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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 3836 | Amends Lincoln Presidential Library Operations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 29) |
| April 7, 2014 | LA | S Amdt 2081 | Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 38) |
| April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 27, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| March 27, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entities | Bill Passed - House (96 - 42) |
| March 21, 2014 | KY | HB 544 | Amends Hotel Tax Laws | Bill Passed - House (52 - 40) |
| March 4, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (65 - 28) |
| March 3, 2014 | OK | HB 2580 | Extends Film Industry Tax Credit Program | Bill Failed - House (48 - 43) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | MI | HB 5108 | Authorizes Individuals to Resell Admission Tickets | Bill Passed - House (66 - 42) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | IN | SB 339 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol at the Indiana State Fair | Bill Passed - House (75 - 20) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | GA | SB 318 | Authorizes Bars to Sell Alcohol on Certain Holiday Weekends | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | IN | SB 339 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol at the Indiana State Fair | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| Jan. 30, 2014 | VA | HB 63 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 70 | National Park Service Operations, Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (252 - 176) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | HB 278 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Limiting the Practice or Celebration of Any Federal Holiday | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | HB 278 | Prohibits a Public Entity from Limiting the Practice or Celebration of Any Federal Holiday | Veto Override Passed - House (114 - 45) |
| June 5, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 28, 2013 | NV | SB 165 | Authorizes Film Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 610 | Expands the Sale of Alcohol in Seating Areas of Certain Stadiums and Ballparks | Bill Passed - House (73 - 45) |
| May 7, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - House (117 - 26) |
| April 29, 2013 | FL | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SJR S | Establishes a Constitutional Authorization for Individuals to Hunt and Fish | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 17, 2013 | OK | SB 330 | Increases Rebate Funds for the Film Industry | Bill Passed - House (55 - 30) |
| April 17, 2013 | MT | SB 143 | Amends Bison Management Laws | Bill Failed - House (50 - 50) |
| April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 487 | Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves | Bill Passed - House (52 - 39) |
| April 12, 2013 | WA | HB 1001 | Establishes a Liquor License for Small Theaters | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| April 2, 2013 | MD | SB 183 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Certain Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - House (108 - 31) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IN | SB 91 | Establishes Motorsports Investment District | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | NC | HB 66 | Authorizes the Use and Display of Wild Animals in Cultural Activities | Bill Passed - House (98 - 20) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | VA | HB 1442 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students To Participate In Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | SB 1525 | Establishes a Student Athlete Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 14, 2012 | LA | HB 1072 | Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 10, 2012 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 9, 2012 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 60) |
| May 7, 2012 | MN | HF 1485 | Authorizes New Vikings Stadium | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| April 30, 2012 | LA | HB 1072 | Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
| April 18, 2012 | NY | S 1707A | Authorizes Professional Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 14) |
| March 27, 2012 | MN | HF 657 | Amends Ticket Sales Practices | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | FL | HB 7087 | Increases Certain Business Tax Credits and Sales Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (92 - 22) |
| Feb. 8, 2012 | VA | HB 947 | Authorizes Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Interscholastic Programs | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| July 5, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - House (50 - 26) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | HB 1490 | Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 45) |
| May 26, 2011 | IL | HB 1490 | Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8) |
| May 23, 2011 | NY | S 1707 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 18) |
| May 9, 2011 | NJ | A 3699 | Prohibiting the Burial of Petty's Run Archaeological Excavation Site | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| April 26, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (90 - 73) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 14, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| April 1, 2011 | TX | H Amdt 6 | Appropriations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 61) |
| March 17, 2011 | National | HR 1076 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of National Public Radio | Bill Passed - House (228 - 192) |
| March 2, 2011 | NM | HB 607 | Film Production Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| Feb. 18, 2011 | National | H Amdt 92 | Prohibiting the Use of Federal Funds for NASCAR Sponsorships | Amendment Rejected - House (148 - 281) |
| Feb. 4, 2011 | WV | HB 2562 | Legalizing Mixed Martial Arts | Bill Passed - House (55 - 37) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| June 16, 2010 | NY | S 2165B | Allows Mixed Martial Arts Performances and Ultimate Fighting | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1652 | Ski Resort Safety Requirement Modifications | Bill Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 15, 2010 | CO | SB 94 | State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| April 12, 2010 | CO | SB 94 | State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects | Bill Passed - House (42 - 21) |
| April 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| March 29, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 26, 2010 | IL | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| March 18, 2010 | AZ | HB 2736 | Cactus League Ticket Surcharge for Stadium Costs | Bill Passed - House (35 - 19) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| June 24, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| May 19, 2009 | RI | H 5769 | Boxing Rule Changes | Bill Passed - House (53 - 13) |
| May 8, 2009 | MN | HF 1231 | 2010-2011 Cultural and Outdoor Resources Budget | Bill Passed - House (78 - 51) |