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
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2013 National H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
Feb. 28, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS Holland Amendment to SB 63 Prohibits the Secretary of State from Operating a PAC Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 28, 2013 UT HB 268 Redefines Disorderly Conduct Regarding Firearms Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 149 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
Feb. 28, 2013 MD SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 27, 2013 AR HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28)
Feb. 27, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
Feb. 27, 2013 SD HB 1087 Authorizes School Sentinel Programs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2013 MT HB 384 Authorizes Students to Bring Firearms to School Bill Failed - House (45 - 53)
Feb. 26, 2013 WY HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2013 NM HB 316 Prohibits Animal Killing Contests Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
Feb. 26, 2013 UT HB 121 Authorizes Individuals to Voluntarily Commit Guns to Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - House (44 - 28)
Feb. 25, 2013 AR HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2013 ND HB 1215 Authorizes Concealed Weapons in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 33)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
Feb. 25, 2013 IN HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
Feb. 25, 2013 AK HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
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. 23, 2013 MT HB 240 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Feb. 22, 2013 MT HB 304 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without a Concealed-Carry Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/28 SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/28 H Amdt 23 Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act Amendment Rejected - House (166 - 257)
2/28 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/28 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/28 Holland Amendment to SB 63 Prohibits the Secretary of State from Operating a PAC Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 17)
2/28 HB 268 Redefines Disorderly Conduct Regarding Firearms Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
2/28 SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
2/28 SB 149 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
2/28 SB 281 Amends Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/27 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28)
2/27 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 11)
2/27 HB 1087 Authorizes School Sentinel Programs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/27 HB 384 Authorizes Students to Bring Firearms to School Bill Failed - House (45 - 53)
2/26 HB 41 Reduces Limitations on Hunting Bison Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/26 HB 316 Prohibits Animal Killing Contests Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
2/26 HB 121 Authorizes Individuals to Voluntarily Commit Guns to Law Enforcement Agencies Bill Passed - House (44 - 28)
2/25 HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
2/25 HB 1215 Authorizes Concealed Weapons in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 33)
2/25 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
2/25 HB 1483 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
2/25 HB 69 Exempts Firearms from Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 5)
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)
2/23 HB 240 Authorizes Firearms on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)
2/22 HB 304 Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms Without a Concealed-Carry Permit Bill Passed - House (58 - 41)

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