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 24, 2012 | National | S Amdt 2107 | Authorizes Import of FDA-Approved Drugs from Canada | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 54) |
| May 24, 2012 | NJ | ACR 37 | Overturns Department of Environmental Protection Waiver Rules | Resolution Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| May 22, 2012 | OH | HB 473 | Limits Water Withdrawal from the Great Lakes | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| May 15, 2012 | LA | HB 380 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (65 - 26) |
| May 15, 2012 | MA | S Amdt 125 | Requires Establishing a Single Payer Health Care System Benchmark | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 22) |
| May 15, 2012 | MA | S Amdt 125 | Requires Establishing a Single Payer Health Care System Benchmark | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 22) |
| May 10, 2012 | IL | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 20) |
| May 9, 2012 | IA | SF 2315 | Amends the Mental Health and Disability Services Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 31) |
| May 9, 2012 | IL | SB 1313 | Limits Health Care Coverage for Retired State Employees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 43) |
| May 9, 2012 | RI | S 2555 A | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| May 9, 2012 | RI | S 2555 A | Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| May 8, 2012 | AL | SB 10 | Prohibits Insurance from Providing Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (76 - 28) |
| May 4, 2012 | VT | H 464 | Prohibits Hydraulic Fracturing | Conference Report Adopted - House (103 - 36) |
| May 2, 2012 | AZ | HCR 2004 | Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| May 2, 2012 | CO | SB 117 | Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 1, 2012 | CT | HB 5021 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Sundays and Certain Holidays | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 30, 2012 | AZ | HCR 2004 | Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources | Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| April 27, 2012 | TN | SB 3310 | Requires Abstinence-Centered Sex Education in Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 23) |
| April 27, 2012 | CO | SM 3 | Urges Congress to Authorize Religious Exemptions to Providing Birth Control | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| April 27, 2012 | CO | SM 3 | Urges Congress to Authorize Religious Exemptions to Providing Birth Control | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| April 26, 2012 | CT | HB 5021 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Sundays and Certain Holidays | Bill Passed - House (116 - 27) |
| April 26, 2012 | CA | AB 2405 | Authorizes Low-Emission Vehicles to Use HOV Lanes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
| April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
| April 25, 2012 | MA | H Amdt 804.1 | Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards | Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33) |
| April 25, 2012 | TN | SB 2580 | Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| April 25, 2012 | OH | HB 473 | Limits Water Withdrawal from the Great Lakes | Bill Passed - House (59 - 38) |
| April 24, 2012 | TN | HJR 587 | Opposes the United Nations Agenda 21 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| April 20, 2012 | KY | HB 1 | Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 19) |
| April 20, 2012 | KY | HB 1 | Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 19) |
| April 20, 2012 | KY | HB 1 | Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| April 20, 2012 | KY | HB 1 | Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
| April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
| April 19, 2012 | MO | HB 1534 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (108 - 44) |
| April 19, 2012 | MO | HB 1534 | Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (108 - 44) |
| April 14, 2012 | ME | LD 1913 | Worker's Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 14, 2012 | ME | LD 1913 | Worker's Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 69) |
| April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| April 11, 2012 | WA | SB 5940 | Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 1161 | Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 599 | Prenatal Care for Children of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 599 | Prenatal Care for Children of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| April 10, 2012 | CO | SB 68 | Prohibits Food with Trans Fat in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 10, 2012 | AL | HB 433 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (56 - 47) |
| April 9, 2012 | AZ | HB 2199 | Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 15) |
| April 5, 2012 | MD | HB 443 | Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| April 5, 2012 | MD | HB 443 | Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| April 3, 2012 | AZ | HB 2199 | Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| March 30, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| March 30, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 861 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 56) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 981 | Provides Reimbursement for Health Insurance Coverage of Autism | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 414 | Health Care Coverage for Treatments Relating to Autism | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 415 | Requires Insurers to Cover Autism Treatments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 1114 | Prohibits Assisted Suicide | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 53) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 981 | Provides Reimbursement for Health Insurance Coverage of Autism | Bill Passed - House (84 - 26) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 415 | Requires Insurers to Cover Autism Treatments | Bill Passed - House (91 - 19) |
| March 29, 2012 | MI | SB 414 | Health Care Coverage for Treatments Relating to Autism | Bill Passed - House (91 - 19) |
| March 29, 2012 | KS | SB 62 | Authorizes Medical Professionals and Facilities to Not Provide Referrals for Abortions or Sterilizations | Bill Passed - House (95 - 29) |
| March 29, 2012 | IL | Amendment No. 4 | Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs | Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 68) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | SB 749 | Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage | (26 - 5) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | SB 749 | Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage | (26 - 5) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | SB 749 | Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage | (26 - 5) |
| March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
| March 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| March 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
| March 28, 2012 | AZ | SB 1118 | Appropriates Funds for Forest Restoration | Bill Failed - House (18 - 40) |
| March 28, 2012 | ID | S 1348 | Requires Doctors to Provide End-of-Life Care | Bill Passed - House (58 - 11) |