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 7, 2012 | GA | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IN | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1365 | Authorizes religious objections by professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1336 | Limiting Manufacturer Eligibility for Punitive Damages | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KY | SB 151 | Authorizes Casinos | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | GA | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | NM | SB 9 | Changes Corporate Income Tax Rates and Filing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 2, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| Jan. 23, 2012 | IN | SB 269 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 23, 2012 | IN | SB 170 | Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest in Local Government | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| Jan. 9, 2012 | NJ | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| Nov. 29, 2011 | IL | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
| Oct. 27, 2011 | WI | SB 12 | Limits Attorney Fees in Consumer Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | National | S Amdt 769 | Authorizes Individuals to Import FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | National | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | National | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 33) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15) |
| Oct. 12, 2011 | National | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 22) |
| Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1619 | Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 35) |
| Sept. 22, 2011 | National | S Amdt 633 | Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 28) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 625 | Reducing and Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 641 | Requires Extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance to be Contingent Upon Ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Korea and Panama | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
| Sept. 21, 2011 | National | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | National | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2011 | CA | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| June 9, 2011 | National | S Amdt 390 | Amending Small Business Regulations | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
| June 8, 2011 | National | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
| June 8, 2011 | National | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
| June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 31, 2011 | CA | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| May 11, 2011 | WI | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (18 - 21) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | SB 408 | Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| April 5, 2011 | AZ | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| April 5, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| March 26, 2011 | MT | SB 372 | Business Equipment Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 15, 2011 | IA | SF 301 | Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| March 14, 2011 | AZ | SB 1322 | Competition for City Services | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| March 10, 2011 | UT | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/07 | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| 2/29 | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 2/28 | SB 1365 | Authorizes religious objections by professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 2/28 | SB 1336 | Limiting Manufacturer Eligibility for Punitive Damages | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 2/23 | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 2/23 | SB 151 | Authorizes Casinos | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21) |
| 2/17 | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 2/13 | SB 9 | Changes Corporate Income Tax Rates and Filing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 2/02 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 3) |
| 1/23 | SB 269 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 1/23 | SB 170 | Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest in Local Government | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 1/09 | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 1/09 | S 3172 | Authorizes Direct Shipping By Local and Out-of-State Wineries | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 11/29 | HB 1883 | Property Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 18) |
| 11/10 | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 11/10 | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
| 10/27 | SB 12 | Limits Attorney Fees in Consumer Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 10/20 | S Amdt 769 | Authorizes Individuals to Import FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| 10/18 | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| 10/18 | S Amdt 740 | Repeals Funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 55) |
| 10/12 | HR 3078 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 33) |
| 10/12 | HR 3080 | Free Trade Agreement with Korea | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15) |
| 10/12 | HR 3079 | Trade Promotion Agreement with Panama | Bill Passed - Senate (77 - 22) |
| 10/11 | S 1619 | Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 35) |
| 9/22 | S Amdt 633 | Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 28) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 625 | Reducing and Extending Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 641 | Requires Extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance to be Contingent Upon Ratification of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia, Korea and Panama | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 642 | Modifies Eligibility Requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
| 9/21 | S Amdt 645 | Repeals the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Firms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
| 9/08 | HR 1249 | Patent Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (89 - 9) |
| 8/30 | AB 1319 | Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 6/22 | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| 6/09 | S Amdt 390 | Amending Small Business Regulations | Amendment Rejected - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 6/08 | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 6/08 | S Amdt 392 | Debit Card Transactions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 6/02 | SB 568 | Recycling Polystyrene Food Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 5/31 | SB 469 | Requirements for Expansion by Large Retailers | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/18 | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/12 | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 5/11 | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 5/06 | HB 5007 | Amends Business Regulations | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (18 - 21) |
| 4/28 | SB 408 | Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 4/12 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| 4/05 | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 4/05 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 3/26 | SB 372 | Business Equipment Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 3/15 | SF 301 | Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 3/14 | SB 1322 | Competition for City Services | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| 3/10 | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |