Key Votes

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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
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 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 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 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
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)
June 24, 2013 NJ S 2723 Amends Firearm Identification Card Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 34)
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 3, 2013 TX HB 318 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
April 18, 2013 TX HB 63 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
April 18, 2013 National HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
April 17, 2013 TN SB 1248 Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse Bill Passed - House (50 - 43)
April 4, 2013 MO HB 46 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
March 21, 2013 MD HB 753 Classifies Cell Phone Use While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (106 - 29)
March 14, 2013 OK HB 2218 Reduces Funds for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority Bill Failed - House (41 - 57)
March 10, 2013 NM HCR 1 Limits the Disclosure of Legislative Information Bill Passed - House (48 - 16)
March 4, 2013 SD SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (43 - 23)
March 1, 2013 IL HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
Feb. 25, 2013 UT HB 103 Prohibits Minors From Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (48 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2013 ND HB 1373 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
Feb. 13, 2013 ID HB 55 Authorizes Telecommunications Businesses to Solicit Existing Customers Bill Passed - House (65 - 5)
Jan. 30, 2013 SD HB 1113 Requires Certain State Electronic Exchanges to Be Made Public Bill Failed - House (34 - 35)
Jan. 28, 2013 SD HB 1108 Exempts Certain Advisory Bodies From Providing Telephone or Internet Access Bill Passed - House (63 - 5)
Dec. 17, 2012 NJ S 581 Establishes Tax Credits for Investors in Small Business Technology Bill Passed - House (47 - 30)
Dec. 17, 2012 NJ A 2578 Authorizes Internet Gaming at Atlantic City Casinos Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
Dec. 14, 2012 MI SB 756 Prohibits Teens from Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (74 - 33)
Dec. 5, 2012 OH HB 605 Prohibits Gambling In Internet Cafes Bill Passed - House (63 - 30)
Nov. 30, 2012 National HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (245 - 139)
Oct. 18, 2012 NJ A 2870 Establishes Online Vote Registration Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
Sept. 20, 2012 National HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Failed - House (257 - 158)
Sept. 12, 2012 National HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (301 - 118)
June 30, 2012 PA HB 254 Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 72)
June 25, 2012 NJ A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
June 19, 2012 NY A 1157B Requires Firearms to Have Microstamping Technology Bill Passed - House (85 - 60)
June 13, 2012 PA HB 2400 Expands Wiretapping Authority Bill Passed - House (145 - 52)
June 12, 2012 DE HB 333 Authorizes Online Gambling Bill Passed - House (29 - 8)
May 24, 2012 NJ A 1238 Requires Copy Machine Hard Drives to be Erased Before Being Exchanged Bill Passed - House (51 - 28)
May 22, 2012 IL SB 1808 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
May 15, 2012 OH HB 99 Prohibits Texting While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 12)
May 2, 2012 LA HB 695 Prohibits the Use of Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
May 1, 2012 MI SB 619 Cyber Schools Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
April 26, 2012 National HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
April 10, 2012 AK HB 255 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
April 6, 2012 MD SB 433 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (128 - 10)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 26)
March 29, 2012 IL HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)
Date No. Title Outcome
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 H Amdt 498 Specifies That Certain Fees Do Not Limit the Right to Petition Amendment Rejected - House (199 - 222)
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 504 Appropriates $10 Million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Amendment Rejected - House (195 - 226)
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)
6/24 S 2723 Amends Firearm Identification Card Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 34)
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)
5/03 HB 318 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (79 - 64)
4/18 HB 63 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (97 - 45)
4/18 HR 624 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (288 - 127)
4/17 SB 1248 Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse Bill Passed - House (50 - 43)
4/04 HB 46 Prohibits the Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Bill Passed - House (87 - 66)
3/21 HB 753 Classifies Cell Phone Use While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (106 - 29)
3/14 HB 2218 Reduces Funds for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority Bill Failed - House (41 - 57)
3/10 HCR 1 Limits the Disclosure of Legislative Information Bill Passed - House (48 - 16)
3/04 SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (43 - 23)
3/01 HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
2/25 HB 103 Prohibits Minors From Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (48 - 22)
2/22 HB 1373 Limits the Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
2/13 HB 55 Authorizes Telecommunications Businesses to Solicit Existing Customers Bill Passed - House (65 - 5)
1/30 HB 1113 Requires Certain State Electronic Exchanges to Be Made Public Bill Failed - House (34 - 35)
1/28 HB 1108 Exempts Certain Advisory Bodies From Providing Telephone or Internet Access Bill Passed - House (63 - 5)
12/17 S 581 Establishes Tax Credits for Investors in Small Business Technology Bill Passed - House (47 - 30)
12/17 A 2578 Authorizes Internet Gaming at Atlantic City Casinos Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
12/14 SB 756 Prohibits Teens from Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (74 - 33)
12/05 HB 605 Prohibits Gambling In Internet Cafes Bill Passed - House (63 - 30)
11/30 HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (245 - 139)
10/18 A 2870 Establishes Online Vote Registration Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
9/20 HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Failed - House (257 - 158)
9/12 HR 5949 FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (301 - 118)
6/30 HB 254 Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 72)
6/25 A 763 Increases Fees to Fund the E-Court Information System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 30)
6/19 A 1157B Requires Firearms to Have Microstamping Technology Bill Passed - House (85 - 60)
6/13 HB 2400 Expands Wiretapping Authority Bill Passed - House (145 - 52)
6/12 HB 333 Authorizes Online Gambling Bill Passed - House (29 - 8)
5/24 A 1238 Requires Copy Machine Hard Drives to be Erased Before Being Exchanged Bill Passed - House (51 - 28)
5/22 SB 1808 Authorizes Individuals to Record Law Enforcement Officers Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
5/15 HB 99 Prohibits Texting While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 12)
5/02 HB 695 Prohibits the Use of Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
5/01 SB 619 Cyber Schools Bill Passed - House (57 - 52)
4/26 HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
4/19 HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
4/10 HB 255 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
4/06 SB 433 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords Bill Passed - House (128 - 10)
3/29 HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 26)
3/29 HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information Bill Passed - House (78 - 30)

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