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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 15, 2011 | National | HR 1540 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
| Nov. 10, 2011 | MI | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Oct. 25, 2011 | WI | SB 45 | Administration of Medications to Students | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | National | S Amdt 769 | Authorizes Individuals to Import FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1660 | American Jobs Act of 2011 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| Oct. 11, 2011 | National | S 1619 | Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 35) |
| Sept. 26, 2011 | NJ | A 2806 | Conversion of Certain Private Schools to Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Sept. 9, 2011 | CA | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| Sept. 7, 2011 | NH | SB 88 | Civil Immunity from Acts of Self Defense | Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Sept. 2, 2011 | CA | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Aug. 31, 2011 | CA | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| July 19, 2011 | MN | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27) |
| July 14, 2011 | CA | AB 130 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| June 30, 2011 | PA | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| June 23, 2011 | OR | HB 2726 | Certification for Smoke Shops | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| June 22, 2011 | DE | SB 97 | Approval of Rental Prices on Certain Housing | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 9) |
| June 21, 2011 | National | S 782 | Economic Development Revitalization Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
| June 20, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 20, 2011 | NJ | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 19, 2011 | LA | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| June 15, 2011 | NY | A 8446 | Extension of Rent Control Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 30) |
| June 15, 2011 | NY | A 8446 | Extension of Rent Control Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 43) |
| June 15, 2011 | OH | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 15, 2011 | TX | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| June 13, 2011 | OR | HB 2541 | Amends Inheritance Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| June 9, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| June 9, 2011 | NJ | S 805 | Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| June 6, 2011 | NV | AB 571 | Amending Smoking Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| June 6, 2011 | CT | HB 6308 | Establishes the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| June 6, 2011 | ME | LD 1463 | Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (15 - 18) |
| June 4, 2011 | CT | SB 1014 | Penalties For Certain Nonviolent Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| June 2, 2011 | AL | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7) |
| June 2, 2011 | LA | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 1, 2011 | LA | SB 133 | Amends the Smoke-free Air Act | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
| May 30, 2011 | NV | AB 301 | Voting Privileges for Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 30, 2011 | NV | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 30, 2011 | NV | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 26, 2011 | IL | HB 1600 | Limits Artificial Trans Fats | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40) |
| May 24, 2011 | CT | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 23, 2011 | NJ | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 18, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 18, 2011 | NC | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| May 7, 2011 | UT | HB 328 | State Government Work Week | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 7107 | Medicaid Managed Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/15 | HR 1540 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13) |
| 11/10 | S Amdt 928 | American Jobs and Economic Growth | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 56) |
| 11/10 | SB 693 | Establishes MIHealth Marketplace Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 10/25 | SB 45 | Administration of Medications to Students | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 10/20 | S Amdt 769 | Authorizes Individuals to Import FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 55) |
| 10/11 | S 1660 | American Jobs Act of 2011 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 10/11 | S 1619 | Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 35) |
| 9/26 | A 2806 | Conversion of Certain Private Schools to Charter Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 9/09 | SB 51 | Compliance with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| 9/07 | SB 88 | Civil Immunity from Acts of Self Defense | Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| 9/06 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 9/02 | SB 746 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 8/31 | AB 499 | Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 7/19 | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27) |
| 7/14 | AB 130 | Authorizes Student Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 6/30 | SB 330 | Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 6/23 | HB 2726 | Certification for Smoke Shops | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 6/22 | SB 97 | Approval of Rental Prices on Certain Housing | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 9) |
| 6/21 | S 782 | Economic Development Revitalization Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
| 6/20 | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/20 | S 2937 | Pension and Health Care Benefits for Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/19 | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 6/15 | A 8446 | Extension of Rent Control Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 30) |
| 6/15 | A 8446 | Extension of Rent Control Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 43) |
| 6/15 | SJR 1 | Constitutional Amendment Concerning Health Care | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/15 | SB 9 | Enforcement of Federal and State Immigration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 6/13 | HB 2541 | Amends Inheritance Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 6/09 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 6/09 | S 805 | Senior Tenants' Rent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 6/06 | AB 571 | Amending Smoking Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 6/06 | HB 6308 | Establishes the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 6/06 | LD 1463 | Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Not Adopted - Senate (15 - 18) |
| 6/04 | SB 1014 | Penalties For Certain Nonviolent Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| 6/02 | HB 56 | Immigration Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 6/02 | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 6/01 | SB 133 | Amends the Smoke-free Air Act | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22) |
| 5/31 | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| 5/31 | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
| 5/30 | AB 301 | Voting Privileges for Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/30 | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/30 | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/26 | HB 1600 | Limits Artificial Trans Fats | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40) |
| 5/24 | HB 6390 | Access to Postsecondary Education | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/23 | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 5/18 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| 5/07 | HB 328 | State Government Work Week | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| 5/06 | HB 7107 | Medicaid Managed Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 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) |