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 27, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entities | Bill Passed - House (96 - 42) |
| March 27, 2014 | IA | HF 2438 | Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 27, 2014 | NH | SB 367 | Amends Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| March 21, 2014 | MN | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 2) |
| March 21, 2014 | MN | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| March 21, 2014 | KY | HB 544 | Amends Hotel Tax Laws | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| March 20, 2014 | GA | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13) |
| March 20, 2014 | MD | HB 739 | Amends Estate Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 19, 2014 | SC | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
| March 18, 2014 | GA | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Resolution Passed - House (119 - 54) |
| March 18, 2014 | WI | SB 1 | Reduces State Income Taxes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 37) |
| March 13, 2014 | IN | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 12) |
| March 12, 2014 | SD | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 19) |
| March 12, 2014 | KY | HB 445 | Increases the Wholesale Price of Gasoline | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| March 6, 2014 | OK | HB 2508 | Reduces Individual and Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (57 - 34) |
| March 5, 2014 | NH | HB 1509 | Requires Non-Profit Organizations to Pay Business Enterprise Tax | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (173 - 163) |
| March 4, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| March 4, 2014 | WI | SB 1 | Reduces State Income Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| March 3, 2014 | SD | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| March 3, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Failed - House (48 - 43) |
| Feb. 28, 2014 | CO | SB 29 | Requires Paint Manufacturers to Establish Recycling Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | OK | SB 1246 | Amends State Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 10) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | KS | HB 2456 | Amends Property Tax Laws for Certain Equipment | Bill Passed - House (100 - 23) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | National | HR 3865 | Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 176) |
| Feb. 24, 2014 | GA | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Resolution Passed - Senate (42 - 11) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HB 1295 | Reduces Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (106 - 47) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HB 1253 | Reduces Tax Rates for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (106 - 49) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | SD | HB 1097 | Amends Criteria for Classifying Property as Agricultural Land | Bill Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | NM | SB 347 | Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| Feb. 16, 2014 | NM | SB 263 | Increases the Liquor Excise Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| Feb. 10, 2014 | SD | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | HB 1001 | Authorizes Property Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| Jan. 22, 2014 | AL | HB 48 | Authorizes a Tax Credit for the Adoption of Qualified Children | Bill Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| Dec. 18, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (332 - 94) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Sept. 29, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Veto Override Failed - House (94 - 67) |
| Aug. 2, 2013 | National | H Amdt 448 | Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176) |
| July 24, 2013 | National | S Amdt 1778 | Limits Interest Rates for Certain Federal Student Loans | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| July 2, 2013 | OR | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| June 13, 2013 | WA | HB 2075 | Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| June 13, 2013 | WA | HB 2075 | Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (53 - 33) |
| June 10, 2013 | AZ | HB 2399 | Authorizes School Boards to Increase Property Taxes to Pay for Bonds | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| June 5, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 30, 2013 | KS | SB 84 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Rejected - House (18 - 94) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/27 | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entities | Bill Passed - House (96 - 42) |
| 3/27 | HF 2438 | Establishes a Retroactive Heavy Equipment Sales Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 3/27 | SB 367 | Amends Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| 3/21 | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 2) |
| 3/21 | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| 3/21 | HB 544 | Amends Hotel Tax Laws | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| 3/20 | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 13) |
| 3/20 | HB 739 | Amends Estate Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 3/19 | H 3101 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 33) |
| 3/18 | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Resolution Passed - House (119 - 54) |
| 3/18 | SB 1 | Reduces State Income Taxes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
| 3/13 | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 37) |
| 3/13 | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 12) |
| 3/12 | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 19) |
| 3/12 | HB 445 | Increases the Wholesale Price of Gasoline | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| 3/06 | HB 2508 | Reduces Individual and Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (57 - 34) |
| 3/05 | HB 1509 | Requires Non-Profit Organizations to Pay Business Enterprise Tax | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (173 - 163) |
| 3/04 | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| 3/04 | SB 1 | Reduces State Income Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 3/03 | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| 3/03 | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Failed - House (48 - 43) |
| 2/28 | SB 29 | Requires Paint Manufacturers to Establish Recycling Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 2/27 | SB 1246 | Amends State Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 10) |
| 2/26 | HB 2456 | Amends Property Tax Laws for Certain Equipment | Bill Passed - House (100 - 23) |
| 2/26 | HR 3865 | Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (243 - 176) |
| 2/24 | SR 415 | Prohibits Increase in State Income Tax | Resolution Passed - Senate (42 - 11) |
| 2/20 | HB 1295 | Reduces Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (106 - 47) |
| 2/20 | HB 1253 | Reduces Tax Rates for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (106 - 49) |
| 2/19 | HB 1097 | Amends Criteria for Classifying Property as Agricultural Land | Bill Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| 2/18 | SB 347 | Appropriates Funds to the Lottery Tuition Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| 2/16 | SB 263 | Increases the Liquor Excise Tax Rate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| 2/10 | SB 98 | Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/05 | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| 2/04 | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| 1/30 | HB 1001 | Authorizes Property Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 33) |
| 1/30 | SB 1 | Amends State Business Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 1/22 | HB 48 | Authorizes a Tax Credit for the Adoption of Qualified Children | Bill Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| 12/18 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (64 - 36) |
| 12/12 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (332 - 94) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 9/29 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| 9/11 | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Veto Override Failed - House (94 - 67) |
| 8/02 | H Amdt 448 | Requires Congressional Approval Prior to Establishing a Tax on Carbon Emissions | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 176) |
| 7/24 | S Amdt 1778 | Limits Interest Rates for Certain Federal Student Loans | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 7/02 | HB 2456 | Appropriates Increased Tax Funds to Schools and Health Services | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| 6/13 | HB 2075 | Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 6/13 | HB 2075 | Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (53 - 33) |
| 6/10 | HB 2399 | Authorizes School Boards to Increase Property Taxes to Pay for Bonds | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| 6/05 | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 5/30 | SB 84 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Rejected - House (18 - 94) |