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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2014 | NH | SB 364 | Increase Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| March 13, 2014 | National | HR 3973 | Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (244 - 171) |
| March 13, 2014 | MO | SB 510 | Amends the Definition of Employee Misconduct for Unemployment Benefits Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| March 12, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 10) |
| March 12, 2014 | NH | HB 1403 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (173 - 118) |
| March 12, 2014 | National | HR 4138 | Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 181) |
| March 12, 2014 | National | HR 4138 | Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 181) |
| March 12, 2014 | National | HR 4138 | Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (233 - 181) |
| March 11, 2014 | GA | HB 60 | Amends Firearm Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 54) |
| March 11, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| March 10, 2014 | OK | SB 1023 | Prohibits Any Municipality from Establishing a Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 9) |
| March 7, 2014 | MD | HB 295 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 46) |
| March 6, 2014 | IN | SB 50 | Prohibits the Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 6, 2014 | KS | HB 2338 | Appropriates Funds to the Judicial Branch | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | S 1752 | Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| March 6, 2014 | National | S 1752 | Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| March 6, 2014 | AZ | HB 2367 | Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - House (35 - 22) |
| March 6, 2014 | NH | SB 413 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
| March 5, 2014 | SD | HJR 1001 | Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 10) |
| March 5, 2014 | SD | HJR 1002 | Increases Legislative Term Limit Length | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
| March 5, 2014 | NY | A 1793b | Amends Worker Paid Leave Laws | Bill Passed - House (89 - 44) |
| March 4, 2014 | AR | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (76 - 24) |
| March 4, 2014 | IN | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| March 4, 2014 | HI | HB 2580 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 3) |
| March 4, 2014 | MD | SB 212 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Gender Identity | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 4, 2014 | HI | SB 2609 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1) |
| March 4, 2014 | OK | SB 1651 | Appropriates Funds for the Native American Cultural Center | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 4, 2014 | AL | HB 494 | Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| March 3, 2014 | WY | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 10) |
| March 3, 2014 | WY | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (44 - 16) |
| March 3, 2014 | GA | HB 990 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion without Legislative Approval | Bill Passed - House (118 - 57) |
| March 3, 2014 | GA | HB 990 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion without Legislative Approval | Bill Passed - House (118 - 57) |
| Feb. 28, 2014 | AK | HB 1 | Requires Certain Drivers Licenses to Expire Pursuant to their Visa | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 4) |
| Feb. 28, 2014 | KY | HB 351 | Authorizes Temporary Concealed Weapons Permits for Domestic Violence Victims | Bill Passed - House (79 - 13) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | IN | SB 50 | Prohibits the Use Of Tanning Facilities By Minors | Bill Passed - House (69 - 23) |
| Feb. 26, 2014 | AL | SB 63 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | KY | SB 82 | Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 25, 2014 | KY | SB 82 | Establishes Procedures for an Executive Cabinet Position | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 24, 2014 | WV | HB 4490 | Amends Attorney General Conflict of Interest Laws | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Feb. 24, 2014 | TN | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| Feb. 24, 2014 | TN | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | AR | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HJR 72 | Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions | Amendment Adopted - House (109 - 42) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | MO | HJR 72 | Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions | Amendment Adopted - House (109 - 42) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (33 - 29) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | WI | AB 161 | Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 36) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | WA | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| Feb. 18, 2014 | WA | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (75 - 22) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | IN | HJR 3 | Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Feb. 17, 2014 | IN | HJR 3 | Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Feb. 14, 2014 | NM | SJR 13 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 17) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | NM | HB 11 | Increases Compensation for Elected State Officers | Bill Failed - House (29 - 32) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | NM | HB 11 | Increases Compensation for Elected State Officers | Bill Failed - House (29 - 32) |
| Feb. 13, 2014 | NM | HB 82 | Prohibits a State Official from Working as a Lobbyist for 2 Years After Leaving Office | Bill Passed - House (43 - 23) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | MI | SB 319 | Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | SD | SB 142 | Increases Salary for State Legislators | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Feb. 12, 2014 | KS | HB 2453 | Authorizes an Individual to Refuse Services Based on Religious Beliefs | Bill Passed - House (72 - 49) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | WI | AB 161 | Authorizes the Appeal of Court Orders that Suspend State Law | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | UT | HB 96 | Establishes a School Readiness Board | Bill Passed - House (49 - 24) |
| Feb. 11, 2014 | VA | SB 590 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 10, 2014 | SD | HB 1158 | Establishes a Prenatal Care Program for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Feb. 10, 2014 | SD | HB 1158 | Establishes a Prenatal Care Program for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | KY | HB 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (54 - 44) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | KY | SB 1 | Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Feb. 6, 2014 | KY | SB 1 | Authorizes Legislature to Review Administrative Regulations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | TN | SJR 123 | Requires Election of Attorney General Position | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | SD | HJR 1002 | Increases Legislative Term Limit Length | Joint Resolution Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | National | HR 2642 | Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | MI | SB 319 | Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Bill Passed - House (62 - 48) |
| Feb. 4, 2014 | KY | SB 58 | Repeals the Office of the State Secretary of the Treasury | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | VA | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Feb. 3, 2014 | VA | HB 706 | Authorizes Legislators to Hire Counsel to Represent Virginia in Court | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
| Jan. 31, 2014 | WA | SB 6523 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |