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 27, 2013 NJ A 3371 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
June 19, 2013 DE SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
May 29, 2013 CA SB 323 Prohibits Tax-Exempt Status for Organizations that Discriminate Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
May 13, 2013 MN HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
May 7, 2013 DE HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
April 22, 2013 NV SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
March 18, 2013 CO HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2013 MT SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2013 ND SB 2252 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 26)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Feb. 12, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
Feb. 11, 2013 CO SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Jan. 31, 2013 WY SF 131 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Aug. 30, 2012 CA SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 31, 2012 CA SB 1140 Exempts Religious Institutions from Performing Same-Sex Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
May 30, 2012 CA SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
April 26, 2012 CO SB 2 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 26, 2012 National S 1925 Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
Feb. 23, 2012 MD HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 21, 2012 VA HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2012 VA SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Aug. 30, 2011 CA AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
July 14, 2011 CA AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
June 29, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
June 8, 2011 ME LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (11 - 23)
June 4, 2011 CT HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 20, 2011 TN SB 49 Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
May 11, 2011 NV AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
April 25, 2011 NV SB 331 Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
April 14, 2011 CA SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
April 11, 2011 MD HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 7, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
March 24, 2011 CO SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1188 Preference for Married Couples in Adoption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
Feb. 23, 2011 MD SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 18, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 16, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
Feb. 2, 2011 VA SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Jan. 28, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Jan. 27, 2011 WY SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/27 A 3371 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy for Minors Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
6/19 SB 97 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
5/29 SB 323 Prohibits Tax-Exempt Status for Organizations that Discriminate Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
5/13 HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
5/07 HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
4/22 SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
3/18 HB 1081 Expands Sexual Education Curriculum Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/20 SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
2/14 SB 2252 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 26)
2/14 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
2/12 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
2/11 SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
1/31 SF 131 Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
8/30 SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/31 SB 1140 Exempts Religious Institutions from Performing Same-Sex Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
5/30 SB 1172 Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
4/26 SB 2 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/26 S 1925 Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
2/23 HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/21 HB 189 Authorizes Adoption Agencies to Refuse Adoptions for Religious Reasons Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/13 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/09 SB 349 Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/01 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
8/30 AB 887 Prohibits Discrimination Against Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
7/14 AB 433 Birth Certificates for Transgendered Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
6/29 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/24 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
6/08 LD 1046 Transgender Discrimination Law Amendments "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - Senate (11 - 23)
6/04 HB 6599 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/20 SB 49 Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
5/11 AB 211 Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/11 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
4/25 SB 368 Prohibits Discrimination in Housing Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
4/25 SB 180 Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
4/25 SB 331 Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
4/14 SB 48 Requires Teaching Gay History Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
4/11 HB 235 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/07 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
3/24 SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/08 SB 1188 Preference for Married Couples in Adoption Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
2/23 SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/18 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/16 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
2/02 SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
1/28 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
1/27 SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)

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