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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2013 | ME | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| May 22, 2013 | ME | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| May 21, 2013 | KS | HB 2162 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used to Lobby for Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 28) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 14, 2013 | OK | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| May 9, 2013 | MO | HB 19 | Appropriates Funds for Capitol Renovations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 42) |
| May 9, 2013 | National | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| May 9, 2013 | OK | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 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 | TX | HB 928 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| May 6, 2013 | OK | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| May 2, 2013 | ND | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| May 2, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| May 2, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| May 1, 2013 | OK | HB 1910 | Amends State Property Sale Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| May 1, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| May 1, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| April 30, 2013 | HI | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| April 30, 2013 | IA | HF 638 | Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 30, 2013 | OR | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| April 30, 2013 | MI | SB 197 | Requires the State Prison Food Service To Seek Competitive Bids From Private Entities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| April 29, 2013 | FL | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| April 27, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (86 - 44) |
| April 24, 2013 | OK | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| April 24, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| April 24, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| April 24, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| April 24, 2013 | MA | H 3401 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (127 - 29) |
| April 24, 2013 | AL | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 23, 2013 | MT | HB 377 | Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| April 23, 2013 | IA | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| April 23, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| April 23, 2013 | OR | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| April 22, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| April 20, 2013 | MT | HB 13 | Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| April 19, 2013 | MT | HB 2 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| April 18, 2013 | CA | SB 140 | Appropriates Funds to the Armed Prohibited Persons System | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/22 | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| 5/22 | LD 1546 | Expands Medicaid and Authorizes Liquor Operation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (87 - 56) |
| 5/21 | HB 2162 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used to Lobby for Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 28) |
| 5/19 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/18 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| 5/17 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |
| 5/17 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| 5/14 | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| 5/09 | HB 19 | Appropriates Funds for Capitol Renovations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 42) |
| 5/09 | HR 807 | Full Faith and Credit Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| 5/09 | HB 2301 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 5/08 | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 5/07 | HB 2077 | Establishes an Optional Defined Contribution Plan for New State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 20) |
| 5/07 | HB 928 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| 5/06 | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 5/02 | HB 1319 | Amends School Funding Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 42) |
| 5/02 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| 5/02 | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| 5/01 | HB 1910 | Amends State Property Sale Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 5/01 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 5/01 | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 5/01 | SB 1739 | Expands State Casino Development | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 20) |
| 4/30 | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| 4/30 | HF 638 | Appropriates Funds for Infrastructure Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/30 | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| 4/30 | SB 197 | Requires the State Prison Food Service To Seek Competitive Bids From Private Entities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 4/29 | SB 306 | Authorizes Professional Sports Teams to Bid for State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 4/27 | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| 4/25 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 28) |
| 4/25 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 4/25 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - House (86 - 44) |
| 4/24 | SB 652 | Increases Driver's License Fees | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| 4/24 | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/24 | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/24 | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 4/24 | H 3401 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (127 - 29) |
| 4/24 | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 4/23 | HB 377 | Appropriates Funds for the Teachers' Retirement System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 44) |
| 4/23 | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| 4/23 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 4/23 | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 4/22 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 4/20 | HB 13 | Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 33) |
| 4/19 | HB 2 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 41) |
| 4/18 | SB 140 | Appropriates Funds to the Armed Prohibited Persons System | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |