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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 24, 2014 | TN | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | AR | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (33 - 29) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | WA | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | VA | SB 590 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | KY | HB 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32) |
| Jan. 31, 2014 | WA | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| Jan. 29, 2014 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 166) |
| Jan. 28, 2014 | IN | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (71 - 22) |
| Jan. 14, 2014 | National | S 1845 | Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| Nov. 19, 2013 | MA | Amdt 1 | Increases the Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Nov. 19, 2013 | MA | S 1925 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| Oct. 16, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (285 - 144) |
| Oct. 16, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18) |
| Oct. 4, 2013 | National | H J Res 75 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (244 - 164) |
| Sept. 18, 2013 | MI | SB 276 | Requires Community Service for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| Sept. 3, 2013 | MI | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 32) |
| Aug. 27, 2013 | MI | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| July 24, 2013 | NC | HB 392 | Authorizes Drug Testing for Work First Program Applicants | Conference Report Adopted - House (92 - 21) |
| July 11, 2013 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (216 - 208) |
| July 8, 2013 | OR | HB 2639 | Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| July 3, 2013 | PA | HB 1075 | Amends Public Welfare Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| July 3, 2013 | OR | HB 2639 | Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| July 1, 2013 | PA | HB 1075 | Amends Public Welfare Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 94) |
| June 20, 2013 | National | H Amdt 231 | Authorizes States to Require Federal Welfare Work Requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 198) |
| June 20, 2013 | National | HR 1947 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Failed - House (195 - 234) |
| June 19, 2013 | National | H Amdt 176 | Restores $20.5 Billion in Appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Rejected - House (188 - 234) |
| June 13, 2013 | MI | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (76 - 31) |
| June 10, 2013 | National | S 954 | Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 27) |
| May 22, 2013 | TX | SB 21 | Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (104 - 42) |
| May 16, 2013 | AZ | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 1, 2013 | MI | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| May 1, 2013 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (77 - 33) |
| April 25, 2013 | AL | SB 340 | Amends the Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| April 24, 2013 | AL | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 18, 2013 | AR | SB 1020 | Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| April 17, 2013 | AR | SB 1020 | Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| April 16, 2013 | IA | SF 439 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| April 16, 2013 | WI | AB 82 | Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps | Bill Passed - House (73 - 24) |
| April 10, 2013 | IN | HB 1483 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| April 8, 2013 | AR | SB 38 | Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| April 8, 2013 | AR | SB 875 | Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| March 27, 2013 | MD | SB 274 | Expands Medicaid Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 25, 2013 | IA | SF 296 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/24 | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| 2/20 | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 2/19 | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (33 - 29) |
| 2/18 | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| 2/14 | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| 2/11 | SB 590 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 2/11 | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
| 2/06 | HB 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| 2/04 | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32) |
| 1/31 | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| 1/29 | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 166) |
| 1/28 | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (71 - 22) |
| 1/14 | S 1845 | Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| 11/19 | Amdt 1 | Increases the Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees | Amendment Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 11/19 | S 1925 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| 10/16 | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (285 - 144) |
| 10/16 | HR 2775 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 18) |
| 10/04 | H J Res 75 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (244 - 164) |
| 9/18 | SB 276 | Requires Community Service for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 9/12 | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
| 9/12 | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 9/12 | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| 9/03 | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 32) |
| 8/27 | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 7/24 | HB 392 | Authorizes Drug Testing for Work First Program Applicants | Conference Report Adopted - House (92 - 21) |
| 7/11 | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (216 - 208) |
| 7/08 | HB 2639 | Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 7/03 | HB 1075 | Amends Public Welfare Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 7/03 | HB 2639 | Prohibits Discrimination in Selling, Renting, or Leasing Property | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| 7/01 | HB 1075 | Amends Public Welfare Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 94) |
| 6/20 | H Amdt 231 | Authorizes States to Require Federal Welfare Work Requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 198) |
| 6/20 | HR 1947 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Bill Failed - House (195 - 234) |
| 6/19 | H Amdt 176 | Restores $20.5 Billion in Appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Amendment Rejected - House (188 - 234) |
| 6/13 | HB 4714 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (76 - 31) |
| 6/10 | S 954 | Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 27) |
| 5/22 | SB 21 | Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (104 - 42) |
| 5/16 | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 5/01 | HB 4388 | Establishes School Attendence Requirements for Family Independence Assistance | Bill Passed - House (78 - 32) |
| 5/01 | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (77 - 33) |
| 4/25 | SB 340 | Amends the Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 4/24 | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 4/18 | SB 1020 | Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| 4/17 | SB 1020 | Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
| 4/16 | SF 439 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 4/16 | AB 82 | Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps | Bill Passed - House (73 - 24) |
| 4/10 | HB 1483 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| 4/08 | SB 38 | Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 4/08 | SB 875 | Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 3/27 | SB 274 | Expands Medicaid Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 3/25 | SF 296 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |