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 13, 2017 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes a Health Insurance Cost-Sharing Program | Bill Passed - House (78 - 53) |
| June 12, 2015 | MN | SF 5 | 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30) |
| May 18, 2015 | MN | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 10, 2015 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 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 21, 2015 | MN | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (73 - 59) |
| May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 2293 | Amends Regulations for Payday Lenders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 25) |
| April 24, 2014 | MN | HF 2293 | Establishes Regulations for Consumer Short-term Lenders. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| May 20, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| May 19, 2013 | MN | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| May 18, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| May 17, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| May 7, 2013 | MN | HF 956 | Amends Solar Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| April 25, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| April 22, 2013 | MN | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| Feb. 14, 2013 | MN | HF 9 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| May 10, 2012 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 9, 2012 | MN | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 60) |
| May 8, 2012 | MN | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 33) |
| May 7, 2012 | MN | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| May 7, 2012 | MN | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Bill Passed - House (99 - 32) |
| May 7, 2012 | MN | HF 1485 | Authorizes New Vikings Stadium | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| April 30, 2012 | MN | HF 2795 | Expands Gambling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 34) |
| April 28, 2012 | MN | HF 2795 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18) |
| March 27, 2012 | MN | HF 657 | Amends Ticket Sales Practices | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| Feb. 29, 2012 | MN | HF 1467 | Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47) |
| Feb. 23, 2012 | MN | HF 1467 | Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| Jan. 30, 2012 | MN | Anderson Nomination | Confirmation of Ellen Anderson as Public Utilities Commissioner | Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 37) |
| July 19, 2011 | MN | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27) |
| July 19, 2011 | MN | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (71 - 57) |
| May 19, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63) |
| May 18, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 11, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (76 - 54) |
| April 6, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 62) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| May 17, 2010 | MN | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| May 17, 2010 | MN | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| May 5, 2010 | MN | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| May 4, 2010 | MN | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 54) |
| April 28, 2010 | MN | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (73 - 60) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/13 | HF 5 | Establishes a Health Insurance Cost-Sharing Program | Bill Passed - House (78 - 53) |
| 6/12 | SF 5 | 2015-2017 Biennium Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 29) |
| 5/18 | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 30) |
| 5/18 | HF 846 | Requires 50 Foot Buffers around Certain Waterways | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/10 | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 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) |
| 4/21 | HF 4 | 2015-2017 Biennium Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (73 - 59) |
| 5/16 | HF 2293 | Amends Regulations for Payday Lenders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 25) |
| 4/24 | HF 2293 | Establishes Regulations for Consumer Short-term Lenders. | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 5/20 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 30) |
| 5/19 | HF 677 | Amends State Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 65) |
| 5/18 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
| 5/17 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 61) |
| 5/07 | HF 956 | Amends Solar Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (70 - 63) |
| 4/25 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 4/22 | HF 1233 | 2013-2015 Biennium Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 2/14 | HF 9 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| 5/10 | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/09 | HF 2958 | Authorizes New Viking Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 60) |
| 5/08 | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 33) |
| 5/07 | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22) |
| 5/07 | HF 1752 | Authorizes Bonds for Construction Works | Bill Passed - House (99 - 32) |
| 5/07 | HF 1485 | Authorizes New Vikings Stadium | Bill Passed - House (73 - 58) |
| 4/30 | HF 2795 | Expands Gambling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 34) |
| 4/28 | HF 2795 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18) |
| 3/27 | HF 657 | Amends Ticket Sales Practices | Bill Passed - House (83 - 50) |
| 2/29 | HF 1467 | Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 47) |
| 2/23 | HF 1467 | Expands the Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| 1/30 | Anderson Nomination | Confirmation of Ellen Anderson as Public Utilities Commissioner | Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 37) |
| 7/19 | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 27) |
| 7/19 | HF 25 | 2011-2013 Health and Human Services Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (71 - 57) |
| 5/19 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 63) |
| 5/18 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/11 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (76 - 54) |
| 4/06 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (70 - 62) |
| 2/17 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| 2/02 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| 1/24 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| 5/17 | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 5/17 | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| 5/05 | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| 5/04 | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 54) |
| 4/28 | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
| 2/11 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 5/18 | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19) |
| 5/18 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 5/18 | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (73 - 60) |