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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2013 | ME | LD 611 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 13 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days | Bill Passed - House (50 - 46) |
| March 25, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| March 25, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | HB 228 | Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| March 22, 2013 | ID | S 1117 | Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 18) |
| March 21, 2013 | NH | HB 443 | Prohibits Contracts with Private Entities for Inmate Custody | Bill Passed - House (197 - 136) |
| March 21, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
| March 21, 2013 | PA | HB 790 | Requires the State to Privatize Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (105 - 90) |
| March 19, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
| March 15, 2013 | CO | HB 1229 | Requires Background Checks for Private Gun Sales and Transfers | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 27) |
| March 13, 2013 | OK | HB 2201 | Requires Private Ownership of the State Workers' Compensation Insurer | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| March 13, 2013 | ID | H 248 | Establishes Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (41 - 29) |
| March 13, 2013 | OH | HB 7 | Limits Prize Payouts in Sweepstakes | Bill Passed - House (66 - 29) |
| March 7, 2013 | WI | SB 1 | Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 7, 2013 | IL | SB 622 | Increases Physician License Fees | Bill Passed - House (65 - 49) |
| March 6, 2013 | MS | SB 2687 | Prohibits Local Government Management of Nutrition Labeling | Bill Passed - House (92 - 26) |
| March 6, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| March 6, 2013 | NY | A 5424 | Establishes a Two-Year Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - House (103 - 40) |
| March 5, 2013 | NY | A 38 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (102 - 44) |
| March 4, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (72 - 58) |
| March 4, 2013 | GA | HB 125 | Amends State Immigration Policy | Bill Passed - House (116 - 49) |
| March 4, 2013 | AZ | HB 2280 | Prohibits Local Governments from Establishing Employee Pay Requirements | Bill Passed - House (32 - 27) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | KY | HB 416 | Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | ND | HB 1362 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| Feb. 21, 2013 | AZ | HB 2147 | Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | GA | HB 178 | Requires Pain Management Clinics to be Licensed | Bill Passed - House (150 - 15) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | NH | HB 370 | Repeals the Education Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (188 - 151) |
| Feb. 18, 2013 | CO | HB 1229 | Requires Background Checks For Private Gun Sales and Transfers | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 31) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | ID | H 88 | Expands Tax Credit for New Employees | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | ID | HB 55 | Authorizes Telecommunications Businesses to Solicit Existing Customers | Bill Passed - House (65 - 5) |
| Feb. 6, 2013 | AK | HB 80 | Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits | Bill Passed - House (27 - 10) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | UT | HB 34 | Authorizes "In God We Trust" on License Plates | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | UT | HB 274 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Employing a Homeless Individual | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
| Dec. 17, 2012 | NJ | S 581 | Establishes Tax Credits for Investors in Small Business Technology | Bill Passed - House (47 - 30) |
| Dec. 4, 2012 | IL | SB 681 | Authorizes State Residents To Purchase Ammunition From In-State Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (78 - 28) |
| Dec. 3, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| Dec. 3, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | PA | HB 2626 | Authorizes Employers to Keep Income Taxes Paid by their Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 80) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 31, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (35 - 33) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | AB 889 | Establishes Work Condition Requirements for Domestic Work Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2132 | Encourages State Universities to Include Public Service in Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2346 | Authorizes Farm Workers to Sue Employers for Health or Safety Violations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2327 | Increases Penalties for the Misuse of Funds by Charitable Organizations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 18) |
| Aug. 13, 2012 | CA | AB 1500 | Corporate Tax Rates and Middle Class Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 25) |
| July 31, 2012 | MA | S 2400 | Establishes Accountable Care Organizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (133 - 20) |
| July 31, 2012 | MA | S 2400 | Establishes Accountable Care Organizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (133 - 20) |
