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 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) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 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) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | WI | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | CA | SB 222 | Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Aug. 24, 2011 | MI | SB 348 | 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| May 18, 2011 | MI | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 16, 2011 | ME | LD 1333 | Health Care Coverage Policy Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| May 12, 2011 | KS | HB 2075 | Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 12, 2011 | NE | LB 22 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 5, 2011 | CO | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 3, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | HB 97 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 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 6, 2011 | VA | HB 2434 | Health Benefits Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 20) |
| April 5, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 5, 2011 | ID | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 5, 2011 | RI | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 1, 2011 | SC | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 1, 2011 | ID | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | GA | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | TN | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | VA | SB 1062 | Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorder | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 13 | Repealing the Federal Health Care Law | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | National | S J Res 39 | Disapproving Rule for "Grandfathered Health Plans" | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| Sept. 14, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4596 | Repealing Business Transaction Reporting Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 52) |
| Aug. 5, 2010 | National | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | SB 890 | Standardization of Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 23, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| Oct. 21, 2009 | National | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| July 9, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/01 | HB 2319 | Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 3/01 | S Amdt 1520 | Authorizes Moral and Religious Objections to Certain Health Care Items and Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 2/23 | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 2/21 | SJR 21 | Prohibits mandated health insurance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 2/14 | SB 1580 | Amends State Health Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 11/10 | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 10/20 | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 9/09 | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| 9/08 | SB 222 | Relating to Individual Health Care Coverage for Maternity Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 8/24 | SB 348 | 1 Percent Tax on Paid Health Insurance Claims | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 6/09 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 5/18 | SB 7 | Employee Contribution to Health Care Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 5/16 | LD 1333 | Health Care Coverage Policy Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 5/12 | HB 2075 | Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 5/12 | LB 22 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) |
| 5/05 | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| 5/05 | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 5/03 | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/28 | HB 97 | Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 4/25 | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 4/14 | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 4/12 | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| 4/06 | HB 2434 | Health Benefits Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 20) |
| 4/05 | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/05 | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/05 | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 3/05 | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/01 | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 3/01 | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 2/24 | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| 2/23 | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 2/17 | SB 1062 | Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorder | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 13 | Repealing the Federal Health Care Law | Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 1/27 | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 9/29 | S J Res 39 | Disapproving Rule for "Grandfathered Health Plans" | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| 9/14 | S Amdt 4596 | Repealing Business Transaction Reporting Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 8/05 | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 6/01 | SB 890 | Standardization of Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 12/24 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/23 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/03 | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 10/21 | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 1/29 | HR 2 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| 7/09 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |