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 16, 2013 WI AB 82 Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
March 25, 2013 MD HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
March 15, 2013 National HR 803 Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) Bill Passed - House (215 - 202)
March 13, 2013 UT HB 391 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 23)
March 13, 2013 National HR 890 Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 181)
March 7, 2013 CA AB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - House (54 - 22)
March 6, 2013 OK HB 1908 Establishes a Marriage Promotion Campaign Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
March 4, 2013 OK HB 1721 Reduces the Income Cap for the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
Feb. 27, 2013 ND HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 26, 2013 NC SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2013 ND HB 1385 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
Feb. 21, 2013 AZ HB 2147 Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2013 UT HB 274 Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
Dec. 3, 2012 NJ S 2157 Establishes Residential Foreclosure Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
Sept. 20, 2012 National H J Res 118 Congressional Disapproval of Department of Health and Human Services Rule to Waive Certain Requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 164)
Aug. 31, 2012 CA SB 1234 Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees Bill Passed - House (48 - 29)
July 26, 2012 National HR 4078 Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 172)
June 30, 2012 PA HB 1261 Repeals the General Assistance Cash Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 91)
June 28, 2012 NJ S 1566 Authorizes the Conversion of Foreclosed Homes into Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
June 15, 2012 CA AB 1464 2012-2013 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28)
June 12, 2012 RI S 2052 Homeless Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
June 7, 2012 MI HB 5223 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
June 6, 2012 PA SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 67)
May 15, 2012 LA HB 380 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (65 - 26)
April 25, 2012 MA H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
April 10, 2012 AL HB 433 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (56 - 47)
March 29, 2012 GA HB 347 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 60)
March 29, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 56)
March 28, 2012 NH HB 1658 Establishes a Verification System to Detect Welfare Fraud Bill Passed - House (245 - 84)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
March 1, 2012 UT HB 155 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
March 1, 2012 AZ HB 2519 Expands the Requirements for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (39 - 17)
Feb. 29, 2012 SD HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 6)
Feb. 27, 2012 WY HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Feb. 23, 2012 KS HB 2638 Reduces Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Bill Passed - House (85 - 39)
Feb. 21, 2012 MI HB 5033 Requires Asset Tests to Determine Eligibility for State Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (67 - 39)
Feb. 17, 2012 National HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 132)
Jan. 31, 2012 IN HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
Dec. 20, 2011 National HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
Dec. 13, 2011 National HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Oct. 12, 2011 NH SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
June 30, 2011 PA HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
June 9, 2011 TX SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
May 17, 2011 TX SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
May 17, 2011 LA HB 7 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
May 10, 2011 MO HB 73 Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34)
May 6, 2011 FL HB 7107 Medicaid Managed Care Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39)
April 27, 2011 IN HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32)
April 14, 2011 NC HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 49)
April 11, 2011 NY A 2674 Rent Regulation Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
April 5, 2011 SC S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44)
March 23, 2011 MI HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 44)
March 17, 2011 ID H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
March 2, 2011 ID H 109 Extends Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
Feb. 8, 2011 ND HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
Feb. 8, 2011 MT HB 30 Health Care Sharing Ministries Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
Feb. 7, 2011 WY HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
Feb. 7, 2011 SD HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
Feb. 2, 2011 UT HB 211 Community Service Medicaid Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
Jan. 31, 2011 IN HB 1450 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
Jan. 20, 2011 AZ SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
Dec. 13, 2010 NJ S 1 Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
Nov. 18, 2010 National HR 6419 Extension of Certain Unemployment Benefits Bill Failed - House (258 - 154)
July 22, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
July 1, 2010 National HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
May 28, 2010 National HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204)
May 13, 2010 CA AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
April 29, 2010 MO HB 2011 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63)
April 28, 2010 MA Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
April 28, 2010 LA HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
April 20, 2010 WI SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/16 AB 82 Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