| July 26, 2012 | National | HR 4078 | Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act | Bill Passed - House (245 - 172) |
| June 19, 2012 | DE | SB 205 | Requires Manufactured Home Community Owners to Explain Rent Increases | Bill Failed - House (14 - 22) |
| June 11, 2012 | RI | S 2374 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
| June 11, 2012 | RI | S 2374 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (60 - 8) |
| June 8, 2012 | RI | H 7323 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| May 31, 2012 | IL | SB 1064 | Prohibits Private Security Services in Detention Centers | Bill Failed - House (57 - 58) |
| May 31, 2012 | CA | AB 2312 | Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - House (41 - 30) |
| May 30, 2012 | LA | HB 61 | Amends State Workers Pensions | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 36) |
| May 30, 2012 | IL | SB 3442 | Requires Recycling of Plastic Bags | Bill Passed - House (72 - 44) |
| May 30, 2012 | CA | AB 1450 | Prohibits Discrimination Against Unemployed Workers | Bill Passed - House (51 - 26) |
| May 29, 2012 | CA | AB 1534 | Requires Buy-Here-Pay-Here Dealers to Label Used Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| May 29, 2012 | CA | AB 1447 | Requires Buy-Here-Pay-Here Car Sellers to Provide a Limited Warranty | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| May 25, 2012 | IL | SB 2194 | Increases Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - House (60 - 52) |
| May 24, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| May 24, 2012 | NJ | A 2162 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| May 24, 2012 | NJ | A 1238 | Requires Copy Machine Hard Drives to be Erased Before Being Exchanged | Bill Passed - House (51 - 28) |
| May 16, 2012 | AL | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 37) |
| May 16, 2012 | MD | SB 1301 | Amends Teacher Pension Funding | Bill Passed - House (86 - 51) |
| May 16, 2012 | OH | HB 510 | Repeals the Corporate Franchise Tax | Bill Passed - House (75 - 23) |
| May 15, 2012 | IL | HB 3859 | Requires Publication of Reduced Tax Rates under the EDGE Program | Bill Passed - House (84 - 26) |
| May 15, 2012 | NY | A 9148 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (98 - 49) |
| May 8, 2012 | CT | HB 5556 | Requires Corporations to Identify Top Donors for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (94 - 54) |
| May 7, 2012 | IA | HF 2475 | Reduces Certain Business Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| May 3, 2012 | AZ | HB 2815 | Establishes Tax Credits for Certain Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 16) |
| May 1, 2012 | MN | HF 2337 | Amends Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 57) |
| April 30, 2012 | MS | SB 2576 | Amends worker's compensation | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 56) |
| April 30, 2012 | MS | SB 2576 | Amends worker's compensation | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 56) |
| 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 26, 2012 | CT | HB 5291 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 62) |
| April 26, 2012 | CT | HB 5291 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 62) |
| April 26, 2012 | MO | HB 1540 | Prohibits Employees from Suing Co-Workers for Job Injuries | Bill Passed - House (99 - 47) |
| April 26, 2012 | National | HR 3523 | Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (248 - 168) |
| April 26, 2012 | CT | HB 5021 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Sundays and Certain Holidays | Bill Passed - House (116 - 27) |
| April 25, 2012 | OK | HB 2155 | Authorizes an Alternative Plan to the Worker's Compensation Program | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (42 - 50) |
| April 23, 2012 | MN | SF 1694 | Authorizes the Sale of Certain Fireworks | Bill Passed - House (77 - 50) |
| April 19, 2012 | National | HR 9 | Income Tax Deduction for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - House (235 - 173) |
| April 19, 2012 | AL | HB 658 | Amends Immigration Regulations | Bill Passed - House (64 - 34) |
| April 16, 2012 | TN | SB 3345 | Limits the Number of Foreign Nationals that May Work in a Charter School | Bill Passed - House (63 - 29) |
| April 14, 2012 | ME | LD 1913 | Worker's Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 69) |
| April 12, 2012 | CA | AB 2127 | Authorizes Work Release for Certain Offenders | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| April 9, 2012 | AZ | HB 2199 | Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 15) |
| April 6, 2012 | MD | SB 433 | Prohibits Employers from Asking for Private Passwords | Bill Passed - House (128 - 10) |
| April 5, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 43) |
| April 3, 2012 | AL | SB 63 | Authorizes Private Work-Oriented Rehbilitation Programs for Inmates | Bill Passed - House (73 - 22) |
| March 29, 2012 | IL | HB 3782 | Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| March 29, 2012 | NH | HB 1607 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Businesses that Donate to Certain Scholarship Funds | Bill Passed - House (173 - 127) |
| March 29, 2012 | IL | HB 4083 | Internet Dating Site Requirements | Bill Passed - House (83 - 26) |
| March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| March 28, 2012 | NH | H Amdt 917h | Authorizing the Establishment of 4 Casinos | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 195) |