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
June 11, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - House (69 - 41)
May 28, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - House (67 - 43)
May 19, 2015 IL HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (68 - 43)
May 5, 2015 HI HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14)
April 29, 2015 NY A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
April 21, 2015 NV AB 375 Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Failed - House (20 - 22)
April 9, 2015 WA SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
April 8, 2015 MD SB 743 Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
April 2, 2015 IN SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 30)
April 2, 2015 ND SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - House (35 - 56)
April 2, 2015 CO HB 1265 Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
March 20, 2015 ID HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
March 17, 2015 OR HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
March 11, 2015 UT SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (65 - 10)
March 11, 2015 FL HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
March 10, 2015 CO HB 1175 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
March 10, 2015 HI HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (41 - 10)
Feb. 10, 2015 SD HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
June 16, 2014 NY A 6983B Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (105 - 28)
March 27, 2014 MD SB 212 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (82 - 57)
Feb. 12, 2014 KS HB 2453 Authorizes an Individual to Refuse Services Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - House (72 - 49)
Jan. 28, 2014 IN HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - House (57 - 40)
Nov. 8, 2013 HI SB 1 - HD 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (30 - 19)
Nov. 5, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
June 24, 2013 NJ A 3371 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
June 18, 2013 DE SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
May 23, 2013 NV SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - House (27 - 14)
May 14, 2013 NV SB 139 Classifies Crimes Based on Gender Identity or Expression as Felonies Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
May 9, 2013 CA AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - House (46 - 25)
May 9, 2013 MN HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 59)
May 2, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 15)
April 23, 2013 DE HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (23 - 18)
April 10, 2013 MT SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
March 12, 2013 CO SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 21, 2013 CO HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
Jan. 30, 2013 WY HB 168 Authorizes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
Jan. 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
Aug. 28, 2012 CA SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
July 19, 2012 National H Amdt 1416 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (247 - 166)
May 16, 2012 National HR 4970 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (222 - 205)
May 9, 2012 National H Amdt 1096 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention with the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (245 - 171)
April 30, 2012 CA AB 1960 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Sexual Orientation Reported by Business Owners Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
April 30, 2012 NY A 5039 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (81 - 59)
March 21, 2012 NH HB 437 Repeals Same-Sex Marriage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 116)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD H Amdt 141 Defining Domestic Abuse as Abuse Witihin an Opposite-Sex Relationship Amendment Adopted - House (35 - 33)
Feb. 22, 2012 VA SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
Feb. 17, 2012 MD HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (72 - 67)
Feb. 16, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 33)
Feb. 8, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/11 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - House (69 - 41)
5/28 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - House (67 - 43)
5/19 HB 217 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (68 - 43)
5/05 HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14)
4/29 A 4958 Classifies Conversion Therapy on Minors as Professional Misconduct Bill Passed - House (111 - 26)
4/21 AB 375 Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex Bill Failed - House (20 - 22)
4/09 SB 5870 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
4/08 SB 743 Authorizes New Birth Certificates for Sex Changes Bill Passed - House (91 - 49)
4/02 SB 50 Specifies that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Does Not Authorize Discrimination Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 30)
4/02 SB 2279 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - House (35 - 56)
4/02 HB 1265 Authorizes Gender Changes on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (40 - 25)
3/20 HJM 4 Appeals to Congress to Impeach Certain Members of the Judiciary Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
3/17 HB 2307 Prohibits Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (41 - 18)
3/11 SB 296 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - House (65 - 10)
3/11 HB 7013 Amends Child Adoption Laws Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
3/10 HB 1175 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
3/10 HB 631 Amends Procedure to Change Gender on Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (41 - 10)
2/10 HB 1195 Requires a Student's Gender Identity to be Determined by a Birth Certificate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
6/16 A 6983B Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors Bill Passed - House (105 - 28)
3/27 SB 212 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (82 - 57)
2/12 HB 2453 Authorizes an Individual to Refuse Services Based on Religious Beliefs Bill Passed - House (72 - 49)
1/28 HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - House (57 - 40)
11/08 SB 1 - HD 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (30 - 19)
11/05 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (61 - 54)
6/24 A 3371 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - House (56 - 14)
6/18 SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
5/23 SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - House (27 - 14)
5/14 SB 139 Classifies Crimes Based on Gender Identity or Expression as Felonies Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
5/09 AB 1266 Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities Bill Passed - House (46 - 25)
5/09 HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 59)
5/02 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 15)
4/23 HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (23 - 18)
4/10 SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
3/12 SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/21 HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (37 - 28)
1/30 HB 168 Authorizes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Failed - House (25 - 34)
1/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
8/28 SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - House (52 - 22)
7/19 H Amdt 1416 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention of the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (247 - 166)
5/16 HR 4970 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (222 - 205)
5/09 H Amdt 1096 Prohibits Use of Funds in Contravention with the Defense of Marriage Act Amendment Adopted - House (245 - 171)
4/30 AB 1960 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Sexual Orientation Reported by Business Owners Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
4/30 A 5039 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - House (81 - 59)
3/21 HB 437 Repeals Same-Sex Marriage "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 116)
2/28 H Amdt 141 Defining Domestic Abuse as Abuse Witihin an Opposite-Sex Relationship Amendment Adopted - House (35 - 33)
2/22 SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
2/17 HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (72 - 67)
2/16 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (42 - 33)
2/08 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)

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