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
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1534 Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (108 - 44)
April 9, 2012 AZ HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 17)
April 9, 2012 MD SB 236 Septic System Installation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 6, 2012 MD SB 236 Septic System Installation Requirements Bill Passed - House (93 - 45)
April 4, 2012 AZ HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 28, 2012 NH HB 1560 Joining an Interstate Health Care Compact to Opt-Out of Federal Health Care Programs Bill Passed - House (221 - 131)
March 26, 2012 MN HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 60)
March 23, 2012 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 23, 2012 ID SJM 104 Urging Congress to Repeal Insurance Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (51 - 16)
March 22, 2012 CA AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
March 19, 2012 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 24)
March 19, 2012 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 19, 2012 MN HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 12)
March 15, 2012 ID H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)
March 15, 2012 KY SB 18 Amends Redistricting Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
March 15, 2012 NH HB 1405 Authorizes Moratoriums on Refugee Resettlements Bill Passed - House (190 - 109)
March 8, 2012 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7)
March 8, 2012 UT SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27)
March 8, 2012 National S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
March 6, 2012 AZ HCR 2056 Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18)
March 5, 2012 AZ SCR 1008 Declaration of State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 1, 2012 AZ SB 1083 Establishes the Arizona Special Missions Unit Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 1, 2012 AZ SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 29, 2012 FL HB 609 Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances Bill Passed - House (77 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
Feb. 28, 2012 WY HJR 7 Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17)
Feb. 28, 2012 WY HB 85 Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity Bill Failed - House (27 - 30)
Feb. 27, 2012 UT HB 511 Authorizing Eminent Domain over Federal Land Bill Passed - House (57 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2012 GA SB 447 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 24, 2012 UT HB 198 Prohibits Regulation of Family Food Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2012 UT HB 104 Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
Feb. 23, 2012 KS HCR 5007 Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 23, 2012 ID HJM 10 Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15)
Feb. 22, 2012 NH HR 29 Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121)
Feb. 21, 2012 WI SJR 21 Prohibits mandated health insurance Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 21, 2012 UT HB 49 Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
Feb. 14, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2012 AZ SB 1061 Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Feb. 3, 2012 FL SB 1174 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (80 - 37)
Jan. 31, 2012 IN HB 1269 Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
Jan. 19, 2012 CO HR 1003 Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31)
Jan. 18, 2012 NH HB 228 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion Bill Passed - House (207 - 147)
Jan. 5, 2012 NH HB 628 Recording and Tracking Complaints of Abuse by Transportation Security Agents Bill Passed - House (188 - 136)
Nov. 16, 2011 National HR 822 Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms Bill Passed - House (272 - 154)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Nov. 10, 2011 National S J Res 27 Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI SB 693 Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/19 HB 1534 Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (108 - 44)
4/09 HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 17)
4/09 SB 236 Septic System Installation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/06 SB 236 Septic System Installation Requirements Bill Passed - House (93 - 45)
4/04 HB 2434 Requires Federal Agents to Notify Local Law Enforcement Prior to Taking Action Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/28 HB 1560 Joining an Interstate Health Care Compact to Opt-Out of Federal Health Care Programs Bill Passed - House (221 - 131)
3/26 HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 60)
3/23 H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/23 SJM 104 Urging Congress to Repeal Insurance Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (51 - 16)
3/22 AJR 22 Requests a Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Joint Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22)
3/19 SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Failed - House (43 - 24)
3/19 SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/19 HF 545 Requires State Budget to Include Federal Insolvency Contingency Plan Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 12)
3/15 H 619 Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities Bill Passed - House (56 - 10)
3/15 SB 18 Amends Redistricting Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
3/15 HB 1405 Authorizes Moratoriums on Refugee Resettlements Bill Passed - House (190 - 109)
3/08 SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7)
3/08 SB 208 Interstate Health Care Compact Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27)
3/08 S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
3/07 HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
3/07 HB 148 Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
3/06 HCR 2056 Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18)
3/05 SCR 1008 Declaration of State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/01 SB 1083 Establishes the Arizona Special Missions Unit Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/01 SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/29 HB 609 Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances Bill Passed - House (77 - 38)
2/28 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
2/28 HJR 7 Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17)
2/28 HB 85 Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity Bill Failed - House (27 - 30)
2/27 HB 511 Authorizing Eminent Domain over Federal Land Bill Passed - House (57 - 14)
2/24 SB 447 Reduces Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/24 HB 198 Prohibits Regulation of Family Food Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
2/24 HB 104 Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
2/23 HCR 5007 Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/23 HJM 10 Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15)
2/22 HR 29 Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121)
2/21 SJR 21 Prohibits mandated health insurance Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/21 HB 49 Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
2/14 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/09 SB 1061 Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
2/03 SB 1174 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (80 - 37)
1/31 HB 1269 Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
1/19 HR 1003 Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31)
1/18 HB 228 Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion Bill Passed - House (207 - 147)
1/05 HB 628 Recording and Tracking Complaints of Abuse by Transportation Security Agents Bill Passed - House (188 - 136)
11/16 HR 822 Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms Bill Passed - House (272 - 154)
11/10 HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48)
11/10 HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
11/10 S J Res 27 Disapproval of EPA Cross-Border Pollution Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (41 - 56)
11/10 SB 693 Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)

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