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 20, 2015 | NM | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - House (54 - 12) |
| March 2, 2015 | NM | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
| May 23, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8) |
| May 22, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 9) |
| May 9, 2014 | National | HR 4438 | American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 131) |
| May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
| May 1, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - House (69 - 58) |
| April 24, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - House (75 - 15) |
| April 23, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| March 12, 2014 | OK | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| March 5, 2014 | OK | HB 2638 | Requires an Individual Arrested for Certain Crimes to Submit DNA | Bill Failed - House (35 - 51) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | OK | HB 2070 | Prohibits Certain Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (73 - 14) |
| Dec. 11, 2013 | National | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30) |
| March 26, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Bill Passed - House (90 - 32) |
| March 25, 2013 | SD | SB 115 | Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Nov. 30, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 139) |
| Sept. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Failed - House (257 - 158) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| May 21, 2012 | CA | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
| March 26, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| March 19, 2012 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 15, 2012 | OK | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | SD | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | CT | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - House (101 - 41) |
| Oct. 26, 2011 | CT | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Sept. 23, 2011 | MO | SB 7 | Incentives for Science-Based Businesses | Bill Passed - House (94 - 48) |
| Sept. 23, 2011 | MO | HA 1 to SB 7 | Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects | Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74) |
| Sept. 23, 2011 | MO | HA 1 to SB 7 | Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects | Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74) |
| April 7, 2011 | TN | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | IN | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| May 28, 2010 | National | HR 5116 | Science and Technology Funding | Bill Passed - House (262 - 150) |
| May 19, 2010 | National | HR 5325 | Science and Technology Funding | Bill Failed - House (261 - 148) |
| April 29, 2010 | AZ | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| April 28, 2010 | AZ | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1044 | Prohibiting Human Cloning | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | ID | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | SD | HB 1083 | Appropriations for the Sanford Lab at Homestake | Bill Failed - House (45 - 23) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | OK | HB 2430 | 2010-2011 Space Industry Development Authority Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| April 23, 2009 | OK | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Passed - House (68 - 26) |
| April 23, 2009 | OK | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Failed - Senate (26 - 19) |
| March 20, 2009 | NM | SB 77 | Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Failed - House (30 - 38) |
| March 12, 2009 | GA | SB 169 | In Vitro Embryo Creation Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | National | HR 1105 | 2009 Budget Bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 178) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/20 | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - House (54 - 12) |
| 3/02 | SB 94 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
| 5/23 | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8) |
| 5/22 | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 9) |
| 5/09 | HR 4438 | American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (274 - 131) |
| 5/02 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
| 5/01 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - House (69 - 58) |
| 4/24 | SB 1848 | Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - House (75 - 15) |
| 4/23 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 3/12 | SB 1848 | Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| 3/05 | HB 2638 | Requires an Individual Arrested for Certain Crimes to Submit DNA | Bill Failed - House (35 - 51) |
| 2/25 | HB 2070 | Prohibits Certain Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (73 - 14) |
| 12/11 | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
| 4/05 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 4/05 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30) |
| 3/26 | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Bill Passed - House (90 - 32) |
| 3/25 | SB 115 | Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 11/30 | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (245 - 139) |
| 9/20 | HR 6429 | STEM Jobs Act of 2012 | Bill Failed - House (257 - 158) |
| 8/27 | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 8/22 | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| 5/21 | SB 1221 | Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 3/29 | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
| 3/26 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| 3/19 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/15 | HB 1551 | Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories | Bill Passed - House (56 - 12) |
| 2/29 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33) |
| 2/27 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 2/13 | HB 1234 | Eliminates Teacher Tenure | Bill Passed - House (41 - 28) |
| 10/26 | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - House (101 - 41) |
| 10/26 | SB 1401 | Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 9/23 | SB 7 | Incentives for Science-Based Businesses | Bill Passed - House (94 - 48) |
| 9/23 | HA 1 to SB 7 | Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects | Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74) |
| 9/23 | HA 1 to SB 7 | Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects | Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74) |
| 4/07 | HB 368 | Scientific Theories in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| 2/22 | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 5/28 | HR 5116 | Science and Technology Funding | Bill Passed - House (262 - 150) |
| 5/19 | HR 5325 | Science and Technology Funding | Bill Failed - House (261 - 148) |
| 4/29 | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 4/28 | SB 1307 | Treatment of Human Embryos | Bill Passed - House (35 - 24) |
| 3/01 | SCR 1044 | Prohibiting Human Cloning | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 2/26 | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 2/23 | HB 1083 | Appropriations for the Sanford Lab at Homestake | Bill Failed - House (45 - 23) |
| 2/04 | HB 2430 | 2010-2011 Space Industry Development Authority Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| 8/05 | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| 4/23 | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Passed - House (68 - 26) |
| 4/23 | HB 1326 | Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research | Veto Override Failed - Senate (26 - 19) |
| 3/20 | SB 77 | Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research | Bill Failed - House (30 - 38) |
| 3/12 | SB 169 | In Vitro Embryo Creation Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 22) |
| 2/26 | HR 1105 | 2009 Budget Bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 178) |