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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2013 | MN | HF 92 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 8, 2013 | National | HR 1406 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (223 - 204) |
| May 7, 2013 | OR | HB 2672 | Establishes Labor Laws for Domestic Workers | Bill Passed - House (32 - 28) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | SB 337 | Establishes an Independent Charter School Board | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| May 6, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 64) |
| May 3, 2013 | MN | HF 92 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (68 - 62) |
| May 3, 2013 | TX | HB 318 | Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| May 2, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 42) |
| May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7009 | Amends Teacher Evaluations and Charter School Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| April 30, 2013 | DE | SB 21 | Requires the Governor to Appoint Labor Union Representatives to a State Benefits Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| April 29, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Public Works Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| April 26, 2013 | IN | SB 373 | Prohibits Unauthorized Entry on Industrial or Agricultural Property | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 23, 2013 | MT | HB 297 | Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 20, 2013 | MT | HB 297 | Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 37) |
| April 20, 2013 | MN | SF 523 | Prohibits Employers From Asking Applicants for Criminal History | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 16) |
| April 18, 2013 | AZ | HB 2280 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Employee Pay Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 373 | Prohibits Unauthorized Entry On Industrial Or Agricultural Property | Bill Passed - House (65 - 25) |
| April 12, 2013 | National | HR 1120 | Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act | Bill Passed - House (219 - 209) |
| April 9, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| April 8, 2013 | MD | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - House (99 - 41) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | HB 2069 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | HB 2069 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32) |
| April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 2, 2013 | KS | HB 2069 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| April 2, 2013 | KS | HB 2069 | Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| April 2, 2013 | ME | LD 611 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 27, 2013 | ME | LD 611 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
| March 25, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| March 21, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
| March 20, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22) |
| March 19, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 14, 2013 | MO | SB 29 | Prohibits the Automatic Withdrawal of Union Fees for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 7, 2013 | AL | SB 41 | Amends Employment Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 6, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| March 5, 2013 | NY | A 38 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (102 - 44) |
| March 4, 2013 | AZ | HB 2280 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Employee Pay Requirements | Bill Passed - House (32 - 27) |
| March 4, 2013 | NM | SB 416 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | MO | HB 34 | Authorizes School Districts To Opt Out of Prevailing Wage Requirement | Bill Passed - House (89 - 59) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | KY | HB 416 | Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | NM | HB 64 | Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IA | HF 215 | Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Feb. 15, 2013 | National | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | ID | H 88 | Expands Tax Credit for New Employees | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
| Feb. 7, 2013 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2013 | CO | SB 25 | Authorizes Statewide Firefighter Labor Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | WA | SB 5112 | Amends Scheduling Authority In Workers Compensation Rehabilitation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | WA | SB 5127 | Reduces Age Requirements for Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | UT | HB 274 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | WA | SB 5128 | Authorizes Voluntary Settlements for Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | KS | HB 2023 | Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes | Bill Passed - House (68 - 56) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | WY | SF 131 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| Dec. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6684 | Spending Reduction Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (215 - 209) |
| Dec. 6, 2012 | MI | HB 4003 | Limits Labor Organization Activities: Public Entities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4) |
| Dec. 6, 2012 | MI | SB 116 | Prohibits Employees from Being Required to Join a Labor Union | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Dec. 6, 2012 | MI | SB 116 | Prohibits Employees from Being Required to Join a Labor Union | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Dec. 3, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Oct. 25, 2012 | NJ | S 1650 | Increases Requirements for Emergency Medical Service Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | SB 1234 | Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2346 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Sue Employers for Health or Safety Violations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2132 | Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Aug. 28, 2012 | CA | AB 2132 | Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |