Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 5, 2014 SD HB 1229 Requires Certain Individuals to be Reported to the National Background Check System Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1001 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 10)
March 5, 2014 SD HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
March 4, 2014 SD HB 1123 Extends the Alcoholic Beverage Service Hours of Certain Hotels Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
Feb. 19, 2014 SD SB 180 Increases Maximum Number of Video Lottery Machines Authorized in a Licensed Establishment Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2014 SD SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2014 SD SB 98 Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 4, 2014 SD SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Jan. 29, 2014 SD SB 76 Amends Self Defense Against a Mountain Lion Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 25, 2013 SD SB 115 Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13)
March 6, 2013 SD SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 5, 2013 SD HB 1142 Authorizes Patients to Use a Health Care Provider Outside of Their Insurance Network Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
Feb. 28, 2013 SD HB 1237 Prohibits Weekends and Holidays from Being Considered Part of the 72-Hour Waiting Period Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 27, 2013 SD HB 1087 Authorizes School Sentinel Programs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 19, 2013 SD SB 142 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2013 SD SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 6, 2013 SD SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2013 SD SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 19, 2012 SD SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1248 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
Feb. 27, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2012 SD HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Jan. 30, 2012 SD HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/05 HB 1229 Requires Certain Individuals to be Reported to the National Background Check System Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/05 HJR 1001 Authorizes Additional Types of Games in Deadwood City Casinos Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 10)
3/05 HJR 1002 Increases Legislative Term Limit Length Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (12 - 23)
3/04 HB 1123 Extends the Alcoholic Beverage Service Hours of Certain Hotels Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
2/19 SB 180 Increases Maximum Number of Video Lottery Machines Authorized in a Licensed Establishment Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/12 SB 142 Increases Salary for State Legislators Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/10 SB 98 Authorizes Certain Municipalities to Increase Occupancy Tax Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/04 SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
1/29 SB 76 Amends Self Defense Against a Mountain Lion Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/25 SB 115 Increases Commercial Fertilizer Inspection Fee Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 13)
3/06 SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/05 HB 1142 Authorizes Patients to Use a Health Care Provider Outside of Their Insurance Network Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
2/28 HB 1237 Prohibits Weekends and Holidays from Being Considered Part of the 72-Hour Waiting Period Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/27 HB 1087 Authorizes School Sentinel Programs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/19 SB 142 Prohibits Texting While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/19 SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/06 SB 107 Limits Drivers With Restricted Permits To 1 Passenger Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/06 SB 106 Prohibits Minors from Using a Cell Phone While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/19 SB 157 Prohibits Cities From Limiting Outdoor Digital Billboards Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/28 HB 1248 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of a Handgun Without a Permit Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
2/28 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/28 HB 1253 Prohibits State Enforcement of Religious Codes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
2/27 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/27 HB 1206 Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
1/30 HCR 1004 Urging Academic Study of the Bible in Public Schools Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 10)

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