income Tax Deductions | Bill Passed - House (69 - 19) |
| 2/13 | HB 1088 | Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force Against Intruders in a Place of Business | Bill Passed - House (35 - 26) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 1/31 | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| 1/25 | HB 1001 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join a Labor Organization | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| 1/09 | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| 1/09 | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Bill Passed - House (51 - 18) |
| 12/07 | HR 10 | Congressional Approval of Regulations | Bill Passed - House (241 - 184) |
| 12/02 | HR 3010 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Regulatory Agencies | Bill Passed - House (253 - 167) |
| 12/01 | HR 527 | Increases Requirements for Agencies that Promulgate Regulations Affecting Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (263 - 159) |
| 11/29 | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (8 - 99) |
| 11/03 | H Amdt 853 | Requires Crowdfunding Intermediaries to Disclose Methods of Compensation to Investors | Amendment Rejected - House (189 - 234) |
| 11/03 | H Amdt 849 | Requires Public Disclosure of Bonuses and Golden Parachute Arrangements | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 234) |
| 11/03 | HR 2930 | Authorizes Crowdfunding for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (407 - 17) |
| 10/12 | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - House (278 - 151) |
| 10/12 | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - House (262 - 167) |
| 10/12 | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - House (300 - 129) |
| 9/08 | ABX1 40 | State Tax Code Restructuring | Bill Passed - House (54 - 15) |
| 9/06 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| 9/01 | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 7/21 | HR 1315 | Oversight of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Bill Passed - House (241 - 173) |
| 6/23 | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (304 - 117) |
| 6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119) |
| 6/20 | A 6698A | Freelance Wage Protection | Bill Passed - House (84 - 58) |
| 6/02 | HB 810 | Consumer Finance Act Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| 5/31 | HB 1698 | Amends Workers' Compensation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| 5/31 | AB 155 | Online Sale Taxes | Bill Passed - House (52 - 20) |
| 5/23 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - House (42 - 29) |
| 5/12 | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 51) |
| 5/11 | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 5/06 | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 35) |
| 4/27 | Amendment No. 1 | Distribution Facilities and the Sales Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 71) |
| 4/27 | HB 2403 | Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (125 - 20) |
| 4/26 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 73) |
| 4/18 | HB 1141 | Reduces Business Taxes | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 4/13 | SB 1593 | Authorizing Out-of-State Insurance Policies in Arizona | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| 4/11 | A 6130 | Prohibiting Discrimination in Wages Based on Gender, Race or National Origin | Bill Passed - House (93 - 53) |
| 3/30 | HB 580 | Public Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (228 - 139) |
| 3/11 | HR 836 | Terminating the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program | Bill Passed - House (242 - 177) |
| 3/10 | HR 830 | Terminating the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program | Bill Passed - House (256 - 171) |
| 3/10 | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - House (111 - 47) |
| 3/04 | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| 3/03 | HB 61 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 60) |
| 3/03 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (314 - 112) |
| 2/21 | SB 1367 | Motor Vehicle Title Loans for Non-Residents | Bill Passed - House (51 - 47) |
| 2/16 | HB 2001 | Tax Reductions for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
| 2/15 | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| 2/08 | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 2/08 | HB 30 | Health Care Sharing Ministries | Bill Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| 2/07 | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| 2/02 | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
| 1/25 | AB 7 | Small Business Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (60 - 33) |
| 1/24 | HB 1255 | Lifting the Ban on Bottle Rocket Sales | Bill Failed - House (39 - 52) |
| 1/20 | AB 3 | Tax Incentives for Job Creation | Bill Passed - House (82 - 12) |
| 1/18 | HB 455 | Payday Lending Provisions | Bill Passed - House (79 - 37) |
| 1/07 | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | |
| 12/21 | HR 2751 | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 144) |
| 11/10 | HB 6224 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 21) |
| 9/29 | HB 6007 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 30) |