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 17, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 59) |
| May 11, 2015 | MN | SF 455 | Amends Elections Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 10, 2015 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| May 7, 2015 | MN | SF 86 | Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19) |
| May 4, 2015 | MN | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
| April 29, 2015 | MN | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - House (74 - 58) |
| April 28, 2015 | MN | SF 1458 | 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (72 - 60) |
| April 27, 2015 | MN | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27) |
| April 25, 2015 | MN | HF 844 | 2015-2017 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 61) |
| April 23, 2015 | MN | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
| April 21, 2015 | MN | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (73 - 59) |
| March 23, 2015 | MN | HF 1027 | Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| March 5, 2015 | MN | HF 2 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Layoffs | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MN | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 22) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 40) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 16) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 55) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 2293 | Amends Regulations for Payday Lenders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 25) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 17) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
| May 15, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 62) |
| May 15, 2014 | MN | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - House (92 - 40) |
| May 15, 2014 | MN | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - House (82 - 50) |
| May 13, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25) |
| May 9, 2014 | MN | SF 1740 | Requires a "Kill Switch" on a Cell Phone | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
| May 8, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 24) |
| May 8, 2014 | MN | SF 1740 | Requires a "Kill Switch" on a Cell Phone | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| May 7, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 24) |
| May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
| May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| May 1, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - House (69 - 58) |
| April 29, 2014 | MN | HF 2096 | Authorizes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| April 24, 2014 | MN | HF 2293 | Establishes Regulations for Consumer Short-term Lenders. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| April 23, 2014 | MN | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| April 10, 2014 | MN | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 60) |
| April 9, 2014 | MN | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31) |
| April 8, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 63) |
| April 3, 2014 | MN | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 31) |
| March 21, 2014 | MN | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 2) |
| March 21, 2014 | MN | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| May 20, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| May 20, 2013 | MN | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (68 - 66) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/17 | HF 844 | Prohibits Students from Using Facilities Designated for the Opposite Sex | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 59) |
| 5/11 | SF 455 | Amends Elections Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 28) |
| 5/10 | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 5/07 | SF 86 | Amends Procedures for Data Collected by Police Surveillance Equipment | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 19) |
| 5/04 | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 25) |
| 4/29 | HF 848 | Amends Income Tax | Bill Passed - House (74 - 58) |
| 4/28 | SF 1458 | 2015-2016 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (72 - 60) |
| 4/27 | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 27) |
| 4/25 | HF 844 | 2015-2017 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 61) |
| 4/23 | SF 878 | Authorizes Gun Silencers and Expands Ex-Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 22) |
| 4/21 | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (73 - 59) |
| 3/23 | HF 1027 | Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| 3/05 | HF 2 | Amends Requirements for Teacher Layoffs | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| 2/26 | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 5/16 | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 22) |
| 5/16 | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 40) |
| 5/16 | SF 2470 | Establishes a Patient Registry for Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 16) |
| 5/16 | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 55) |
| 5/16 | HF 2293 | Amends Regulations for Payday Lenders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 25) |
| 5/16 | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 17) |
| 5/16 | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
| 5/15 | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 62) |
| 5/15 | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - House (92 - 40) |
| 5/15 | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - House (82 - 50) |
| 5/13 | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25) |
| 5/09 | SF 1740 | Requires a "Kill Switch" on a Cell Phone | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
| 5/08 | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 24) |
| 5/08 | SF 1740 | Requires a "Kill Switch" on a Cell Phone | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 5/07 | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 24) |
| 5/02 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
| 5/02 | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| 5/01 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - House (69 - 58) |
| 4/29 | HF 2096 | Authorizes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 4/24 | HF 2293 | Establishes Regulations for Consumer Short-term Lenders. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 4/23 | SF 2047 | Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 4/10 | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 60) |
| 4/09 | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31) |
| 4/08 | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 63) |
| 4/03 | HF 826 | Requires Schools to Establish Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 31) |
| 3/21 | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (126 - 2) |
| 3/21 | HF 1777 | Amends Tax Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (58 - 5) |
| 5/20 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 5/20 | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (68 - 66) |
| 5/19 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| 5/19 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 26) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/18 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HF 630 | 2013-2015 Biennium K-12 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 56) |
| 5/17 | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 22) |