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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2013 | IN | SB 373 | Prohibits Unauthorized Entry on Industrial or Agricultural Property | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SJR S | Establishes a Constitutional Authorization for Individuals to Hunt and Fish | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 24, 2013 | IL | SB 923 | Authorizes the Use of Traffic Cameras on School Buses | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12) |
| April 24, 2013 | AL | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 23, 2013 | MT | HB 297 | Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 18, 2013 | DE | HB 35 | Requires Background Checks Prior to the Purchase of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 719 | Authorizes Reciprocity for the Carrying of Certain Concealed Firearms | Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 43) |
| April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 711 | Prohibits the Sale of Assault Weapons | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 60) |
| April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 714 | Limits Firearm Magazine Capacity | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 54) |
| April 17, 2013 | National | S Amdt 715 | Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (54 - 46) |
| April 17, 2013 | LA | SB 147 | Prohibits the Use of Social Media While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 16, 2013 | AZ | HB 2455 | Requires the Sale of Certain Firearms Acquired by Public Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| April 16, 2013 | TN | SB 1248 | Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| April 11, 2013 | FL | SB 1792 | Amends Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| April 11, 2013 | MO | SB 267 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Foreign Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| April 10, 2013 | IN | HB 1483 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| April 10, 2013 | TX | SB 1467 | Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| April 8, 2013 | MT | HB 30 | Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| April 8, 2013 | AR | SB 38 | Requires Drug Testing for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 102 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4) |
| April 5, 2013 | AR | SB 1093 | Requires Racial Impact Statement For Crime Bills | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 10) |
| April 5, 2013 | AR | SB 1093 | Requires Racial Impact Statement For Crime Bills | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 10) |
| April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 281 | Amends Firearms Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |