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 25, 2013 | MD | SB 715 | Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | SB 339 | Classifies Using a Cell Phone While Driving As a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 21, 2013 | MT | HB 247 | Authorizes Salvage of Game Killed By Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| March 20, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 20, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26) |
| March 20, 2013 | MD | SB 30 | Prohibits Smoking in Vehicles Containing Children | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| March 18, 2013 | NJ | A 3614 | Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| March 18, 2013 | WV | SB 464 | Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| March 14, 2013 | IL | SB 9 | Increases Utility Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 9) |
| March 13, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 13, 2013 | UT | HB 103 | Prohibits Minors From Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 13, 2013 | NC | SB 81 | Establishes the Charlotte Regional Airport Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| March 13, 2013 | OR | SB 444 | Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 13, 2013 | OR | SB 444 | Prohibits Smoking in a Car with Minors Present | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 8, 2013 | MD | HB 226 | Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| March 8, 2013 | WA | SB 5187 | Authorizes Livestock Owners to Dispatch Gray Wolves | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| March 7, 2013 | National | PN 48 | Nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (63 - 34) |
| March 7, 2013 | CA | SB 1-1 | Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| March 6, 2013 | SD | SB 106 | Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| March 6, 2013 | ID | S 1117 | Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| March 5, 2013 | AR | SB 134 | Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected | Veto Override Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 1, 2013 | UT | HB 13 | Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 1, 2013 | UT | HB 13 | Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | AR | SB 134 | Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Feb. 28, 2013 | KS | SB 82 | Extends Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 23) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | WY | HB 77 | Establishes Wyoming Lottery Corporation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | NC | SB 4 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 16) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | National | PN 34 | Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 41) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | National | PN 34 | Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense | Cloture Invoked - Senate (71 - 27) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | UT | SB 109 | Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | IN | SB 207 | Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| Feb. 26, 2013 | IN | SB 371 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to the Prescription of an Abortion-Inducing Drug | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| Feb. 25, 2013 | IN | SB 528 | Restructures Tax Rates For Casinos | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| Feb. 23, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2013 | MT | SB 175 | Increases Public Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2013 | KY | SB 39 | Requires Medicaid Expansion to be Approved by the Legislature | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Feb. 22, 2013 | KY | SB 40 | Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | UT | SB 60 | Requires the State Department of Health to Prepare Annual Report on Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | SB 375 | Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6) |
| Feb. 20, 2013 | KS | SCR 1608 | Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | VA | HB 1907 | Increases Fines for Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IN | SB 91 | Establishes Motorsports Investment District | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | SD | SB 195 | Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | IN | SB 91 | Establishes Motorsports Investment District | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2013 | SD | SB 142 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| Feb. 18, 2013 | ND | SB 2303 | Defines a "Human Being" | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | MN | HF 9 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | National | PN 34 | Nomination of Charles Timothy Hagel to be Secretary of Defense | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 40) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | VT | S 77 | Prohibits Liability for Self-Administered Lethal Dosages | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | KY | SB 50 | Authorizes Industrial Hemp Farming | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | IL | SB 622 | Increases Physician License Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | IA | SF 162 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | VT | Galbraith and Hartwell Amdt | Establishes Immunity for Doctors Prescribing or People Present to Lethal Dosage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 15) |
| Feb. 13, 2013 | KY | SB 9 | Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 11, 2013 | TN | SB 142 | Authorizes Handguns in Parking Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| Feb. 11, 2013 | IN | SJR 7 | Guarantees Right to Hunt and Fish | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| Feb. 8, 2013 | KY | SB 5 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| Feb. 8, 2013 | MD | SB 74 | Prohibits Operating a Vessel Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8) |
| Feb. 6, 2013 | SD | SB 107 | Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 6, 2013 | SD | SB 106 | Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | AR | SB 134 | Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | VA | SB 975 | Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Jan. 31, 2013 | VA | SB 975 | Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Jan. 30, 2013 | IA | SF 52 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| Jan. 22, 2013 | VA | SB 736 | Prohibits Opening a Vehicle Door Adjacent to a Lane of Traffic | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Dec. 28, 2012 | National | HR 5949 | FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 23) |
| Dec. 21, 2012 | National | HR 4310 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 14) |
| Dec. 13, 2012 | OH | HB 495 | Amends Definition of Loaded Gun | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Dec. 4, 2012 | IL | SB 957 | Authorizes Temporary Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 14) |
| Nov. 30, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3025 | Requires Sufficient Sizing of Civilian and Contract Services Workforces | Amendment Rejected - Senate (41 - 53) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3245 | Prohibits the Use of Funds for the Transfer or Release of Individuals Detained at Guantanamo Bay | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3058 | Expands TRICARE Coverage of Autism | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 29) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3096 | Accelerated Transition of US Military Operations to the Government of Afghanistan | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 33) |
| Nov. 29, 2012 | NJ | S 2241 | Prohibits Unauthorized Medical Provider Reimbursement Reductions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Nov. 28, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2985 | Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37) |
| Nov. 28, 2012 | National | S Amdt 3095 | Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41) |
| Nov. 28, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2985 | Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37) |
| Nov. 14, 2012 | National | S 3414 | Cybersecurity Act of 2012 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Oct. 25, 2012 | NJ | S 2202 | Requires the HMFA to Expand Participation in the New Jersey HomeKeeper Program | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| Oct. 25, 2012 | NJ | S 2157 | Establishes Residential Foreclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| Oct. 25, 2012 | NJ | S 1650 | Increases Requirements for Emergency Medical Service Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Oct. 17, 2012 | MI | SB 1294 | Requires Blue Cross Blue Shield to Begin Paying State Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Oct. 4, 2012 | NJ | S 1761 | Requires more Transparancy and Accountability from Port Authority | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Oct. 4, 2012 | NJ | S 2135 | Establishes the New Jersey Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | SB 1172 | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 30, 2012 | CA | ACR 161 | Establishes September as "Food Literacy Awareness Month" | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 29, 2012 | CA | AB 2189 | Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Certain Individuals Ineligible for a Social Security Number | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 472 | Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 2109 | Requires Parents to Obtain a Waiver for Unvaccinated Children | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 20, 2012 | CA | AB 1313 | Requires Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Aug. 2, 2012 | National | S 3414 | Cybersecurity Act of 2012 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
| July 18, 2012 | MI | SB 1130 | Amends Permit Requirements for Sand Dune Use | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| July 6, 2012 | CA | SB 1029 | Authorizes the Sale of State Bonds for a High-Speed Rail | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | SB 900 | Establishes Regulations for Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | SB 900 | Establishes Regulations for Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | AB 278 | Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| July 2, 2012 | CA | AB 278 | Establishes Regulations for Foreclosure Procedures on Home Loans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 29, 2012 | PA | HB 254 | Expands Use of Red-Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |