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 6, 2013 OK SB 802 Prohibits the Sale of Electric Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
March 6, 2013 MD SB 276 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 5, 2013 AR SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected Veto Override Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 4, 2013 GA HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
March 1, 2013 UT HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
March 1, 2013 IL HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
Feb. 28, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2013 AR SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Feb. 28, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
Feb. 28, 2013 National H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
Feb. 28, 2013 MT HB 505 Prohibits Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Feb. 28, 2013 NM HB 168 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 39)
Feb. 28, 2013 NM HJR 10 Extends Education Disbursements from the Land Grant Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (36 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2013 MI HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
Feb. 27, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28)
Feb. 27, 2013 ND HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 27, 2013 NM HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2013 WI SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2013 OK SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2013 NC SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 26, 2013 NC SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
Feb. 26, 2013 IN SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Feb. 26, 2013 IN SB 371 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to the Prescription of an Abortion-Inducing Drug Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Feb. 26, 2013 UT SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2013 IN SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2013 IN SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2013 AK HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1006 Amends the Criminal Code Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
Feb. 25, 2013 TN HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
Feb. 25, 2013 CO SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2013 MT SB 175 Increases Public Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2013 KY SB 39 Requires Medicaid Expansion to be Approved by the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 22, 2013 SD HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
Feb. 21, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 10)
Feb. 21, 2013 AR SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2013 KY HB 89 Requires Police to Collect DNA From Individuals Arrested on Felony Charges Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
Feb. 20, 2013 KS SCR 1608 Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 20, 2013 VT H 265 Amends Education Property Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2014 Bill Passed - House (96 - 45)
Feb. 20, 2013 UT SB 60 Requires the State Department of Health to Prepare Annual Report on Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
Feb. 20, 2013 GA HB 178 Requires Pain Management Clinics to be Licensed Bill Passed - House (150 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2013 MT SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
Feb. 19, 2013 IA HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
Feb. 19, 2013 AL HB 57 Establishes Requirements for Medical Care at Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
Feb. 18, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Feb. 18, 2013 ND SB 2303 Defines a "Human Being" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
Feb. 18, 2013 CO HB 1229 Requires Background Checks For Private Gun Sales and Transfers Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
Feb. 15, 2013 UT HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2013 MN HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
Feb. 14, 2013 IA SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 VT S 77 Prohibits Liability for Self-Administered Lethal Dosages Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Feb. 14, 2013 VT S 77 Prohibits Liability for Self-Administered Lethal Dosages Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
Feb. 13, 2013 VT Galbraith and Hartwell Amdt Establishes Immunity for Doctors Prescribing or People Present to Lethal Dosage Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2013 VT Galbraith and Hartwell Amdt Establishes Immunity for Doctors Prescribing or People Present to Lethal Dosage Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2013 KY SB 9 Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2013 MT HB 315 Establishes Public Charter Schools Bill Failed - House (49 - 50)
Feb. 12, 2013 National S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
Feb. 11, 2013 UT HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - House (41 - 30)
Feb. 8, 2013 KY SB 5 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Feb. 5, 2013 WY HB 230 Appropriates Funds for Schools to Hire School Resource Officers Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
Feb. 4, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Bill Passed - House (75 - 20)
Feb. 4, 2013 AR HB 1100 Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (77 - 15)
Jan. 31, 2013 KS HB 2023 Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes Bill Passed - House (68 - 56)
Jan. 31, 2013 VA SB 975 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Jan. 31, 2013 AR SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Jan. 30, 2013 IA SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Jan. 30, 2013 SD HB 1113 Requires Certain State Electronic Exchanges to Be Made Public Bill Failed - House (34 - 35)
Jan. 28, 2013 National HR 152 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
Jan. 25, 2013 WY SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/06 SB 802 Prohibits the Sale of Electric Cigarettes to Minors Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 15)
3/06 SB 276 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/05 SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected Veto Override Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/04 HB 125 Amends State Immigration Policy Bill Passed - House (116 - 49)
