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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 67 | Requires a Finding be Added Concerning Oil Sand Crudes | Amendment Rejected - House (146 - 269) |
| May 22, 2013 | LA | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| May 20, 2013 | NJ | S 968 | Establishes Procedures for Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - House (48 - 29) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 16, 2013 | AZ | SB 1492 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 15, 2013 | IL | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| May 15, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80) |
| May 15, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80) |
| May 15, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80) |
| May 15, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80) |
| May 14, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 14, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 13, 2013 | OR | SB 602 | Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake | Bill Passed - House (37 - 20) |
| May 13, 2013 | NJ | S 968 | Establishes Procedures for Privatization Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 8, 2013 | MO | HB 436 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (116 - 38) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | AZ | HB 2608 | Amends Retirement Plans for Elected Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| May 8, 2013 | MO | SB 265 | Prohibits Compliance with United Nations Agenda 21 | Bill Passed - House (118 - 37) |
| May 8, 2013 | CT | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 8, 2013 | CT | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 8, 2013 | MN | HF 894 | Amends Election Provisions | Bill Passed - House (74 - 60) |
| May 8, 2013 | NC | HB 9 | Establishes Term Limits for House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore | Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34) |
| May 8, 2013 | NC | HB 9 | Establishes Term Limits for House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore | Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34) |
| May 8, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| May 8, 2013 | WI | AB 85 | Amends Milwaukee County Board Regulations | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| May 7, 2013 | TX | HB 928 | Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| May 7, 2013 | NC | HB 937 | Amends Firearm Laws | Bill Passed - House (78 - 42) |
| May 6, 2013 | National | S 743 | Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27) |
| May 6, 2013 | TX | HB 1076 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (100 - 47) |
| May 6, 2013 | LA | HB 45 | Establishes Licenses for the In-State Sale and Manufacture of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
| May 3, 2013 | CO | HB 1303 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 2, 2013 | MO | HB 436 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| May 2, 2013 | CO | HB 1303 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 2, 2013 | NC | SB 612 | Amends Environmental Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| May 1, 2013 | OK | HB 1910 | Amends State Property Sale Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| May 1, 2013 | IA | SF 446 | 2013-2014 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| April 30, 2013 | HI | SB 1084 | Authorizes the Use of Public Funds for Private Preschools | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 14) |
| April 30, 2013 | AZ | SB 1439 | Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 550 | Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform | Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 55) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | LD 134 | Reduces Size of State Legislature | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (113 - 30) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | LD 134 | Reduces Size of State Legislature | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (113 - 30) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | SB 93 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | HB 8 | Requires Courts to Apply "Strict Scrutiny" to Certain Firearm Regulation Laws | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | HB 8 | Requires Courts to Apply "Strict Scrutiny" to Certain Firearm Regulation Laws | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 550 | Alleges Support For Comprehensive Immigration Reform | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| April 30, 2013 | DE | SB 21 | Requires the Governor to Appoint Labor Union Representatives to a State Benefits Committee | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 30, 2013 | AL | HB 162 | Amends the Voter Registration Deadline | Bill Passed - House (67 - 34) |
| April 26, 2013 | TX | HB 148 | Prohibits Multiple Ballots from Being Turned in by 1 Individual | Bill Passed - House (93 - 48) |
| April 25, 2013 | National | S 743 | Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 | Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 30) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SJR S | Establishes a Constitutional Authorization for Individuals to Hunt and Fish | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 25, 2013 | CA | AB 1401 | Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries | Bill Passed - House (45 - 26) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SB 288 | Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SB 288 | Authorizes the Natural Resources Commission to Designate Huntable Game Species | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 23, 2013 | ND | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34) |
| April 23, 2013 | ND | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 34) |
| April 23, 2013 | IA | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| April 23, 2013 | LA | HB 5 | Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
| April 23, 2013 | OR | HB 2624 | Exempts Counties from Hunting Dog Prohibitions if Approved by County Voters | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| April 23, 2013 | NV | AB 230 | Amends State Sex Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| April 23, 2013 | NV | AB 441 | Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| April 22, 2013 | IN | SB 224 | Establishes the Duties of Constitutional Convention Delegates | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| April 22, 2013 | IN | SB 225 | Establishes Procedures to Appoint Constitutional Convention Delegates | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| April 22, 2013 | ND | HCR 3047 | Establishes a Commission of Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |