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 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 | 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 | FL | SB 98 | Authorizes Student-Led Prayer in School | Bill Passed - House (88 - 27) |
| March 1, 2012 | UT | HB 155 | Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (62 - 10) |
| March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
| 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 | National | HR 1837 | Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley | Bill Passed - House (246 - 175) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IA | HF 2215 | Authorizes the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | IA | HJR 2009 | Prohibiting Mandatory Licensing and Registration of Guns | Amendment Adopted - House (61 - 37) |
| 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 | SD | H Amdt 141 | Defining Domestic Abuse as Abuse Witihin an Opposite-Sex Relationship | Amendment Adopted - House (35 - 33) |
| 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 | SD | SB 141 | Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2012 | SD | SB 141 | Amends the Definition of Domestic Abuse | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| 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 | UT | HB 316 | Extends Waiting Period for Divorce | Bill Passed - House (43 - 26) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | TN | HB 2638 | Prohibits Camping in Non-Designated Areas of Public Property | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 21) |
| Feb. 27, 2012 | WY | HB 82 | Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (37 - 23) |
| Feb. 24, 2012 | UT | HB 198 | Prohibits Regulation of Family Food | Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | FL | HB 549 | Amends Alimony Provisions | Bill Passed - House (83 - 30) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | ID | HJM 10 | Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 323 | Repeals Purchase Limit for Handguns | Bill Passed - House (64 - 32) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 349 | Authorizing Private Adoption Agencies to Refuse Certain Placements | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | NH | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
| Feb. 22, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | UT | HB 49 | Authorizing the Concealed or Open Possession of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (50 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | MI | HB 5033 | Requires Asset Tests to Determine Eligibility for State Assistance Programs | Bill Passed - House (67 - 39) |
| Feb. 21, 2012 | AZ | HB 2563 | Authorizing High School Elective Courses about the Bible | Bill Passed - House (42 - 15) |
| Feb. 20, 2012 | CO | HB 1064 | Prohibits Gun Restrictions During Emergencies | Bill Passed - House (45 - 19) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | ID | H 404 | Prohibits Camping on Capitol Mall Property | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 14) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | MD | HB 438 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (72 - 67) |
| Feb. 17, 2012 | MD | HB 438 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (72 - 67) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | NJ | S 1 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | KY | HB 70 | Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote | Bill Passed - House (78 - 18) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | KY | HB 70 | Authorizes People Convicted of Certain Felonies to Vote | Bill Passed - House (78 - 18) |
| Feb. 16, 2012 | TN | HB 2638 | Prohibits Camping in Non-Designated Areas of Public Property | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | OH | HB 386 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | OR | HB 4045 | Prohibits Disclosure of the Names of Licensed Concealed Handgun Carriers | Bill Passed - House (44 - 14) |
| Feb. 15, 2012 | FL | HB 7087 | Increases Certain Business Tax Credits and Sales Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (92 - 22) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1060 | Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest | Bill Passed - House (75 - 25) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1060 | Requires Law Enforcement to Ask About Immigration Status During an Arrest | Bill Passed - House (75 - 25) |
| Feb. 14, 2012 | SD | HB 1253 | Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | SD | HB 1248 | Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| Feb. 13, 2012 | WA | HB 2330 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |