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 4, 2013 | OR | HB 2870 | Authorizes Counties to Tax Cigarette Sales | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| April 4, 2013 | MD | SB 422 | Requires Public School Teachers to Pay Labor Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (105 - 44) |
| April 3, 2013 | ME | LD 272 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Facilities by Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (105 - 44) |
| April 3, 2013 | KS | SB 181 | Reduces Property Taxes for Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| April 3, 2013 | KS | SB 181 | Reduces Property Taxes for Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| April 3, 2013 | AR | HB 1938 | Prohibits the Closure of Schools Based on Student Enrollment for 2 Years | Bill Failed - House (46 - 26) |
| April 3, 2013 | NV | SB 191 | Increases the Speed Limit on Certain Roads | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| April 3, 2013 | NH | HB 2 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (193 - 166) |
| April 3, 2013 | NH | HB 2 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (193 - 166) |
| April 2, 2013 | AL | HB 57 | Establishes Requirements for Medical Care at Abortion Clinics | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 21) |
| April 2, 2013 | KS | HB 2055 | Reduces Casino Building Fee | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 24) |
| April 2, 2013 | AL | HB 57 | Establishes Requirements for Medical Care at Abortion Clinics | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| April 2, 2013 | AZ | HB 2477 | Requires Photo Radar Systems To Be Necessary for Public Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| April 2, 2013 | KS | HB 2055 | Reduces Casino Building Fee | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 24) |
| April 2, 2013 | IN | SB 371 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to the Prescription of an Abortion-Inducing Drug | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| April 2, 2013 | MD | SB 183 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Certain Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - House (108 - 31) |
| April 2, 2013 | ME | LD 272 | Prohibits the Use of Tanning Facilities by Minors | Bill Passed - House (91 - 56) |
| April 1, 2013 | MD | SB 580 | Expands Affirmative Defense to include a Caregiver Providing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (95 - 37) |
| April 1, 2013 | NV | SJR 15 | Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| March 29, 2013 | MD | HB 1515 | Increases the Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| March 28, 2013 | WV | HB 2108 | Classifies The Failure To Wear A Seatbelt As A Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (55 - 44) |
| 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 | NH | HB 617 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - House (206 - 158) |
| March 27, 2013 | NH | HB 617 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - House (206 - 158) |
| March 26, 2013 | KS | SB 72 | Exempts Health Clubs From Property Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| March 25, 2013 | SD | SB 115 | Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee | Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| March 25, 2013 | OR | SB 602 | Prohibits Motorized Boats and Seaplanes on Waldo Lake | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | SB 339 | Classifies Using a Cell Phone While Driving As a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | SB 715 | Amends Driver's License Requirements for Undocumented Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| March 22, 2013 | ID | S 1117 | Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 18) |
| March 22, 2013 | MD | HB 1515 | Increases the Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (76 - 63) |
| March 21, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28) |
| March 21, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109) |
| March 21, 2013 | MT | HB 247 | Authorizes Salvage of Game Killed By Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| March 21, 2013 | IL | SB 9 | Increases Utility Rates | Bill Passed - House (86 - 28) |
| March 21, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
| March 21, 2013 | National | H Con Res 25 | Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207) |
| March 21, 2013 | MD | HB 753 | Classifies Cell Phone Use While Driving as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (106 - 29) |
| March 20, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 20, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26) |
| March 20, 2013 | MD | SB 30 | Prohibits Smoking in Vehicles Containing Children | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| March 18, 2013 | MD | HB 226 | Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 48) |
| March 18, 2013 | NJ | A 3614 | Requires Legislative Approval for State Lottery Changes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| March 18, 2013 | WV | SB 464 | Prohibits The Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| March 16, 2013 | NM | HB 641 | Reduces Corporate Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |