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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | SB 9 | Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws | Veto Override Passed - House (111 - 50) |
| Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | SB 9 | Amends Animal Abuse and Neglect Laws | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Sept. 10, 2013 | CA | AB 711 | Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| Sept. 9, 2013 | CA | AB 711 | Prohibits Lead Ammunition for Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| July 6, 2013 | OR | SB 6 | Amends Animal Welfare Regulations | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| July 1, 2013 | OR | SB 6 | Amends Animal Welfare Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 11, 2013 | ME | LD 1286 | Prohibits Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (94 - 49) |
| May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 1639 | Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets | Bill Passed - House (67 - 49) |
| May 4, 2013 | TX | HB 852 | Prohibits the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - House (87 - 42) |
| May 1, 2013 | TX | HB 489 | Expands Access to Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD | Bill Passed - House (120 - 21) |
| May 1, 2013 | IL | SB 1639 | Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| April 25, 2013 | MI | SJR S | Establishes a Constitutional Authorization for Individuals to Hunt and Fish | Amendment Adopted - 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 25, 2013 | NC | SB 201 | Authorizes the Use of Silencers While Hunting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 23, 2013 | MT | SB 256 | Requires the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Organization to be Liable for Damage Caused by Wild Buffalo | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 20) |
| April 23, 2013 | OR | HB 2624 | Exempts Counties from Hunting Dog Prohibitions if Approved by County Voters | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| April 22, 2013 | MT | SB 256 | Requires the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Organization to be Liable for Damage Caused by Wild Buffalo | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 39) |
| April 17, 2013 | TN | SB 1248 | Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - House (50 - 43) |
| April 17, 2013 | MT | SB 143 | Amends Bison Management Laws | Bill Failed - House (50 - 50) |
| April 16, 2013 | OR | SB 835 | Prohibits Horse Tripping in Rodeos | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| April 16, 2013 | TN | SB 1248 | Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 487 | Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves | Bill Passed - House (52 - 39) |
| March 26, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14) |
| March 21, 2013 | MT | HB 247 | Authorizes Salvage of Game Killed By Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| March 19, 2013 | PA | SB 644 | Amends the Definition of "Wild Animal" | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |