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 23, 2011 | NJ | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 20, 2011 | TN | SB 16 | Voter Identification Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| May 20, 2011 | TN | SB 49 | Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| May 12, 2011 | RI | S 400 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| May 11, 2011 | NV | AB 211 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 11, 2011 | SC | H 3003 | Voter ID | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16) |
| May 11, 2011 | KS | SB 129 | Amends Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (15 - 23) |
| May 11, 2011 | MN | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |
| May 9, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 9, 2011 | TX | SB 1581 | Concealed Handguns on Campus | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 5, 2011 | FL | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| May 4, 2011 | IL | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| April 28, 2011 | MT | HB 271 | Authorizes Concealed-Carry Without a Permit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 28, 2011 | MO | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | HB 45 | Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | SB 234 | Authorizes Open Display of a Firearm | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| April 26, 2011 | MT | HB 627 | Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 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 | NV | SB 180 | Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11) |
| April 25, 2011 | NV | SB 331 | Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| April 21, 2011 | WA | HB 1267 | Definition of Parenthood | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21) |
| April 21, 2011 | WA | HB 1267 | Definition of Parenthood | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21) |
| April 21, 2011 | AL | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | IA | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 19, 2011 | AZ | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 19, 2011 | AZ | HB 2230 | Relating to the 9/11 Memorial | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 18, 2011 | CO | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| April 14, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 14, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| April 12, 2011 | OK | S Amdt 1 | Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | HB 235 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination | Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 11, 2011 | GA | HB 92 | Limits Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20) |
| April 7, 2011 | ND | HB 1450 | Definition of Human Being | Bill Not Tabled - Senate (26 - 21) |
| April 7, 2011 | DE | SB 30 | Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| 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 | DE | HB 19 | Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| April 5, 2011 | RI | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| March 30, 2011 | NH | SB 129 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
| March 29, 2011 | OR | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 24, 2011 | CO | SB 172 | Authorizes Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 23, 2011 | KS | HB 2035 | Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| March 22, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/23 | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 5/20 | SB 16 | Voter Identification Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 5/20 | SB 49 | Prohibits Instruction of Non-Heterosexual Human Sexuality in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 5/12 | S 400 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 5/11 | AB 211 | Prohibiting Discriminatory Employment Practices Based On Gender or Expression | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/11 | H 3003 | Voter ID | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 16) |
| 5/11 | SB 129 | Amends Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (15 - 23) |
| 5/11 | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |
| 5/09 | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 5/09 | SB 1581 | Concealed Handguns on Campus | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 5/05 | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| 5/05 | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 5/04 | SB 2185 | Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 11) |
| 4/28 | HB 271 | Authorizes Concealed-Carry Without a Permit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 4/28 | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 4/28 | HB 45 | Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| 4/28 | SB 234 | Authorizes Open Display of a Firearm | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 4/26 | HB 627 | Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 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 180 | Criminal and Civil Liability for Gender Identity Crimes | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11) |
| 4/25 | SB 331 | Prohibits Sex and Gender Identity Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 4/21 | HB 1267 | Definition of Parenthood | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21) |
| 4/21 | HB 1267 | Definition of Parenthood | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21) |
| 4/21 | SB 256 | Undocumented Immigrant Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/19 | SB 1406 | Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/19 | HB 2230 | Relating to the 9/11 Memorial | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/18 | SB 126 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/14 | HB 87 | Immigration Enforcement Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19) |
| 4/14 | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 4/14 | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 4/12 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| 4/12 | S Amdt 1 | Removes Provision Authorizing Legislators to Carry Firearms | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 4/11 | SB 167 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 4/11 | HB 235 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination | Motion Agreed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 4/11 | HB 92 | Limits Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 20) |
| 4/07 | HB 1450 | Definition of Human Being | Bill Not Tabled - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 4/07 | SB 30 | Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| 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 | HB 19 | Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| 4/05 | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 3/30 | SB 129 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
| 3/29 | SB 742 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/24 | SB 172 | Authorizes Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 3/23 | HB 2035 | Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 3/22 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |