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 20, 2019 | LA | SB 172 | Requires Individuals to be At Least 16 Years Old to Marry | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| May 15, 2018 | LA | SB 389 | Amends Probation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 6) |
| May 10, 2018 | LA | HB 206 | Authorizes Employment of Convicted Felons in Insurance Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| June 6, 2017 | LA | SB 139 | Establishes New Parole Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 16, 2017 | LA | SB 111 | Requires Identification from Parents for Minors to Obtain an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| May 24, 2016 | LA | SB 436 | Prohibits Discrimination on Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 25) |
| May 4, 2016 | LA | HB 1148 | Prohibits Sanctuary Cities from Receiving Certain State Funds | Bill Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| May 4, 2016 | LA | HB 453 | Requires Sanctuary Cities to be Liable for Damages Caused by Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (65 - 20) |
| April 4, 2016 | LA | SB 25 | Authorizes Legislature to Introduce Fiscal Bills Every Year | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24) |
| June 4, 2013 | LA | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| June 3, 2013 | LA | SB 153 | Requires Equal Pay for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (86 - 12) |
| June 3, 2013 | LA | SB 188 | Increases Judicial Pay | Bill Passed - House (79 - 18) |
| June 3, 2013 | LA | SB 5 | Repeals Mandatory Retirement Age for Judges | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 33) |
| June 3, 2013 | LA | SB 5 | Repeals Mandatory Retirement Age for Judges | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 33) |
| June 2, 2013 | LA | SB 162 | Authorizes Surrogacy Contracts | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 12) |
| 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) |
| May 15, 2012 | LA | HB 380 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (65 - 26) |
| May 15, 2012 | LA | HB 380 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (65 - 26) |
| 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 7, 2011 | LA | HB 138 | Parole Eligibility for Elderly Inmates | Bill Passed - House (65 - 25) |
| May 17, 2011 | LA | HB 7 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| April 13, 2011 | LA | HB 6 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 35) |
| 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) |
| April 11, 2011 | LA | SB 1 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| June 16, 2010 | LA | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| June 16, 2010 | LA | HB 1339 | Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 14, 2010 | LA | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 57 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Presidential Line-Item Veto | Resolution Passed - House (77 - 12) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 65 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Debt Reduction Requirements | Resolution Passed - House (74 - 19) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 66 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Federal Budget Restrictions | Resolution Passed - House (74 - 21) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 67 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Limiting Congressional Authority | Resolution Passed - House (59 - 32) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 64 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Limiting Congressional Authority | Resolution Passed - House (52 - 32) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 62 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Taxation Requirements | Resolution Passed - House (68 - 21) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 59 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Legislation Restrictions | Resolution Passed - House (76 - 13) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 69 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Limiting Congressional Authority | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 29) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 68 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for a Balanced Budget Amendment | Resolution Passed - House (69 - 21) |
| June 7, 2010 | LA | SB 731 | Authorizing Attorney General Contingency Fee Contracts. | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 7, 2010 | LA | SB 731 | Authorizing Attorney General Contingency Fee Contracts. | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | LA | SB 593 | Governor's Office Records | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
| May 27, 2010 | LA | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23) |
| May 26, 2010 | LA | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 26, 2010 | LA | Amdt 4002 | Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| May 26, 2010 | LA | Amdt 4002 | Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
| May 25, 2010 | LA | SB 293 | Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 24, 2010 | LA | HB 1390 | Limiting Legislative Per Diem Pay | Bill Failed - House (51 - 31) |
| May 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| May 17, 2010 | LA | HB 1478 | Unpaid holidays for state employees | Bill Failed - House (23 - 68) |
| May 13, 2010 | LA | HB 554 | Prohibiting Release on Own Recognizance for Domestic Abuse Suspects | Bill Passed - House (63 - 20) |
| May 12, 2010 | LA | HB 1339 | Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders | Bill Passed - House (59 - 34) |
| May 10, 2010 | LA | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Bill Passed - House (68 - 26) |
| May 4, 2010 | LA | HCR 144 | Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig | Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32) |
| April 28, 2010 | LA | HB 617 | Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
| April 28, 2010 | LA | HB 1259 | Prohibiting "Cyber-Bullying" | Bill Passed - House (78 - 16) |
| April 27, 2010 | LA | HB 251 | Superintendent of Education Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (75 - 16) |
| April 19, 2010 | LA | HB 224 | Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees | Bill Failed - House (42 - 56) |
| April 14, 2010 | LA | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| June 24, 2009 | LA | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-480 | Making Records of the Governor Public | Amendment Rejected - House (47 - 50) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | Amendment # B-483 | Shortening the Period Before Budget Records are Public | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 54) |
| June 22, 2009 | LA | SB 278 | Governor Records Disclosed | Bill Passed - House (62 - 41) |
| June 21, 2009 | LA | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| June 9, 2009 | LA | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| June 8, 2009 | LA | HB 316 | Property Tax Exemption | Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63) |
| June 8, 2009 | LA | HB 316 | Property Tax Exemption | Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 296 | Retirement Debt Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| May 21, 2009 | LA | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| May 21, 2009 | LA | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |