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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2016 | LA | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate |
| May 24, 2016 | LA | SB 436 | Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 16, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 4, 2016 | LA | SB 127 | Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| April 20, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| April 19, 2016 | LA | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 18, 2016 | LA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| April 12, 2016 | LA | SB 254 | Expands Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| April 4, 2016 | LA | SB 25 | Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| March 29, 2016 | LA | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| March 29, 2016 | LA | SB 164 | Amends Absentee Voting Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| June 3, 2015 | LA | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| May 12, 2015 | LA | SB 219 | Amends Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| May 4, 2015 | LA | SB 143 | Authorizes Pharmacies to Distribute Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| April 29, 2015 | LA | SB 48 | Amends the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| May 30, 2014 | LA | SB 469 | Prohibits Government Entities from Pursuing Cause of Action under the Coastal Management Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 28, 2014 | LA | HB 953 | Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 21, 2014 | LA | HB 1091 | Prohibits the Transportation of Dogs in the Bed of a Pickup Truck on Interstates | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| May 14, 2014 | LA | HB 388 | Requires Abortion Providers to Have Hospital Admitting Privileges | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
| April 22, 2014 | LA | SB 330 | Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| April 21, 2014 | LA | SB 330 | Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 21) |
| April 7, 2014 | LA | S Amdt 2081 | Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29) |
| June 6, 2013 | LA | HB 103 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Motion Rejected - Senate (24 - 11) |
| June 4, 2013 | LA | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| May 30, 2013 | LA | SB 162 | Authorizes Surrogacy Contracts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 3) |
| May 22, 2013 | LA | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| April 17, 2013 | LA | SB 147 | Prohibits the Use of Social Media While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| June 3, 2012 | LA | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 31, 2012 | LA | SB 708 | Amends Abortion Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| May 30, 2012 | LA | HB 61 | Amends State Workers Pensions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8) |
| May 29, 2012 | LA | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| May 29, 2012 | LA | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 22, 2012 | LA | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| May 22, 2012 | LA | HB 543 | Parole Eligibility for Nonviolent Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 14, 2012 | LA | HB 1072 | Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 10, 2012 | LA | SB 740 | Limits Cost of Living Adjustments for Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 9, 2012 | LA | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| April 4, 2012 | LA | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 21, 2011 | LA | HB 7 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| June 19, 2011 | LA | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| June 2, 2011 | LA | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 1, 2011 | LA | SB 133 | Amends the Smoke-free Air Act | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22) |
| May 31, 2011 | LA | SB 108 | Limits Tax and Bond Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 25, 2011 | LA | SB 6 | Teacher Retirement | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
| April 13, 2011 | LA | HB 6 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| April 11, 2011 | LA | HB 1 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| June 16, 2010 | LA | HB 1339 | Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/30 | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate |
| 5/24 | SB 436 | Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| 5/16 | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 5/04 | SB 127 | Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 4/20 | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 4/19 | SB 271 | Expands Eligibility for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/18 | SB 29 | Authorizes the Sale of Raw Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 4/12 | SB 254 | Expands Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 4/04 | SB 25 | Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| 3/29 | SB 227 | Authorizes REAL ID Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 3/29 | SB 164 | Amends Absentee Voting Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| 6/03 | HB 149 | Amends Penalties for Marijuana Possesion | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 5/12 | SB 219 | Amends Equal Pay Protections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 5/04 | SB 143 | Authorizes Pharmacies to Distribute Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 4/29 | SB 48 | Amends the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 5/30 | SB 469 | Prohibits Government Entities from Pursuing Cause of Action under the Coastal Management Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/28 | HB 953 | Extends Timeline for Implementation of Common Core Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 5/21 | HB 1091 | Prohibits the Transportation of Dogs in the Bed of a Pickup Truck on Interstates | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| 5/14 | HB 388 | Requires Abortion Providers to Have Hospital Admitting Privileges | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3) |
| 4/22 | SB 330 | Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 4/21 | SB 330 | Prohibits Individuals from Using an Unmanned Aircraft to Capture Certain Images or Wireless Data | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 21) |
| 4/07 | S Amdt 2081 | Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29) |
| 6/06 | HB 103 | Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Possession | Motion Rejected - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 6/04 | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 5/30 | SB 162 | Authorizes Surrogacy Contracts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 5/22 | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 4/17 | SB 147 | Prohibits the Use of Social Media While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| 6/03 | SCR 99 | Funding for Public and Private Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/31 | SB 708 | Amends Abortion Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| 5/30 | HB 61 | Amends State Workers Pensions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 5/29 | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
| 5/29 | HB 209 | Reduces Voting Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 5/22 | HB 292 | School Board Member Term Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 5/22 | HB 543 | Parole Eligibility for Nonviolent Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/14 | HB 1072 | Tax Incentives for a Franchise of the NBA | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 5/10 | SB 740 | Limits Cost of Living Adjustments for Pensions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/09 | SB 303 | Limits Gun Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 4/04 | HB 974 | Amends Teacher Tenure Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 4/04 | HB 976 | Amends School Voucher Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/21 | HB 7 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| 6/19 | HB 342 | Requires Certain Employers to Use E-Verify | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 6/02 | HB 591 | Permanent Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 6/01 | SB 133 | Amends the Smoke-free Air Act | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 22) |
| 5/31 | SB 108 | Limits Tax and Bond Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/25 | SB 6 | Teacher Retirement | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19) |
| 4/13 | HB 6 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 4/11 | HB 1 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| 6/20 | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 6/18 | HB 1171 | Performance Agreements for Colleges and Universities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 6/16 | HB 1339 | Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |