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 15, 2012 | ID | H 619 | Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| March 15, 2012 | NH | HB 1405 | Authorizes Moratoriums on Refugee Resettlements | Bill Passed - House (190 - 109) |
| March 14, 2012 | PA | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9525 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (98 - 44) |
| March 14, 2012 | NY | A 9525 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (98 - 44) |
| March 8, 2012 | WY | SF 25 | Amends Public Records Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 8) |
| March 8, 2012 | WY | SF 27 | Public Meetings | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 3) |
| March 8, 2012 | UT | SB 208 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27) |
| March 8, 2012 | VA | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| March 7, 2012 | UT | HB 148 | Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
| March 6, 2012 | AZ | HCR 2056 | Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum | Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| March 6, 2012 | WI | AJR 63 | Limits Recalls of Elected Officials | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37) |
| March 6, 2012 | WI | AJR 63 | Limits Recalls of Elected Officials | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37) |
| March 5, 2012 | ID | HCR 40 | 2 Percent Pay Raise for State Employees | Resolution Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| March 5, 2012 | AZ | HCR 2043 | Amends Requirements for Ballot Measures for Future Tax Increases | Resolution Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| 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) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | FL | HB 609 | Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (77 - 38) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IA | HJR 2009 | Prohibiting Mandatory Licensing and Registration of Guns | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | CO | HB 1115 | Authorizes Businesses to Comment on Fiscal Impact of Proposed Legislation | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HB 85 | Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity | Bill Failed - House (27 - 30) |
| 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 | UT | HB 104 | Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (42 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | UT | HB 198 | Prohibits Regulation of Family Food | Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | FL | HB 971 | Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | FL | HB 971 | Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HB 2437 | Amends Voting Registration Requirements | Bill Passed - House (81 - 43) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | ID | HJM 10 | Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | NH | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | UT | HB 49 | Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (50 - 21) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | WY | HB 32 | State House and Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (49 - 9) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | WY | HB 32 | State House and Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (49 - 9) |
| 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 | UT | HB 90 | Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights | Bill Passed - House (38 - 34) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | UT | HB 90 | Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights | Bill Passed - House (38 - 34) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | MS | HB 211 | Amends the Rules Regarding Hiring Outside Counsel | Bill Passed - House (59 - 56) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | NH | HB 1666 | Limits State Contribution to Public Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - House (232 - 119) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | CO | HB 1301 | Authorizes Legislative Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | SD | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | SD | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | National | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | KS | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | MO | HB 1104 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (101 - 54) |
| Feb. 9, 2012 | KS | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/15 | H 619 | Prohibits Speed Limit Regulation by Local Authorities | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| 3/15 | HB 1405 | Authorizes Moratoriums on Refugee Resettlements | Bill Passed - House (190 - 109) |
| 3/14 | HB 934 | Amends Voter Identification Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (104 - 88) |
| 3/14 | A 9556 | Authorizes Casino Gambling | Amendment Adopted - House (96 - 45) |
| 3/14 | A 9525 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (98 - 44) |
| 3/14 | A 9525 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (98 - 44) |
| 3/08 | SF 25 | Amends Public Records Laws | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 8) |
| 3/08 | SF 27 | Public Meetings | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 3) |
| 3/08 | SB 208 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 27) |
| 3/08 | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (66 - 31) |
| 3/07 | HB 148 | Authorizes the Transfer of Federal Lands to the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14) |
| 3/06 | HCR 2056 | Matches State Minimum Wage to Federal Minimum | Resolution Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| 3/06 | AJR 63 | Limits Recalls of Elected Officials | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37) |
| 3/06 | AJR 63 | Limits Recalls of Elected Officials | Amendment Adopted - House (60 - 37) |
| 3/05 | HCR 40 | 2 Percent Pay Raise for State Employees | Resolution Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| 3/05 | HCR 2043 | Amends Requirements for Ballot Measures for Future Tax Increases | Resolution Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| 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) |
| 2/29 | HB 609 | Prohibits Unpaid Wage Collection Ordinances | Bill Passed - House (77 - 38) |
| 2/29 | HJR 2009 | Prohibiting Mandatory Licensing and Registration of Guns | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 37) |
| 2/28 | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| 2/28 | HB 1115 | Authorizes Businesses to Comment on Fiscal Impact of Proposed Legislation | Bill Passed - House (41 - 22) |
| 2/28 | HB 85 | Establishes a Task Force for Government Continuity | Bill Failed - House (27 - 30) |
| 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 | HB 104 | Prohibits Local Ordinances Against Idling Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (42 - 28) |
| 2/24 | HB 198 | Prohibits Regulation of Family Food | Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) |
| 2/24 | HB 971 | Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| 2/24 | HB 971 | Amends Process of Judiciary Appointment | Bill Passed - House (77 - 35) |
| 2/23 | HB 2437 | Amends Voting Registration Requirements | Bill Passed - House (81 - 43) |
| 2/23 | HJM 10 | Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) |
| 2/22 | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
| 2/21 | HB 49 | Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (50 - 21) |
| 2/17 | HB 32 | State House and Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (49 - 9) |
| 2/17 | HB 32 | State House and Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (49 - 9) |
| 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 | HB 90 | Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights | Bill Passed - House (38 - 34) |
| 2/16 | HB 90 | Prohibiting Government Meetings on Caucus Nights | Bill Passed - House (38 - 34) |
| 2/15 | HB 211 | Amends the Rules Regarding Hiring Outside Counsel | Bill Passed - House (59 - 56) |
| 2/15 | HB 1666 | Limits State Contribution to Public Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - House (232 - 119) |
| 2/15 | HB 1301 | Authorizes Legislative Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| 2/14 | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/14 | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | S 2038 | Prohibits Insider Trading by Government Officials | Bill Passed - House (417 - 2) |
| 2/09 | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |
| 2/09 | HB 1104 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (101 - 54) |
| 2/09 | HB 2606 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 14) |