Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
May 2, 2012 LA HB 695 Prohibits the Use of Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
May 1, 2012 DE HB 289 Limits Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (26 - 7)
April 30, 2012 MN HF 2795 Expands Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 34)
April 30, 2012 CA AB 1960 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Sexual Orientation Reported by Business Owners Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
April 30, 2012 LA HB 1072 Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA Bill Passed - House (60 - 41)
April 28, 2012 MN HF 2795 Expands Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
April 26, 2012 National HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
April 26, 2012 CA AB 2405 Authorizes Low-Emission Vehicles to Use HOV Lanes Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
April 25, 2012 AZ SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
April 25, 2012 MA H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
April 24, 2012 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
April 24, 2012 IA HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 23, 2012 AZ SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Bill Passed - House (35 - 15)
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 19, 2012 AZ SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1534 Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (108 - 44)
April 18, 2012 AZ HB 2154 Requires Car Seats for Certain Children Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
April 18, 2012 NY S 1707A Authorizes Professional Mixed Martial Arts Events Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 14)
April 18, 2012 National HR 4348 Extension of Surface Transportation Funding and Approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Passed - House (293 - 127)
April 16, 2012 OK HB 2296 Limits Certain Civil Liability for Mobile Home Park Operators Bill Tabled - House (43 - 36)
April 16, 2012 OK HB 2296 Limits Certain Civil Liability for Mobile Home Park Operators Bill Tabled - House (43 - 36)
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 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
April 11, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
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 ME LD 1810 Regulatory Takings Bill Passed - House (74 - 72)
April 10, 2012 AK HB 255 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
April 9, 2012 AK SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
April 5, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 5, 2012 MD HB 443 Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
April 3, 2012 AZ HB 2348 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Teens While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 3, 2012 IA HF 2450 Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
March 30, 2012 KY SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
March 30, 2012 MD HB 441 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (88 - 47)
March 29, 2012 GA HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 53)
March 29, 2012 National S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
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 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 28, 2012 MI SB 291 Repeals Motorcycle Helmet Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
March 28, 2012 KY SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
March 28, 2012 SC SB 1227 Prohibits Camping on State House Grounds Bill Passed - House (85 - 22)
March 28, 2012 ID S 1348 Requires Doctors to Provide End-of-Life Care Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/02 HB 695 Prohibits the Use of Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 29)
5/01 HB 289 Limits Payday Loans Bill Passed - House (26 - 7)
4/30 HF 2795 Expands Gambling Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 34)
4/30 AB 1960 Requires the Department of Transportation to Include Sexual Orientation Reported by Business Owners Bill Passed - House (48 - 25)
4/30 HB 1072 Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA Bill Passed - House (60 - 41)
4/28 HF 2795 Expands Gambling Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
4/26 HR 3523 Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act Bill Passed - House (248 - 168)
4/26 AB 2405 Authorizes Low-Emission Vehicles to Use HOV Lanes Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
4/25 SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
4/25 H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
4/24 SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
4/24 HF 2460 Limits Tax Increment Financing Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/23 SB 1332 Requires the Federal Government to Give Back Land to Arizona Bill Passed - House (35 - 15)
4/20 HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 19)
4/20 HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
4/19 SB 1182 Prohibits Enforcement of Certain Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
4/19 HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
4/19 HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
4/19 HB 1534 Prohibits Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (108 - 44)
4/18 HB 2154 Requires Car Seats for Certain Children Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
4/18 S 1707A Authorizes Professional Mixed Martial Arts Events Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 14)
4/18 HR 4348 Extension of Surface Transportation Funding and Approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Passed - House (293 - 127)
4/16 HB 2296 Limits Certain Civil Liability for Mobile Home Park Operators Bill Tabled - House (43 - 36)
4/16 HB 2296 Limits Certain Civil Liability for Mobile Home Park Operators Bill Tabled - House (43 - 36)
4/14 LD 1913 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/14 LD 1913 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - House (71 - 69)
4/12 HB 2729 Authorizes Guns in Certain Public Buildings Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
4/11 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
4/11 SB 5940 Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
4/11 SB 5940 Amends Public School Employees Retirement Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
4/11 LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/11 LB 599 Prenatal Care for Children of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/11 LD 1810 Regulatory Takings Bill Passed - House (74 - 72)
4/10 HB 255 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (34 - 5)
4/09 SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
4/05 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/05 HB 443 Establishes State Health Insurance Exchanges Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
4/03 HB 2348 Prohibits Cell Phone Use by Teens While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/03 HF 2450 Prohibits the Use of Traffic Cameras Bill Passed - House (58 - 42)
3/30 SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
3/30 HB 441 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (88 - 47)
3/29 HB 1114 Prohibits Assisted Suicide Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 53)
3/29 S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
3/29 Amendment No. 4 Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 68)
3/29 HB 1541 Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. Bill Passed - House (113 - 41)
3/29 SB 749 Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage (26 - 5)
3/28 SB 291 Repeals Motorcycle Helmet Law Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
3/28 SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
3/28 SB 1227 Prohibits Camping on State House Grounds Bill Passed - House (85 - 22)
3/28 S 1348 Requires Doctors to Provide End-of-Life Care Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)

arrow_upward