3/25 HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
3/15 HR 803 Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) Bill Passed - House (215 - 202)
3/13 HB 391 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 23)
3/13 HR 890 Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (246 - 181)
3/07 AB 1-1 Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program Bill Passed - House (54 - 22)
3/06 HB 1908 Establishes a Marriage Promotion Campaign Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
3/04 HB 1721 Reduces the Income Cap for the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Bill Passed - House (56 - 37)
2/27 HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/26 SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
2/25 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/22 HB 1385 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
2/21 HB 2147 Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
2/04 HB 274 Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual Bill Passed - House (41 - 33)
12/03 S 2157 Establishes Residential Foreclosure Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
9/20 H J Res 118 Congressional Disapproval of Department of Health and Human Services Rule to Waive Certain Requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) Joint Resolution Passed - House (250 - 164)
8/31 SB 1234 Establishes Retirement Program for Private Sector Employees Bill Passed - House (48 - 29)
7/26 HR 4078 Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act Bill Passed - House (245 - 172)
6/30 HB 1261 Repeals the General Assistance Cash Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 91)
6/28 S 1566 Authorizes the Conversion of Foreclosed Homes into Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (44 - 33)
6/15 AB 1464 2012-2013 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28)
6/12 S 2052 Homeless Bill of Rights Bill Passed - House (59 - 6)
6/07 HB 5223 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
6/06 SB 1310 Authorizes Repayment of Unemployment Debt to the Federal Government Concurrence Vote Passed - House (129 - 67)
5/15 HB 380 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (65 - 26)
4/25 H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
4/10 HB 433 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - House (56 - 47)
3/29 HB 347 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Conference Report Adopted - House (98 - 60)
3/29 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 56)
3/28 HB 1658 Establishes a Verification System to Detect Welfare Fraud Bill Passed - House (245 - 84)
3/07 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
3/01 HB 155 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
3/01 HB 2519 Expands the Requirements for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (39 - 17)
2/29 HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 6)
2/27 HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
2/23 HB 2638 Reduces Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Bill Passed - House (85 - 39)
2/21 HB 5033 Requires Asset Tests to Determine Eligibility for State Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (67 - 39)
2/17 HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - House (293 - 132)
1/31 HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
12/20 HR 3630 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (229 - 193)
12/13 HR 3630 Reduces Payroll Taxes and Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
10/12 SB 198 Amends Eligibility Requirements for TANF Bill Passed - House (237 - 126)
9/02 AB 6 Repeals Fingerprinting Requirement for CalFresh Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 26)
6/30 HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (130 - 66)
6/09 SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
5/17 SB 420 Eligibility for Indigent Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 40)
5/17 HB 7 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (67 - 26)
5/10 HB 73 Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34)
5/06 HB 7107 Medicaid Managed Care Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 39)
4/27 HB 1210 Repealing Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32)
4/14 HB 383 Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 49)
4/11 A 2674 Rent Regulation Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
4/05 S 434 Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 44)
3/23 HB 4408 Employment Compensation Fund Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 44)
3/17 H 260 Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
3/02 H 109 Extends Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
2/08 HB 1377 Children's Health Insurance Program Bill Failed - House (25 - 67)
2/08 HB 30 Health Care Sharing Ministries Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
2/07 HB 244 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
2/07 HB 1152 Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - House (32 - 36)
2/02 HB 211 Community Service Medicaid Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
1/31 HB 1450 Unemployment Insurance Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 38)
1/20 SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
12/13 S 1 Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
11/18 HR 6419 Extension of Certain Unemployment Benefits Bill Failed - House (258 - 154)
7/22 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
7/01 HR 5618 Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill Passed - House (270 - 153)
5/28 HR 4213 Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204)
5/13 AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
4/29 HB 2011 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63)
4/28 Sánchez Amdt Sending Public Benefits Amendment to Study Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 75)
4/28 HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
4/21 Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
4/20 SB 484 BadgerCare Plus Basic Health Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)

arrow_upward