Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 29, 2014 MN HF 2096 Authorizes Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24)
April 28, 2014 NY A 9206 Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island Bill Passed - House (104 - 25)
April 25, 2014 IA SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
April 24, 2014 CA SB 962 Requires Smartphones to Include a Kill Switch Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17)
April 22, 2014 LA SB 330 Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 21, 2014 LA SB 330 Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 21)
April 14, 2014 CO HB 1269 Requires Certain Retailers to Collect Sales Tax Bill Passed - House (36 - 26)
March 28, 2014 KY HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 18, 2014 IA SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
March 13, 2014 SD HB 1177 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 18)
March 13, 2014 SD HB 1177 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 7)
March 13, 2014 UT SB 253 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
March 12, 2014 CO HB 1131 Prohibits Cyberbullying of a Minor Bill Passed - House (54 - 10)
March 11, 2014 WA HB 2789 Establishes Usage Policy for Extraordinary Sensing Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 21)
March 10, 2014 UT SB 253 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
March 5, 2014 AZ HB 2359 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Minors While Driving Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
March 5, 2014 NH HB 1360 Prohibits the Use of Hand Held Mobile Electronic Devices While Driving Bill Passed - House (192 - 133)
Feb. 28, 2014 KY HB 33 Amends Existing Texting While Driving Prohibition Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
Feb. 27, 2014 MS SB 2434 Classifies Texting While Driving as Careless Driving Bill Passed - House (91 - 27)
Feb. 25, 2014 National HR 1123 Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act Bill Passed - House (295 - 114)
Feb. 11, 2014 IA HF 2175 Prohibits Webcam Abortions Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Jan. 30, 2014 CA SB 383 Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 13, 2014 National HR 3811 Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (291 - 122)
Dec. 5, 2013 National H Amdt 521 Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213)
Dec. 5, 2013 National H Amdt 524 Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266)
Dec. 5, 2013 National HR 3309 Innovation Act Bill Passed - House (325 - 91)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
Nov. 20, 2013 National H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
Nov. 20, 2013 National HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
July 24, 2013 National H Amdt 413 Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the PATRIOT Act Amendment Rejected - House (205 - 217)
July 7, 2013 OR SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
July 7, 2013 OR SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 27, 2013 NJ S 2723 Amends Firearms Identification Card Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
June 24, 2013 NJ S 2723 Amends Firearm Identification Card Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 34)
June 18, 2013 National S Amdt 1228 Requires US-VISIT System to be Established at Every Port of Entry Amendment Rejected - Senate (36 - 58)
June 4, 2013 OR SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
May 30, 2013 OR SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
May 30, 2013 CA AB 1217 Establishes Certain Regulations for Home Care Aides Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
May 28, 2013 IL HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 48)
May 26, 2013 TX HB 912 Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5)
May 23, 2013 IL HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
May 23, 2013 NV AB 440 Extends Voter Registration Period Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 6, 2013 National S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27)
May 3, 2013 TX HB 318 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
May 2, 2013 CA SB 501 Requires Social Networking Sites to Remove Personal Identifying Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
April 30, 2013 HI HB 622 Limits Media 'Shield Law' Provisions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
April 25, 2013 National S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 30)
April 18, 2013 National HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/29 HF 2096 Authorizes Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24)
4/28 A 9206 Authorizes Traffic Cameras on Long Island Bill Passed - House (104 - 25)
4/25 SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
4/24 SB 962 Requires Smartphones to Include a Kill Switch Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17)
4/22 SB 330 Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/21 SB 330 Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 21)
4/14 HB 1269 Requires Certain Retailers to Collect Sales Tax Bill Passed - House (36 - 26)
3/28 HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/18 SF 2318 Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19)
3/13 HB 1177 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 18)
3/13 HB 1177 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 7)
3/13 SB 253 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
3/12 HB 1131 Prohibits Cyberbullying of a Minor Bill Passed - House (54 - 10)
3/11 HB 2789 Establishes Usage Policy for Extraordinary Sensing Devices Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 21)
3/10 SB 253 Prohibits Texting While Driving on a Highway Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8)
3/05 HB 2359 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Minors While Driving Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
3/05 HB 1360 Prohibits the Use of Hand Held Mobile Electronic Devices While Driving Bill Passed - House (192 - 133)
2/28 HB 33 Amends Existing Texting While Driving Prohibition Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
2/27 SB 2434 Classifies Texting While Driving as Careless Driving Bill Passed - House (91 - 27)
2/25 HR 1123 Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act Bill Passed - House (295 - 114)
2/11 HF 2175 Prohibits Webcam Abortions Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
1/30 SB 383 Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/13 HR 3811 Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (291 - 122)
12/05 H Amdt 521 Authorizes Judicial Discretion in Awarding Legal Fees in Patent Lawsuits Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 213)
12/05 H Amdt 524 Limits Covered Customers to Businesses With Less Than $25 Million in Revenue Amendment Rejected - House (144 - 266)
12/05 HR 3309 Innovation Act Bill Passed - House (325 - 91)
11/20 H Amdt 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
11/20 H Amdt 499 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to Require Certain Findings for Categorical Exclusions Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 228)
11/20 H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
11/20 H Amdt 503 Requires a Report on the Effect of Flooding on Oil and Gas Facilities Amendment Rejected - House (202 - 221)
11/20 HR 1965 Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act Bill Passed - House (228 - 192)
7/24 H Amdt 413 Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the PATRIOT Act Amendment Rejected - House (205 - 217)
7/07 SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - House (33 - 26)
7/07 SB 9 Increases Fines for Texting or Talking While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/27 S 2723 Amends Firearms Identification Card Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
6/24 S 2723 Amends Firearm Identification Card Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 34)
6/18 S Amdt 1228 Requires US-VISIT System to be Established at Every Port of Entry Amendment Rejected - Senate (36 - 58)
6/04 SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
5/30 SB 692 Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
5/30 AB 1217 Establishes Certain Regulations for Home Care Aides Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
5/28 HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 48)
5/26 HB 912 Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5)
5/23 HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
5/23 AB 440 Extends Voter Registration Period Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/06 S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27)
5/03 HB 318 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
5/02 SB 501 Requires Social Networking Sites to Remove Personal Identifying Information Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
4/30 HB 622 Limits Media 'Shield Law' Provisions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
4/25 S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 30)
4/18 HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)

arrow_upward