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 23, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - House (64 - 40) |
| March 22, 2012 | ID | S 1369 | Penalties for Failure to Report Hiring or Rehiring of Employees | Bill Passed - House (36 - 34) |
| March 14, 2012 | NH | HB 1677 | Prohibits Requiring Public Employees to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - House (198 - 139) |
| March 14, 2012 | MS | SB 2576 | Amends Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13) |
| March 14, 2012 | NH | HB 1677 | Prohibits Requiring Public Employees to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - House (198 - 139) |
| March 13, 2012 | IA | HF 2385 | Authorizes Professionals to Teach Certain High School Courses | Bill Passed - House (61 - 36) |
| March 12, 2012 | AZ | SB 1388 | Job Training for Unemployed Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 1205 | Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 8, 2012 | MO | HB 1219 | Workplace Discrimination Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 54) |
| March 7, 2012 | MI | HB 4929 | Prohibits Union Dues Deductions from School Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| March 7, 2012 | MO | SB 572 | Amends Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (87 - 68) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 469 | Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 460 | Exempts Religious Employers from Insurance Requirements for Coverage of Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| March 6, 2012 | AZ | HCR 2056 | Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum | Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| March 5, 2012 | ID | HCR 40 | 2 Percent Pay Raise for State Employees | Resolution Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| March 2, 2012 | FL | HB 1205 | Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 37) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | WA | SB 5895 | Authorizes the Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 16) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | FL | HB 609 | Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (77 - 38) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | CO | HB 1115 | Authorizes Businesses to Comment on Fiscal Impact of Proposed Legislation | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1486 | Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Compensation for Union Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1486 | Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Compensation for Union Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 26) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | OR | SB 1548 | Prohibits Employers from Limiting Job Vacancies to Employed Applicants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 4) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HB 2638 | Reduces Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Insurance Contributions | Bill Passed - House (85 - 39) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | MI | SB 971 | Repeals Collective Bargaining Rights for Graduate Research Assistants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SB 202 | Repeals Punitive Damages for Workplace Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (60 - 35) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | CO | SB 3 | Limits Employers' Use Of Credit Histories | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | AZ | SB 1484 | Prohibits Certain Deductions from Public Employee Paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | MN | HF 1870 | Authorizes School Districts to Dismiss Teachers Based on Performance | Bill Passed - House (68 - 61) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | MO | SB 572 | Amends Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | MI | HB 5085 | Prohibits public employers from deducting political contributions from employee paychecks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 43) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | NH | HB 1666 | Limits State Contribution to Public Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - House (232 - 119) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | MI | HB 5085 | Prohibits public employers from deducting political contributions from employee paychecks | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | FL | SB 2038 | Private Correctional Facilities | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1129 | Reduces State Employee Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | SB 438 | Amends Teacher Contracts | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | VA | HB 576 | Amends Teacher Contract and Evaluation Policies | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | MO | HB 1219 | Workplace Discrimination Amendments | Bill Passed - House (89 - 68) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | MO | SB 592 | Limits Punitive Damages for Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| Feb. 6, 2012 | National | HR 658 | Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2012 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (75 - 20) |
| Feb. 3, 2012 | National | HR 658 | Federal Aviation Administration Act of 2012 | Conference Report Adopted - House (248 - 169) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | IN | HB 1001 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join a Labor Organization | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 25, 2012 | IN | HB 1001 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join a Labor Organization | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| 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. 23, 2012 | IN | SB 269 | Prohibits Employers from Requiring Employees to Join or Pay Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 5, 2012 | NC | SB 727 | No Dues Checkoff for School Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (69 - 45) |
| Jan. 5, 2012 | NH | HB 383 | Prohibits State Employees From Being Requied to Pay Association Fees | Bill Passed - House (212 - 128) |
| Jan. 5, 2012 | NH | HB 383 | Prohibits State Employees From Being Requied to Pay Association Fees | Bill Passed - House (212 - 128) |
| Dec. 8, 2011 | MI | HB 4770 | Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45) |
| Dec. 7, 2011 | MI | HB 4770 | Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Dec. 1, 2011 | National | S 1931 | Reduces Payroll Tax Rate | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 78) |
| Dec. 1, 2011 | National | S 1917 | Extends Payroll Tax Cut and Establishes Tax on Income Over $1 Million | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Nov. 30, 2011 | NH | HB 474 | Labor Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - House (240 - 139) |
| Nov. 30, 2011 | National | HR 3094 | Labor Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (235 - 188) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | RI | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2) |
| Nov. 17, 2011 | RI | H 6319 | Amending the Pension System | Bill Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| Nov. 15, 2011 | PA | HB 439 | Hiring Undocumented Workers | Bill Passed - House (122 - 74) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | National | H Amdt 849 | Requires Public Disclosure of Bonuses and Golden Parachute Arrangements | Amendment Rejected - House (190 - 234) |
| Nov. 3, 2011 | WI | SB 202 | Repeals Punitive Damages for Workplace Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Nov. 2, 2011 | MI | HB 5002 | Amends Workers' Compensation Law | Bill Passed - House (59 - 49) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 95 | Evaluating Teacher Performance Using Standardized Test Scores | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1660 | American Jobs Act of 2011 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 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. 15, 2011 | National | HR 2587 | National Labor Relations Board Prohibitions | Bill Passed - House (238 - 186) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 922 | Project Labor Agreements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | AB 101 | Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 931 | Payroll Debit Cards | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | SB 299 | Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 1, 2011 | CA | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2011 | CA | SB 185 | Considering Race, Ethnicity and Gender in College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| July 13, 2011 | NC | SB 727 | No Dues Checkoff for School Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| June 30, 2011 | MI | HB 4628 | Amends Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| June 30, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| June 30, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| June 30, 2011 | MI | HB 4628 | Amends Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| June 23, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (46 - 32) |
| June 23, 2011 | DE | HB 100 | Background Checks for Contractors on School Premises | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 5) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 119) |
| June 22, 2011 | NH | HB 2 | Recertification of Employer Retirement Contribution Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 5) |
| June 20, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 19, 2011 | LA | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| June 16, 2011 | TX | SB 8 | Management and Operation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (81 - 55) |
| June 6, 2011 | TX | SB 8 | Management and Operation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |