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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 3, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
Dec. 3, 2014 MI SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
Nov. 19, 2014 National HR 4012 Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
Nov. 18, 2014 National HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
Nov. 13, 2014 NJ A 2270 Authorizes Certain Terminally Ill Individuals to Use Life-Ending Medication Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Nov. 13, 2014 NJ A 2811 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Meal Plans for Students Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Oct. 15, 2014 PA HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Concurrence Vote Passed - House (118 - 79)
Sept. 11, 2014 National HR 3522 Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (247 - 167)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Failed - House (108 - 52)
Sept. 9, 2014 National HR 5078 Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (262 - 152)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Bill Passed - House (47 - 27)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Bill Passed - House (48 - 26)
Aug. 28, 2014 CA SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Bill Passed - House (45 - 31)
Aug. 25, 2014 CA SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Bill Failed - House (38 - 33)
Aug. 19, 2014 CA AB 2198 Requires Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Professionals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 13)
Aug. 14, 2014 CA SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
July 25, 2014 NC HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
July 10, 2014 National H Amdt 1040 Prohibits Implementation of Certain Climate Assessments Amendment Adopted - House (229 - 188)
July 1, 2014 PA HB 2354 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection Bill Passed - House (144 - 59)
June 19, 2014 NY A 6357E Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (117 - 13)
June 19, 2014 NY S 6617B Requires State-Funded Projects to Consider Climate Change Effects Bill Passed - House (119 - 16)
June 18, 2014 NY A 8769A Prohibits Workplace Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decisions Bill Passed - House (106 - 30)
June 18, 2014 RI H 7904 Establishes a Climate Change Coordinating Council Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
May 28, 2014 IL SB 741 Expands Medicaid Services Bill Passed - House (75 - 37)
May 28, 2014 IL SB 741 Expands Medicaid Services Bill Passed - House (75 - 37)
May 23, 2014 OK SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
May 23, 2014 OK SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
May 23, 2014 CA AB 1699 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics Bill Passed - House (47 - 13)
May 21, 2014 LA HB 388 Requires Abortion Providers to Have Hospital Admitting Privileges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 5)
May 19, 2014 CA AB 2198 Requires Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Professionals Bill Passed - House (47 - 11)
May 7, 2014 NH SB 329 Repeals the Prohibition on Alcoholic Beverages Billboard Advertisements "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (193 - 164)
April 30, 2014 IA SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
April 30, 2014 SC H 3435 Amends Sex Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
April 28, 2014 CT SB 36 Authorizes Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses to Independently Perform Medical Duties Bill Passed - House (110 - 35)
April 24, 2014 OK SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
April 24, 2014 OK SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
April 22, 2014 FL SB 424 Prohibits Insurance Increases for Gun Owners Bill Passed - House (74 - 44)
April 17, 2014 AZ HB 2367 Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 22)
April 17, 2014 ME LD 1578 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (94 - 51)
April 17, 2014 ME LD 1578 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (94 - 51)
April 16, 2014 AZ HB 2508 Requires Licensure for Federal Health Care Navigators Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 21)
April 15, 2014 KY SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
April 15, 2014 KY SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
April 15, 2014 KY SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
April 13, 2014 AK SB 49 Prohibits the Use of Medicaid Funds for Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
April 11, 2014 AK HB 309 Authorizes Distilleries to Sell Alcohol Directly to Individuals Bill Passed - House (29 - 5)
April 9, 2014 TN SB 1391 Prohibits Women from Using Illegal Substances While Pregnant Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
April 9, 2014 LA HB 72 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Weapons in Restaurants That Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (79 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/03 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35)
12/03 SB 275 Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (75 - 34)
11/19 HR 4012 Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (237 - 190)
11/18 HR 1422 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (229 - 191)
11/13 A 2270 Authorizes Certain Terminally Ill Individuals to Use Life-Ending Medication Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
11/13 A 2811 Prohibits Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Meal Plans for Students Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
10/15 HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Concurrence Vote Passed - House (118 - 79)
9/11 HR 3522 Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (247 - 167)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Failed - House (108 - 52)
9/09 HR 5078 Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (262 - 152)
8/29 AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
8/29 AB 1014 Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28)
8/29 SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Bill Passed - House (47 - 27)
8/29 SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Bill Passed - House (48 - 26)
8/28 SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Bill Passed - House (45 - 31)
8/25 SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Bill Failed - House (38 - 33)
8/19 AB 2198 Requires Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Professionals Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 13)
8/14 SB 1010 Amends Penalties for Cocaine Possession Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
7/25 HB 1133 Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
7/10 H Amdt 1040 Prohibits Implementation of Certain Climate Assessments Amendment Adopted - House (229 - 188)
7/01 HB 2354 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection Bill Passed - House (144 - 59)
6/19 A 6357E Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (117 - 13)
6/19 S 6617B Requires State-Funded Projects to Consider Climate Change Effects Bill Passed - House (119 - 16)
6/18 A 8769A Prohibits Workplace Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decisions Bill Passed - House (106 - 30)
6/18 H 7904 Establishes a Climate Change Coordinating Council Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
5/28 SB 741 Expands Medicaid Services Bill Passed - House (75 - 37)
5/28 SB 741 Expands Medicaid Services Bill Passed - House (75 - 37)
5/23 SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
5/23 SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
5/23 AB 1699 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics Bill Passed - House (47 - 13)
5/21 HB 388 Requires Abortion Providers to Have Hospital Admitting Privileges Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 5)
5/19 AB 2198 Requires Suicide Prevention Training for Mental Health Professionals Bill Passed - House (47 - 11)
5/07 SB 329 Repeals the Prohibition on Alcoholic Beverages Billboard Advertisements "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (193 - 164)
4/30 SF 2360 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Oil Bill Passed - House (77 - 20)
4/30 H 3435 Amends Sex Education Curriculum Bill Passed - House (51 - 49)
4/28 SB 36 Authorizes Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses to Independently Perform Medical Duties Bill Passed - House (110 - 35)
4/24 SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
4/24 SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
4/22 SB 424 Prohibits Insurance Increases for Gun Owners Bill Passed - House (74 - 44)
4/17 HB 2367 Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 22)
4/17 LD 1578 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (94 - 51)
4/17 LD 1578 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (94 - 51)
4/16 HB 2508 Requires Licensure for Federal Health Care Navigators Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 21)
4/15 SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
4/15 SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
4/15 SB 5 Increases Penalties for Drug-Dealers Bill Failed - House (42 - 51)
4/13 SB 49 Prohibits the Use of Medicaid Funds for Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
4/11 HB 309 Authorizes Distilleries to Sell Alcohol Directly to Individuals Bill Passed - House (29 - 5)
4/09 SB 1391 Prohibits Women from Using Illegal Substances While Pregnant Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
4/09 HB 72 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Weapons in Restaurants That Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (79 - 19)

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