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 4, 2011 | FL | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 4, 2011 | IL | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| May 3, 2011 | NC | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| April 25, 2011 | NV | SB 368 | Prohibits Discrimination in Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| April 25, 2011 | NV | SB 180 | Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| April 21, 2011 | AL | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | IA | SF 525 | Revises the Iowa Mental Health System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 19, 2011 | AZ | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 18, 2011 | CO | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 14, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| April 7, 2011 | OR | SB 695 | Standards for Infant Formula Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| April 6, 2011 | AZ | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 5, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 5, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 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) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1619 | Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| March 30, 2011 | NY | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| March 29, 2011 | ID | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 29, 2011 | OR | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 28, 2011 | ID | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 28, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| March 27, 2011 | MS | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 25, 2011 | UT | HB 1001 | Repeal HB 477 | Motion Agreed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| March 17, 2011 | CA | SB 70 | Education Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| March 17, 2011 | CA | AB 109 | Criminal Justice Realignment | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1309 | Defines Arizona Citizenship | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1308 | Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| March 16, 2011 | WA | SB 5407 | Prohibits Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Motion Rejected - Senate (23 - 25) |
| March 16, 2011 | AZ | SB 1613 | Budget Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 15, 2011 | AZ | SCR 1035 | English as the Official Language | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 14, 2011 | GA | SB 40 | Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| March 14, 2011 | OK | SB 91 | Proof of Presidential Candidates' Citizenship | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| March 10, 2011 | GA | SB 162 | DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| March 10, 2011 | UT | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| March 10, 2011 | GA | SB 162 | DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Not Tabled - Senate (20 - 34) |
| March 10, 2011 | SC | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| March 9, 2011 | NM | HB 78 | Driver License and ID Card Restrictions for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| March 9, 2011 | FL | SJR 2 | Authorizes Exemptions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 10) |
| March 7, 2011 | UT | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/04 | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 5/04 | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| 5/03 | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| 4/25 | SB 368 | Prohibits Discrimination in Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 4/25 | SB 180 | Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11) |
| 4/25 | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 4/21 | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| 4/20 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SF 525 | Revises the Iowa Mental Health System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/19 | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/18 | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/14 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/14 | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 4/14 | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 4/11 | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 4/07 | SB 695 | Standards for Infant Formula Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 4/06 | HB 2191 | Punitive Damage Awards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 4/05 | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/05 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 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) |
| 4/01 | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 4/01 | SB 1619 | Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 3/30 | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| 3/29 | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/29 | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/28 | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/28 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 3/27 | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 3/25 | HB 1001 | Repeal HB 477 | Motion Agreed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| 3/17 | SB 70 | Education Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 3/17 | AB 109 | Criminal Justice Realignment | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 3/17 | SB 1309 | Defines Arizona Citizenship | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| 3/17 | SB 1308 | Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/17 | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/17 | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/17 | SB 1611 | Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19) |
| 3/16 | SB 5407 | Prohibits Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Motion Rejected - Senate (23 - 25) |
| 3/16 | SB 1613 | Budget Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/15 | SCR 1035 | English as the Official Language | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/14 | SB 40 | Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21) |
| 3/14 | SB 91 | Proof of Presidential Candidates' Citizenship | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
| 3/10 | SB 162 | DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 3/10 | HB 317 | Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| 3/10 | SB 162 | DUIs a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Not Tabled - Senate (20 - 34) |
| 3/10 | S 20 | Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| 3/09 | HB 78 | Driver License and ID Card Restrictions for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16) |
| 3/09 | SJR 2 | Authorizes Exemptions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 3/07 | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |