Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 7, 2012 GA SB 469 Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
March 6, 2012 AZ HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 6, 2012 AZ HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 5, 2012 OR HB 4164 Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 5, 2012 AZ HB 2125 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (45 - 15)
March 5, 2012 OR SB 1552 Requirements for Lenders Seeking Foreclosure Bill Passed - House (59 - 1)
March 5, 2012 IA SF 2304 Requires DNA Samples from all Individuals Convicted of Certain Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
March 5, 2012 GA SB 458 Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
March 2, 2012 OR HB 4164 Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (55 - 5)
March 2, 2012 FL HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
March 1, 2012 FL HB 1209 Prohibits Courts from Basing Decisions on Foreign Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)
March 1, 2012 SD SB 141 Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse Motion Agreed - House (39 - 25)
March 1, 2012 IN SB 1 Authorizes the Use of Force Against Law Enforcement Officers in Certain Situations Bill Passed - House (74 - 24)
March 1, 2012 VT S 199 Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4)
March 1, 2012 AZ SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Feb. 29, 2012 MN HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47)
Feb. 29, 2012 MN HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47)
Feb. 29, 2012 IN HB 1149 Prohibits Smoking in Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Feb. 29, 2012 FL HB 213 Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process Bill Passed - House (94 - 17)
Feb. 29, 2012 CO SB 93 Requires Hospitals to Disclose Religious Objections Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 29, 2012 IA HF 2215 Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2012 IA HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD H Amdt 141 Defining Domestic Abuse as Abuse Witihin an Opposite-Sex Relationship Amendment Adopted - House (35 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2012 IA HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD SB 141 Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
Feb. 28, 2012 WY HB 85 Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity Bill Failed - House (27 - 30)
Feb. 27, 2012 UT HB 511 Authorizing Eminent Domain over Federal Land Bill Passed - House (57 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2012 VT H 559 Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (88 - 38)
Feb. 23, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
Feb. 23, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
Feb. 23, 2012 MN HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Feb. 23, 2012 MN HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
Feb. 23, 2012 CO SB 147 Prohibits False Information Regarding Election Procedures and Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2012 UT SB 41 Authorizes Regulations of Tanning Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
Feb. 21, 2012 UT HB 245 Prohibiting the Use of E-Cigarettes and Hookah Pipes in Public Places Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
Feb. 20, 2012 VA HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 20, 2012 OR HB 4090 Reducing Restrictions on Urban Development Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Feb. 20, 2012 OR HB 4090 Reducing Restrictions on Urban Development Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Feb. 17, 2012 ID H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 14)
Feb. 16, 2012 AZ SB 1484 Prohibits Certain Deductions from Public Employee Paychecks Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Feb. 16, 2012 KY HB 70 Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote Bill Passed - House (78 - 18)
Feb. 16, 2012 AL HB 159 Authorizes Economic Development Incentive Program Bill Passed - House (65 - 22)
Feb. 16, 2012 OR SB 1564 Amends Requirements for Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 16, 2012 OR SB 1552 Requirements for Lenders Seeking Foreclosure Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 16, 2012 UT HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
Feb. 14, 2012 ID H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 14, 2012 KY SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/07 SB 469 Prohibits Picketing in Certain Circumstances Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
3/06 HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/06 HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/05 HB 4164 Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/05 HB 2125 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (45 - 15)
3/05 SB 1552 Requirements for Lenders Seeking Foreclosure Bill Passed - House (59 - 1)
3/05 SF 2304 Requires DNA Samples from all Individuals Convicted of Certain Misdemeanors Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
3/05 SB 458 Repeals Certain Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19)
3/05 HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
3/05 HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
3/02 HB 4164 Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (55 - 5)
3/02 HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
3/01 HB 1209 Prohibits Courts from Basing Decisions on Foreign Laws Bill Passed - House (92 - 24)
3/01 SB 141 Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse Motion Agreed - House (39 - 25)
3/01 SB 1 Authorizes the Use of Force Against Law Enforcement Officers in Certain Situations Bill Passed - House (74 - 24)
3/01 S 199 Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4)
3/01 SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
2/29 HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47)
2/29 HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47)
2/29 HB 1149 Prohibits Smoking in Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
2/29 HB 213 Amends Mortgage Foreclosure Process Bill Passed - House (94 - 17)
2/29 SB 93 Requires Hospitals to Disclose Religious Objections Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/29 HF 2215 Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/28 HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
2/28 H Amdt 141 Defining Domestic Abuse as Abuse Witihin an Opposite-Sex Relationship Amendment Adopted - House (35 - 33)
2/28 HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
2/28 SB 141 Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse Bill Passed - House (46 - 22)
2/28 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
2/28 HB 85 Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity Bill Failed - House (27 - 30)
2/27 HB 511 Authorizing Eminent Domain over Federal Land Bill Passed - House (57 - 14)
2/24 H 559 Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (88 - 38)
2/23 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
2/23 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
2/23 HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
2/23 HF 1467 Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23)
2/23 SB 147 Prohibits False Information Regarding Election Procedures and Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/22 SB 41 Authorizes Regulations of Tanning Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
2/21 HB 245 Prohibiting the Use of E-Cigarettes and Hookah Pipes in Public Places Bill Passed - House (42 - 31)
2/20 HB 48 Authorizing Physical Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/20 HB 4090 Reducing Restrictions on Urban Development Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
2/20 HB 4090 Reducing Restrictions on Urban Development Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
2/17 H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 14)
2/16 SB 1484 Prohibits Certain Deductions from Public Employee Paychecks Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
2/16 HB 70 Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote Bill Passed - House (78 - 18)
2/16 HB 159 Authorizes Economic Development Incentive Program Bill Passed - House (65 - 22)
2/16 SB 1564 Amends Requirements for Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/16 SB 1552 Requirements for Lenders Seeking Foreclosure Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/16 HB 90 Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights Bill Passed - House (38 - 34)
2/14 H 404 Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/14 SB 103 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)

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