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 19, 2013 | AR | HB 1819 | Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency | Bill Passed - House (78 - 9) |
| March 13, 2013 | AR | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 44) |
| March 12, 2013 | AR | HB 1357 | Requires Special Elections to Be Held On Certain Days | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
| March 8, 2013 | AR | HB 1329 | Reduces Concealed Carry License Application Fee | Bill Failed - House (31 - 52) |
| March 6, 2013 | AR | SB 134 | Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected | Veto Override Passed - House (56 - 33) |
| March 5, 2013 | AR | HB 1041 | Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget | Bill Failed - House (49 - 47) |
| Feb. 27, 2013 | AR | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28) |
| Feb. 21, 2013 | AR | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| Feb. 21, 2013 | AR | SB 134 | Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - House (68 - 20) |
| Feb. 18, 2013 | AR | HB 1295 | Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (69 - 21) |
| Feb. 15, 2013 | AR | HB 1243 | Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun | Bill Passed - House (70 - 11) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | AR | HB 1100 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (77 - 15) |
| Feb. 4, 2013 | AR | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - House (75 - 20) |
| April 12, 2011 | AR | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 20) |
| March 31, 2011 | AR | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 7) |
| March 29, 2011 | AR | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| March 25, 2011 | AR | HB 1032 | Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (71 - 16) |
| March 25, 2011 | AR | HB 1958 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns In Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (65 - 23) |
| March 23, 2011 | AR | HB 2007 | Requires Driver's License Exams to be in English Only | Bill Failed - House (49 - 37) |
| March 21, 2011 | AR | HB 1797 | Requires Proof of Identity to Vote | Bill Passed - House (53 - 36) |
| March 17, 2011 | AR | HB 1936 | Dress Codes for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 19) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | AR | HB 1052 | Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | AR | HB 1002 | Capital Gains Reduction Act | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| Feb. 15, 2011 | AR | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | AR | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
| Jan. 31, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | AR | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - House (70 - 22) |
| March 13, 2009 | AR | SB 239 | Authorization for Unlicensed Assistants to Perform Simple Medical Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 29) |
| March 9, 2009 | AR | HB 1700 | Expanding Eligibility for Children's Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | HB 1464 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | SB 78 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 31) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | AR | HB 1237 | Allowing Concealed Weapons in Churches | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | AR | HB 1204 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | AR | HB 1013 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| Jan. 28, 2009 | AR | HB 1119 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups | Bill Passed - House (62 - 27) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | AR | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
| April 2, 2008 | AR | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| April 1, 2008 | AR | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 28, 2007 | AR | SB 1004 | Beer Tax | Bill Passed - House (51 - 39) |
| Jan. 29, 2007 | AR | HB 1173 | Reversal of the BMI Report Card Requirement | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| April 21, 2006 | AR | SB 16 | Science Specialist Program Funding Line Item Veto | Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 13) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 24 | Additional Education Funding Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 8) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 21 | Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | SB 18 | Property Tax Interest | Bill Failed - House (46 - 46) |
| April 5, 2006 | AR | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/19 | HB 1819 | Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency | Bill Passed - House (78 - 9) |
| 3/13 | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 44) |
| 3/12 | HB 1357 | Requires Special Elections to Be Held On Certain Days | Bill Passed - House (68 - 22) |
| 3/08 | HB 1329 | Reduces Concealed Carry License Application Fee | Bill Failed - House (31 - 52) |
| 3/06 | SB 134 | Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected | Veto Override Passed - House (56 - 33) |
| 3/05 | HB 1041 | Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget | Bill Failed - House (49 - 47) |
| 2/27 | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Veto Override Passed - House (53 - 28) |
| 2/21 | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| 2/21 | SB 134 | Prohibits an Abortion if a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected | Bill Passed - House (68 - 20) |
| 2/18 | HB 1295 | Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (69 - 21) |
| 2/15 | HB 1243 | Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun | Bill Passed - House (70 - 11) |
| 2/04 | HB 1100 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (77 - 15) |
| 2/04 | HB 1037 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - House (75 - 20) |
| 4/12 | SB 972 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (61 - 20) |
| 3/31 | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (83 - 7) |
| 3/29 | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| 3/25 | HB 1032 | Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts | Bill Passed - House (71 - 16) |
| 3/25 | HB 1958 | Authorizes Concealed Handguns In Places of Worship | Bill Passed - House (65 - 23) |
| 3/23 | HB 2007 | Requires Driver's License Exams to be in English Only | Bill Failed - House (49 - 37) |
| 3/21 | HB 1797 | Requires Proof of Identity to Vote | Bill Passed - House (53 - 36) |
| 3/17 | HB 1936 | Dress Codes for Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (73 - 19) |
| 2/16 | HB 1052 | Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| 2/16 | HB 1002 | Capital Gains Reduction Act | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 2/15 | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
| 2/07 | HB 1013 | Hiring of Unauthorized Workers | Bill Passed - House (54 - 39) |
| 2/01 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
| 1/31 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
| 1/20 | HB 1115 | Absentee Mayor | Bill Passed - House (70 - 22) |
| 3/13 | SB 239 | Authorization for Unlicensed Assistants to Perform Simple Medical Procedures | Bill Passed - House (59 - 29) |
| 3/09 | HB 1700 | Expanding Eligibility for Children's Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
| 2/25 | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| 2/25 | HB 1464 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| 2/25 | SB 78 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 31) |
| 2/11 | HB 1237 | Allowing Concealed Weapons in Churches | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
| 2/05 | HB 1204 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| 1/29 | HB 1013 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| 1/28 | HB 1119 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups | Bill Passed - House (62 - 27) |
| 1/27 | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
| 4/02 | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| 4/01 | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/28 | SB 1004 | Beer Tax | Bill Passed - House (51 - 39) |
| 1/29 | HB 1173 | Reversal of the BMI Report Card Requirement | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 4/21 | SB 16 | Science Specialist Program Funding Line Item Veto | Veto Override Passed - House (71 - 13) |
| 4/07 | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| 4/07 | SB 24 | Additional Education Funding Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 8) |
| 4/07 | SB 21 | Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| 4/06 | SB 19 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (63 - 32) |
| 4/06 | SB 18 | Property Tax Interest | Bill Failed - House (46 - 46) |
| 4/05 | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (92 - 2) |