Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 2, 2014 NE LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 21)
April 2, 2014 OH HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - House (76 - 15)
April 1, 2014 WI AB 120 Prohibits Certain Actions Made by Health Care Providers from Being Used Against Them in Court Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
April 1, 2014 WI AB 556 Expands Jailhouse Strip Search Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 31, 2014 MD SB 973 Establishes an Automated Assessment System for Pretrial Releases Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
March 28, 2014 KY HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 27, 2014 IL HB 4442 Requires Law Enforcement Officers to Record Ethnicity During Traffic Stops Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
March 27, 2014 NJ S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 26, 2014 NH HB 492 Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140)
March 26, 2014 NH HB 492 Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140)
March 24, 2014 NE LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
March 20, 2014 GA HB 60 Amends Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 58)
March 20, 2014 WI AB 19 Requires an Individual to Disclose the Number of Asbestos Trusts they Plan to Sue Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 38)
March 20, 2014 FL HB 89 Prohibits Mandatory Sentencing for Certain Convictions of Aggravated Assault Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
March 20, 2014 NJ A 2777 Amends Firearm Transportation Laws Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
March 20, 2014 IL AM 121 Nomination of Salvador A. Godinez to be Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections Nomination Confirmed - Senate (37 - 18)
March 20, 2014 FL HB 89 Prohibits Mandatory Sentencing for Certain Convictions of Aggravated Assault Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
March 20, 2014 FL HB 7029 Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play Bill Passed - House (98 - 17)
March 19, 2014 AL SB 354 Authorizes Individuals Without Concealed Carry Licenses to Carry Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 18, 2014 GA HB 60 Amends Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
March 17, 2014 KY SB 221 Authorizes Legislative Leaders to Intervene in Certain Court Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
March 14, 2014 KS HB 2662 Reduces Wait Time for Expungement for Individuals Convicted of Driving Under the Influence Bill Passed - House (87 - 31)
March 13, 2014 IN HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24)
March 13, 2014 IN SB 229 Authorizes the Concealed Possession of Firearms on School Property Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 24)
March 13, 2014 IN HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/02 LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 21)
4/02 HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - House (76 - 15)
4/01 AB 120 Prohibits Certain Actions Made by Health Care Providers from Being Used Against Them in Court Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
4/01 AB 556 Expands Jailhouse Strip Search Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/31 SB 973 Establishes an Automated Assessment System for Pretrial Releases Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
3/28 HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/27 HB 4442 Requires Law Enforcement Officers to Record Ethnicity During Traffic Stops Bill Passed - House (63 - 46)
3/27 S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/26 HB 492 Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140)
3/26 HB 492 Authorizes the Recreational Use of Marijuana "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (192 - 140)
3/24 LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
3/20 HB 60 Amends Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 58)
3/20 AB 19 Requires an Individual to Disclose the Number of Asbestos Trusts they Plan to Sue Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 38)
3/20 HB 89 Prohibits Mandatory Sentencing for Certain Convictions of Aggravated Assault Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
3/20 A 2777 Amends Firearm Transportation Laws Bill Passed - House (43 - 29)
3/20 AM 121 Nomination of Salvador A. Godinez to be Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections Nomination Confirmed - Senate (37 - 18)
3/20 HB 89 Prohibits Mandatory Sentencing for Certain Convictions of Aggravated Assault Bill Passed - House (93 - 24)
3/20 HB 7029 Prohibits Administrators From Punishing Simulation Of Weapon Play Bill Passed - House (98 - 17)
3/19 SB 354 Authorizes Individuals Without Concealed Carry Licenses to Carry Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/18 HB 60 Amends Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 18)
3/17 SB 221 Authorizes Legislative Leaders to Intervene in Certain Court Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
3/14 HB 2662 Reduces Wait Time for Expungement for Individuals Convicted of Driving Under the Influence Bill Passed - House (87 - 31)
3/13 HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24)
3/13 SB 229 Authorizes the Concealed Possession of Firearms on School Property Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 24)
3/13 HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 17)

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