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
May 2, 2012 AZ HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 20)
April 30, 2012 AZ HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 30, 2012 AZ HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 28, 2012 MN HF 2171 Increases Hunting and Fishing Fees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 28)
April 28, 2012 MN HF 2171 Increases Hunting and Fishing Fees Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 62)
April 26, 2012 CA AB 2405 Authorizes Low-Emission Vehicles to Use HOV Lanes Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
April 25, 2012 OH HB 473 Limits Water Withdrawal from the Great Lakes Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
April 24, 2012 TN HJR 587 Opposes the United Nations Agenda 21 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
April 19, 2012 MO HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
April 11, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
April 11, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
April 11, 2012 NE LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
April 9, 2012 AZ HB 2199 Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 15)
April 9, 2012 AK SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
April 5, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 5, 2012 AZ HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 3, 2012 AZ HB 2199 Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
March 30, 2012 MD HB 441 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (88 - 47)
March 29, 2012 National S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
March 28, 2012 ID S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 28, 2012 AZ SB 1118 Appropriates Funds for Forest Restoration Bill Failed - House (18 - 40)
March 27, 2012 GA SB 362 Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs Bill Failed - House (67 - 93)
March 26, 2012 ID H 542 Prohibits the State from Limiting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
March 26, 2012 IL HB 5789 Establishes State Park Fees Bill Passed - House (81 - 29)
March 22, 2012 ID S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
March 19, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 23)
March 15, 2012 NJ S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 15, 2012 ID H 542 Prohibits the State from Limiting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land Bill Passed - House (48 - 21)
March 15, 2012 NJ S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 15, 2012 TN HJR 587 Opposes the United Nations Agenda 21 Joint Resolution Passed - House (72 - 23)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 29)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 8, 2012 National S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
March 8, 2012 FL HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 13)
March 7, 2012 UT HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
March 1, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 16)
March 1, 2012 AZ SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 1, 2012 FL HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - House (82 - 34)
Feb. 29, 2012 National HR 1837 Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Bill Passed - House (246 - 175)
Feb. 29, 2012 National HR 1837 Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Bill Passed - House (246 - 175)
Feb. 28, 2012 IA HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 28, 2012 IA HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2012 ID S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 23, 2012 FL HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
Feb. 17, 2012 GA SB 362 Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/02 HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 20)
4/30 HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/30 HCR 2004 Establishes State Sovereignty Over Certain Natural Resources Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/28 HF 2171 Increases Hunting and Fishing Fees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 28)
4/28 HF 2171 Increases Hunting and Fishing Fees Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 62)
4/26 AB 2405 Authorizes Low-Emission Vehicles to Use HOV Lanes Bill Passed - House (49 - 25)
4/25 HB 473 Limits Water Withdrawal from the Great Lakes Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
4/24 HJR 587 Opposes the United Nations Agenda 21 Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
4/19 HB 1860 Prohibits Undisclosed Recording of Livestock Bill Passed - House (108 - 32)
4/11 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
4/11 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 15)
4/11 LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/09 HB 2199 Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 15)
4/09 SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
4/05 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/05 HB 2780 Exempts Ranch Dogs from Animal Cruelty Laws Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/03 HB 2199 Authorizes Confidential Environmental Audits by Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
3/30 HB 441 Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (88 - 47)
3/29 S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
3/28 S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/28 SB 1118 Appropriates Funds for Forest Restoration Bill Failed - House (18 - 40)
3/27 SB 362 Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs Bill Failed - House (67 - 93)
3/26 H 542 Prohibits the State from Limiting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
3/26 HB 5789 Establishes State Park Fees Bill Passed - House (81 - 29)
3/22 S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
3/19 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 23)
3/15 S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/15 H 542 Prohibits the State from Limiting the Use of Motorized Vehicles on Public Land Bill Passed - House (48 - 21)
3/15 S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/15 HJR 587 Opposes the United Nations Agenda 21 Joint Resolution Passed - House (72 - 23)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8)
3/09 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37)
3/09 HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 29)
3/09 HB 1263 Health Inspection Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/08 S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
3/08 HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
3/07 HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 13)
3/07 HB 187 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
3/05 HB 717 Penalties for Owners of Dogs Involved in a Second Assault Bill Failed - House (82 - 73)
3/01 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 16)
3/01 SB 1507 Prohibits Implementation of the United Nations Rio Declaration Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/01 HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - House (82 - 34)
2/29 HR 1837 Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Bill Passed - House (246 - 175)
2/29 HR 1837 Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Bill Passed - House (246 - 175)
2/28 HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
2/28 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/28 HF 589 Prohibits Obtaining Employment at Agriculture Facilities Under False Pretenses Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
2/24 S 1256 Authorizes the Auction of Big-Game Tags Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/23 HB 5001 2012-2013 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6)
2/17 SB 362 Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12)

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