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
April 18, 2013 CT HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
April 18, 2013 NV AB 284 Authorizes Early Terminations of Rental Agreements by Victims of Domestic Violence Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
April 17, 2013 AR SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
April 17, 2013 IA SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 16, 2013 MT HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
April 16, 2013 WI AB 82 Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
April 16, 2013 IA SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 16, 2013 MN SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
April 15, 2013 IN SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
April 12, 2013 WV SB 371 Amends the State Prison System Bill Passed - House (81 - 17)
April 12, 2013 National HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
April 12, 2013 National HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
April 11, 2013 OR SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 11, 2013 IL HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
April 10, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
April 10, 2013 MT SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
April 10, 2013 OR SB 215 Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 9, 2013 AR HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
April 9, 2013 AR HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
April 8, 2013 MD SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - House (99 - 41)
April 8, 2013 AR SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 8, 2013 AR SB 38 Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 44)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
April 5, 2013 KS HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32)
April 5, 2013 MD SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - House (82 - 55)
April 4, 2013 MD SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
April 4, 2013 FL HB 867 Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions Bill Passed - House (68 - 51)
April 3, 2013 WV HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
April 3, 2013 NC SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
April 2, 2013 KS HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 27, 2013 KS HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 27, 2013 MD SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
March 25, 2013 IN SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
March 25, 2013 MD SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 25, 2013 MD HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
March 25, 2013 IA SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 21, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
March 21, 2013 OR HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 21, 2013 MI HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
March 20, 2013 National HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
March 20, 2013 AR HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - House (63 - 24)
March 20, 2013 IL SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/18 HB 6648 Authorizes University Board of Regents to Appoint President of the Board Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
4/18 AB 284 Authorizes Early Terminations of Rental Agreements by Victims of Domestic Violence Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
4/17 SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
4/17 SF 447 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/16 HB 13 Appropriates Funds for State Employee Pay Raises Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
4/16 AB 82 Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps Bill Passed - House (73 - 24)
4/16 SF 439 Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/16 SF 1589 Increases Legislator Salaries Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32)
4/15 SB 207 Authorizes Certain Undocumented Students to Receive In-State Tuition Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
4/12 SB 371 Amends the State Prison System Bill Passed - House (81 - 17)
4/12 HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
4/12 HR 1120 Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act Bill Passed - House (219 - 209)
4/11 SB 822 Amends the Public Employee Retirement System Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/11 HJRCA 18 Repeals the Position of Lieutenant Governor Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 28)
4/10 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12)
4/10 SB 107 Amends Sexual Conduct Laws Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
4/10 SB 215 Authorizes Schools to Use Native American Mascots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/09 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
4/09 HJR 1009 Amends Campaign Contribution Laws Joint Resolution Passed - House (71 - 12)
4/08 SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - House (99 - 41)
4/08 SB 875 Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/08 SB 38 Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 44)
4/05 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13)
4/05 HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 32)
4/05 SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - House (82 - 55)
4/04 SB 422 Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
4/04 HB 867 Authorizes Parent Involvement in School Turnaround Decisions Bill Passed - House (68 - 51)
4/03 HB 2805 Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates Bill Passed - House (70 - 29)
4/03 SB 306 Repeals the Racial Justice Act Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
4/02 HB 2069 Prohibits Local Governments from Enforcing a Union Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/27 HB 2234 Requires the Secretary of Transportation to Direct the Kansas Turnpike Authority Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/27 SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
3/26 SB 2 Amends the State Employee Pension Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6)
3/25 SB 213 Prohibits Localities From Requiring Certain Employment Benefits Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
3/25 SB 715 Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/25 HB 228 Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
3/25 SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/21 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109)
3/21 HB 2787 Authorizes In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/21 HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - House (57 - 53)
3/20 HR 933 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26)
3/20 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Bill Passed - House (63 - 24)
3/20 SB 1 Amends State Employee Pension Plans Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22)

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