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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 7, 2013 | National | H J Res 77 | Food and Drug Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 162) |
| Oct. 4, 2013 | National | H J Res 85 | Federal Emergency Management Agency Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (247 - 164) |
| Oct. 4, 2013 | National | H J Res 75 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (244 - 164) |
| Oct. 3, 2013 | National | HR 3230 | Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act | Bill Passed - House (265 - 160) |
| Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 72 | Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (264 - 164) |
| Oct. 1, 2013 | National | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
| 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. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 201) |
| Sept. 30, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Sept. 29, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| Sept. 27, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| Sept. 20, 2013 | National | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (230 - 189) |
| Sept. 12, 2013 | National | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| July 23, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
| July 23, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 41) |
| May 16, 2013 | AZ | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 9, 2013 | National | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 7, 2013 | OK | HB 2077 | Establishes an Optional Defined Contribution Plan for New State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 20) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| April 30, 2013 | OK | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| April 24, 2013 | OK | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| April 9, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| March 25, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| March 15, 2013 | MD | HB 100 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (101 - 36) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2059 | Reduces Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| March 14, 2013 | National | S Amdt 66 | Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
| March 13, 2013 | OK | HB 2201 | Requires Private Ownership of the State Workers' Compensation Insurer | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| March 8, 2013 | AR | HB 1329 | Reduces Concealed Carry License Application Fee | Bill Failed - House (31 - 52) |
| March 6, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| March 5, 2013 | AR | HB 1041 | Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget | Bill Failed - House (49 - 47) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | MI | HB 4111 | Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (78 - 31) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | OK | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | ND | HB 1362 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | NM | HB 64 | Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | IN | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | NH | HB 370 | Repeals the Education Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (188 - 151) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | VT | H 265 | Amends Education Property Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2014 | Bill Passed - House (96 - 45) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | WY | HB 1 | 2013-2014 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 6) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IA | HF 215 | Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Feb. 15, 2013 | National | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | MN | HF 9 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | IA | SF 162 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| Feb. 6, 2013 | NH | CACR1 | Requires Three-Fifths Majority for Tax Increases | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (206 - 149) |
| Feb. 5, 2013 | WY | HB 230 | Appropriates Funds for Schools to Hire School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | UT | HB 34 | Authorizes "In God We Trust" on License Plates | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
| Jan. 30, 2013 | IA | SF 52 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Dec. 20, 2012 | National | HR 6684 | Spending Reduction Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (215 - 209) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/07 | H J Res 77 | Food and Drug Administration Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (235 - 162) |
| 10/04 | H J Res 85 | Federal Emergency Management Agency Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (247 - 164) |
| 10/04 | H J Res 75 | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (244 - 164) |
| 10/03 | HR 3230 | Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act | Bill Passed - House (265 - 160) |
| 10/01 | H J Res 72 | Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (264 - 164) |
| 10/01 | H J Res 71 | District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Failed - House (265 - 163) |
| 10/01 | 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) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (228 - 201) |
| 9/30 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| 9/29 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (248 - 174) |
| 9/27 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 9/20 | H J Res 59 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (230 - 189) |
| 9/12 | HR 2775 | No Subsidies Without Verification Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 191) |
| 7/23 | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
| 7/23 | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 41) |
| 5/16 | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 5/09 | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| 5/08 | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 5/08 | HB 1317 | Establishes Regulations for the Retail Marijuana Industry | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| 5/07 | HB 2077 | Establishes an Optional Defined Contribution Plan for New State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 20) |
| 5/07 | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| 4/30 | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 4/24 | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| 4/09 | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 3/25 | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (55 - 39) |
| 3/15 | HB 100 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (101 - 36) |
| 3/14 | HB 2059 | Reduces Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 66 | Temporarily Prohibits the Hiring of Nonessential Federal Employees | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 54) |
| 3/13 | HB 2201 | Requires Private Ownership of the State Workers' Compensation Insurer | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
| 3/08 | HB 1329 | Reduces Concealed Carry License Application Fee | Bill Failed - House (31 - 52) |
| 3/06 | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| 3/05 | HB 1041 | Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget | Bill Failed - House (49 - 47) |
| 2/28 | HB 4111 | Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (78 - 31) |
| 2/27 | SB 1062 | Amends State Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12) |
| 2/27 | HB 1362 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 2/27 | HB 64 | Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| 2/26 | SB 213 | Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| 2/20 | HB 370 | Repeals the Education Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (188 - 151) |
| 2/20 | H 265 | Amends Education Property Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2014 | Bill Passed - House (96 - 45) |
| 2/19 | HB 1 | 2013-2014 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 6) |
| 2/19 | HF 215 | Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| 2/15 | HR 273 | Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees | Bill Passed - House (261 - 154) |
| 2/14 | HF 9 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| 2/14 | SF 162 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 2/06 | CACR1 | Requires Three-Fifths Majority for Tax Increases | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (206 - 149) |
| 2/05 | HB 230 | Appropriates Funds for Schools to Hire School Resource Officers | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| 2/04 | HB 34 | Authorizes "In God We Trust" on License Plates | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
| 1/30 | SF 52 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 12/20 | HR 6684 | Spending Reduction Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - House (215 - 209) |