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 4, 2014 KS SB 323 Limits the Duration of Conservation Easements Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 23)
April 3, 2014 AL HB 494 Amends Requirements for Minors Who Seek an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
April 3, 2014 FL SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
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)
March 31, 2014 MD SB 973 Establishes an Automated Assessment System for Pretrial Releases Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
March 27, 2014 NJ S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 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 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 13, 2014 National HR 3973 Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (244 - 171)
March 12, 2014 WI AB 19 Requires an Individual to Disclose the Number of Asbestos Trusts they Plan to Sue Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
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 6, 2014 KS HB 2338 Appropriates Funds to the Judicial Branch Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 6, 2014 OR HB 4143 Amends Payout Procedures In Class Action Lawsuits Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
March 5, 2014 UT HB 20 Expands Protections for Police Officers in Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 28)
March 5, 2014 MO HB 1173 Establishes Causes of Action in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (94 - 61)
March 4, 2014 IN HB 1126 Amends Procedures for Awarding Unpaid Wages Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
March 4, 2014 UT HB 20 Expands Protections for Police Officers in Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 13)
March 4, 2014 AL HB 494 Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking an Abortion Bill Passed - House (82 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2014 KS SB 311 Increases the Limit for Non-Economic Civil Damages Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Feb. 25, 2014 WV HB 4001 Authorizes False Claims Lawsuits Bill Failed - House (42 - 55)
Feb. 25, 2014 KY SB 116 Amends Patent Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Feb. 24, 2014 WV HB 4490 Amends Attorney General Conflict of Interest Laws Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/04 SB 323 Limits the Duration of Conservation Easements Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 23)
4/03 HB 494 Amends Requirements for Minors Who Seek an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
4/03 SJR 1188 Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
4/01 AB 120 Prohibits Certain Actions Made by Health Care Providers from Being Used Against Them in Court Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/31 SB 973 Establishes an Automated Assessment System for Pretrial Releases Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
3/27 S 783 Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 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)
3/18 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)
3/13 HR 3973 Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (244 - 171)
3/12 AB 19 Requires an Individual to Disclose the Number of Asbestos Trusts they Plan to Sue Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
3/12 HR 4138 Executive Needs to Faithfully Observe and Respect Congressional Enactments of (ENFORCE) the Law Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (233 - 181)
3/11 HB 60 Amends Firearm Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 54)
3/06 HB 2338 Appropriates Funds to the Judicial Branch Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/06 HB 4143 Amends Payout Procedures In Class Action Lawsuits Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
3/05 HB 20 Expands Protections for Police Officers in Lawsuits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 28)
3/05 HB 1173 Establishes Causes of Action in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (94 - 61)
3/04 HB 1126 Amends Procedures for Awarding Unpaid Wages Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 25)
3/04 HB 20 Expands Protections for Police Officers in Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 13)
3/04 HB 494 Amends Requirements for Minors Seeking an Abortion Bill Passed - House (82 - 18)
2/27 SB 311 Increases the Limit for Non-Economic Civil Damages Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
2/25 HB 4001 Authorizes False Claims Lawsuits Bill Failed - House (42 - 55)
2/25 SB 116 Amends Patent Laws Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
2/24 HB 4490 Amends Attorney General Conflict of Interest Laws Bill Passed - House (52 - 44)

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