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. 4, 2012 | NJ | S 2135 | Establishes the New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| July 11, 2012 | National | HR 6079 | Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 185) |
| June 13, 2012 | RI | H 7909 | Requires State Health Laws to Comply with the Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| June 11, 2012 | RI | H 7909 | Requires State Health Laws to Comply with the Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| May 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2153 | Prohibits Increase in Interest Rates for Student Loans (Lamar Bill) | Amendment Rejected - Senate (34 - 62) |
| May 15, 2012 | MA | S Amdt 125 | Requires Establishing a Single Payer Health Care System Benchmark | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 22) |
| May 8, 2012 | AL | SB 10 | Prohibits Insurance from Providing Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (76 - 28) |
| April 27, 2012 | CO | SM 3 | Urges Congress to Authorize Religious Exemptions to Providing Birth Control | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
| April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
| April 19, 2012 | MO | HB 1534 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (108 - 44) |
| April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| April 10, 2012 | AL | HB 433 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (56 - 47) |
| April 5, 2012 | MD | HB 443 | Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 981 | Provides Reimbursement for Health Insurance Coverage of Autism | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 414 | Health Care Coverage for Treatments Relating to Autism | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 415 | Requires Insurers to Cover Autism Treatments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 414 | Health Care Coverage for Treatments Relating to Autism | Bill Passed - House (91 - 19) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 981 | Provides Reimbursement for Health Insurance Coverage of Autism | Bill Passed - House (84 - 26) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 415 | Requires Insurers to Cover Autism Treatments | Bill Passed - House (91 - 19) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | SB 749 | Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage | (26 - 5) |
| March 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| March 28, 2012 | NH | HB 1560 | Joining an Interstate Health Care Compact to Opt-Out of Federal Health Care Programs | Bill Passed - House (221 - 131) |
| March 26, 2012 | MD | HB 443 | Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (94 - 44) |
| March 23, 2012 | ID | SJM 104 | Urging Congress to Repeal Insurance Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| March 10, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 33) |
| March 10, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 119 | Amends Personal Injury Protection Insurance Requirements and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 119 | Amends Personal Injury Protection Insurance Requirements and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 34) |
| March 8, 2012 | UT | SB 208 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 7) |
| March 8, 2012 | UT | SB 208 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27) |
| March 7, 2012 | NH | HB 1546 | Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - House (196 - 150) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 460 | Exempts Religious Employers from Insurance Requirements for Coverage of Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
| March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 438 | Prohibits State Employee Insurance Coverage of Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18) |
| March 5, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| March 3, 2012 | WA | HB 2319 | Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| March 2, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (55 - 5) |
| March 1, 2012 | WA | HB 2319 | Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 1, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1520 | Authorizes Moral and Religious Objections to Certain Health Care Items and Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 48) |
| March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | VT | H 559 | Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - House (88 - 38) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | OR | SB 1580 | Amends State Health Plan | Bill Passed - House (53 - 7) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | ID | HJM 10 | Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | NH | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SJR 21 | Prohibits mandated health insurance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | OR | SB 1580 | Amends State Health Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | WA | HB 2330 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 1, 2012 | National | HR 1173 | Repeals the CLASS Act | Bill Passed - House (267 - 159) |
| Dec. 12, 2011 | PA | HB 1977 | Amending Insurance Coverage of Abortions | Bill Passed - House (146 - 45) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Oct. 27, 2011 | National | HR 2576 | Requires Inclusion of Social Security Benefits in Calculation of Modified Adjusted Gross Income | Bill Passed - House (262 - 157) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Oct. 13, 2011 | National | HR 358 | Amends Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Prohibit Abortion Coverage | Bill Passed - House (251 - 172) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (53 - 26) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 222 | Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | CA | SB 222 | Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services | Bill Passed - House (52 - 26) |
| Aug. 24, 2011 | MI | SB 348 | 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Aug. 24, 2011 | MI | SB 348 | 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims | Bill Passed - House (65 - 42) |
| July 1, 2011 | DE | SB 137 | Specialty-Tier Prescription Drugs | Bill Passed - House (28 - 13) |
| June 30, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| June 28, 2011 | OH | HB 79 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| June 23, 2011 | NY | A 8514 | Health Benefit Exchange Act | Bill Passed - House (95 - 43) |
| June 16, 2011 | TX | HB 5 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (92 - 43) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 9, 2011 | TX | SB 7 | Health Care | Bill Passed - House (89 - 41) |
| June 7, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| June 2, 2011 | CA | AB 52 | Regulating Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| May 25, 2011 | TX | H Amdt 1 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Amendment Adopted - House (99 - 43) |
| May 18, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 17, 2011 | TX | SB 420 | Eligibility for Indigent Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |
| May 16, 2011 | ME | LD 1333 | Health Care Coverage Policy Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| May 13, 2011 | KS | HB 2075 | Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 30) |
| May 12, 2011 | KS | HB 2075 | Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 12, 2011 | ME | LD 1333 | Health Care Coverage Policy Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 68) |
| May 12, 2011 | NE | LB 22 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| May 6, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 48) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 49) |
| May 5, 2011 | CO | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 4, 2011 | CO | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| May 4, 2011 | CO | HB 1273 | State Health Care Enactment | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| May 3, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9) |
| May 3, 2011 | National | HR 1213 | Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (238 - 183) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | HB 97 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| April 27, 2011 | FL | HB 97 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
| April 26, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 32) |
| April 26, 2011 | MA | Amdt 749.1 | Collective Bargaining Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (113 - 42) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 58) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| April 11, 2011 | AK | HB 1 | Authorizes Individuals to Decline Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| April 6, 2011 | VA | HB 2434 | Health Benefits Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 20) |