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 23, 2015 | MN | HF 1027 | Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| Feb. 26, 2015 | MN | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| May 15, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 62) |
| May 13, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25) |
| May 8, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 24) |
| May 7, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 24) |
| 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) |
| May 20, 2013 | MN | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (68 - 66) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| May 15, 2013 | MN | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32) |
| May 13, 2013 | MN | HF 1054 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30) |
| May 9, 2013 | MN | HF 1054 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (75 - 59) |
| May 1, 2013 | MN | SF 723 | Authorizes In-State Tuition and Financial Aid for Undocumented College Students | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| April 16, 2013 | MN | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| April 16, 2013 | MN | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| April 16, 2013 | MN | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| May 21, 2011 | MN | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62) |
| May 17, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 13, 2011 | MN | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| May 11, 2011 | MN | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |
| May 12, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 12, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 11, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| May 11, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| March 11, 2010 | MN | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44) |
| March 11, 2010 | MN | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| March 1, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | MN | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| April 23, 2009 | MN | SF 2082 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 62) |
| April 20, 2009 | MN | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| April 16, 2009 | MN | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| April 16, 2009 | MN | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| May 15, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| May 15, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| May 15, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/23 | HF 1027 | Amends Minimum Wage for Employees Receiving Gratuities | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| 2/26 | SF 174 | Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Salary Increases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 5/15 | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 62) |
| 5/13 | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25) |
| 5/08 | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 24) |
| 5/07 | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 24) |
| 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) |
| 5/20 | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (68 - 66) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/19 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - Senate (43 - 23) |
| 5/17 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| 5/17 | HF 1823 | Establishes Council to Review Legislative Pay Changes | Amendment Adopted - House (69 - 62) |
| 5/15 | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 32) |
| 5/13 | HF 1054 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30) |
| 5/09 | HF 1054 | Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (75 - 59) |
| 5/01 | SF 723 | Authorizes In-State Tuition and Financial Aid for Undocumented College Students | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| 4/16 | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| 4/16 | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| 4/16 | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
| 5/21 | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62) |
| 5/17 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/13 | HF 1426 | Congressional Redistricting Plan | Bill Passed - House (71 - 61) |
| 5/11 | SF 1308 | Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage | Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27) |
| 5/12 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/12 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/11 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| 5/11 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| 3/11 | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44) |
| 3/11 | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| 3/01 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47) |
| 2/25 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| 2/09 | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 5/18 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 5/18 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 4/23 | SF 2082 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 62) |
| 4/20 | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| 4/17 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| 4/17 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| 4/16 | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| 4/16 | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| 5/15 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/15 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/15 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| 5/12 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |