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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:
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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 12, 2024 TN HB 878 Authorizes Marriage Clerks to Refuse to Perform a Marriage Ceremony Against Their Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
June 2, 2023 CT HB 6569 Increases the Minimum Age to Marry to 18 Years Old Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
March 20, 2023 MD SB 36 Repeals Courts Ability to Grant Limited Divorces and Alters Grounds for Absolute Divorce Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
March 9, 2023 OR HB 2032 Expands "Domestic Partnership" Eligibility Under Family Fairness Act (27 - 2)
March 4, 2022 FL SB 1796 Establishes New Laws Governing Alimony Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
March 3, 2020 VA HB 623 Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms (24 - 16)
March 21, 2019 AL SB 69 Repeals Marriage Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 0)
April 12, 2018 NJ S 427 Increases Minimum Age for Marriage to 18 (30 - 5)
March 9, 2017 UT HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
Jan. 10, 2017 ND SB 2043 Amends Marriage Definition and Terminology Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 31)
March 15, 2016 AL SB 143 Amends Marriage License Practices Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
March 7, 2016 UT SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
Feb. 18, 2016 KY SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Feb. 12, 2016 VA SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
June 1, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
May 19, 2015 AL SB 377 Requires Marrying Couples to Sign a Marriage Contract Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
May 12, 2015 TX SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 12, 2015 UT SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 9, 2015 UT SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 25, 2015 NC SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Nov. 12, 2013 HI SB 1 - HD 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
Nov. 5, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
June 13, 2013 WA HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
May 13, 2013 MN HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
May 7, 2013 DE HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 24, 2013 RI H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
April 22, 2013 NV SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
April 4, 2013 FL SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
March 13, 2013 CO HB 1166 Repeals Classification of Adultery as a Criminal Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2013 CO SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 15, 2012 MD SB 1302 Increases Tax Rates for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
March 15, 2012 MD SB 523 Increases State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Feb. 23, 2012 MD HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 13, 2012 NJ S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 1, 2012 WA SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
Jan. 9, 2012 NJ A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Dec. 15, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
April 7, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
March 24, 2011 CO SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 2, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
Feb. 23, 2011 MD SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2011 UT SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
Feb. 18, 2011 WY HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 16, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
Jan. 28, 2011 HI SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Jan. 27, 2011 WY SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Dec. 18, 2010 National HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
June 7, 2006 National S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
July 21, 2000 National HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
July 29, 1998 National S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/12 HB 878 Authorizes Marriage Clerks to Refuse to Perform a Marriage Ceremony Against Their Beliefs Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
6/02 HB 6569 Increases the Minimum Age to Marry to 18 Years Old Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 0)
3/20 SB 36 Repeals Courts Ability to Grant Limited Divorces and Alters Grounds for Absolute Divorce Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
3/09 HB 2032 Expands "Domestic Partnership" Eligibility Under Family Fairness Act (27 - 2)
3/04 SB 1796 Establishes New Laws Governing Alimony Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
3/03 HB 623 Repeals the State Statutory Same-Sex Marriage Ban and Amends State Gender-Neutral Terms (24 - 16)
3/21 SB 69 Repeals Marriage Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 0)
4/12 S 427 Increases Minimum Age for Marriage to 18 (30 - 5)
3/09 HB 99 Amends Bigamy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 14)
1/10 SB 2043 Amends Marriage Definition and Terminology Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 31)
3/15 SB 143 Amends Marriage License Practices Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
3/07 SB 179 Authorizes State to Enforce Payment of Child Support Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
2/18 SB 5 Establishes Separate Marriage License for Same-Sex Couples Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
2/12 SB 41 Prohibits State from Requiring Religious Organizations to Solemnize Certain Marriages Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
6/01 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
5/19 SB 377 Requires Marrying Couples to Sign a Marriage Contract Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
5/12 SB 2065 Authorizes Religious Organizations to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/12 SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/09 SB 297 Authorizes Certain Government Employees to Decline to Perform Marriage Services Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/25 SB 2 Authorizes Officials to Not Perform Certain Marriage Duties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
11/12 SB 1 - HD 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
11/05 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
6/13 HB 2075 Repeals Marital Trust Estate Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
5/13 HF 1054 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 30)
5/07 HB 75 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/24 H 5015 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
4/22 SJR 13 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
4/04 SB 718 Amends Alimony Provisions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
3/13 HB 1166 Repeals Classification of Adultery as a Criminal Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/14 SB 10 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
2/11 SB 11 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/15 SB 1302 Increases Tax Rates for Certain Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
3/15 SB 523 Increases State Income Tax Rates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
2/23 HB 438 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/13 S 1 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/01 SB 6239 Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
1/09 A 4366 Amending Annulment Requirements and Eliminating Marriage Wait Period Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
12/15 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
6/24 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
5/11 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
4/07 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
3/24 SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/02 HB 74 Prohibiting Recognition of Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages Conference Report Rejected - Senate (14 - 16)
2/23 SB 116 Civil Marriage Protection Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
2/22 SB 96 Alimony Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 17)
2/18 HB 74 Prohibiting the Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
2/16 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 5)
1/28 SB 232 Civil Unions for All Couples Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
1/27 SJ 5 Definition of Marriage Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
12/18 HR 2965 Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (65 - 31)
6/07 S J Res 1 Same Sex Marriage Resolution Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 48)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
7/21 HR 4810 Marriage Tax Relief Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34)
7/29 S Amdt 3359 Married Tax Filing Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (48 - 51)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
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