3/01 HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
3/01 HB 1247 Prohibits Using a Hand-Held Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - House (64 - 46)
2/28 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
2/28 SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
2/28 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (286 - 138)
2/28 H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
2/28 HB 505 Prohibits Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
2/28 HB 168 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 39)
2/28 HJR 10 Extends Education Disbursements from the Land Grant Fund Joint Resolution Passed - House (36 - 33)
2/28 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/28 HB 4111 Appropriates Federal Funding for Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (78 - 31)
2/27 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28)
2/27 HB 1362 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/27 HB 64 Amends Educational Employee Pension Funds and Policies Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/27 SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/27 SB 1062 Amends State Worker's Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
2/26 SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 16)
2/26 SB 4 Prohibits Medicaid Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40)
2/26 SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
2/26 SB 371 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to the Prescription of an Abortion-Inducing Drug Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
2/26 SB 109 Authorizes the State Engineer to Manage Water Usage Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/26 SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
2/26 SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
2/25 HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
2/25 HB 1006 Amends the Criminal Code Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
2/25 HB 553 Prohibits War Monuments from Being Renamed Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
2/25 SB 33 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/23 SB 175 Increases Public Education Funding Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/22 SB 40 Requires Health Care Exchanges to Be Approved by The Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/22 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (38 - 18)
2/22 SB 39 Requires Medicaid Expansion to be Approved by the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/22 HB 1214 Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (39 - 28)
2/21 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 10)
2/21 SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
2/21 HB 89 Requires Police to Collect DNA From Individuals Arrested on Felony Charges Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
2/20 SCR 1608 Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
2/20 H 265 Amends Education Property Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2014 Bill Passed - House (96 - 45)
2/20 SB 60 Requires the State Department of Health to Prepare Annual Report on Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
2/20 HB 178 Requires Pain Management Clinics to be Licensed Bill Passed - House (150 - 15)
2/20 SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
2/19 HF 215 Appropriates Education Funding and Establishes New Programs Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
2/19 HB 57 Establishes Requirements for Medical Care at Abortion Clinics Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
2/18 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
2/18 SB 2303 Defines a "Human Being" Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
2/18 HB 1229 Requires Background Checks For Private Gun Sales and Transfers Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
2/15 HB 50 Expands Protective Orders to Dating Relationships Bill Passed - House (61 - 11)
2/14 HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
2/14 HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
2/14 HB 131 Authorizes Immigrants to Remain Enrolled in High School up to Age 23 Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
2/14 SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
2/14 SF 162 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/14 S 77 Prohibits Liability for Self-Administered Lethal Dosages Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
2/14 S 77 Prohibits Liability for Self-Administered Lethal Dosages Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
2/13 Galbraith and Hartwell Amdt Establishes Immunity for Doctors Prescribing or People Present to Lethal Dosage Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
2/13 Galbraith and Hartwell Amdt Establishes Immunity for Doctors Prescribing or People Present to Lethal Dosage Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 15)
2/13 SB 9 Establishes Review Panels to Assess Nursing Home Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/12 HB 315 Establishes Public Charter Schools Bill Failed - House (49 - 50)
2/12 S 47 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 22)
2/11 HB 13 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Present Bill Passed - House (41 - 30)
2/08 SB 5 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
2/05 HB 230 Appropriates Funds for Schools to Hire School Resource Officers Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
2/04 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Bill Passed - House (75 - 20)
2/04 HB 1100 Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - House (77 - 15)
1/31 HB 2023 Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes Bill Passed - House (68 - 56)
1/31 SB 975 Prohibits Smoking in a Vehicle with Minors Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
1/31 SB 134 Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
1/30 SF 52 Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
1/30 HB 1113 Requires Certain State Electronic Exchanges to Be Made Public Bill Failed - House (34 - 35)
1/28 HR 152 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
1/25 SF 104 Establishes the Director Position in the Department of Education Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)

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