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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 6, 2013 | AK | HB 80 | Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits | Bill Passed - House (27 - 10) |
Feb. 4, 2013 | UT | HB 34 | Authorizes "In God We Trust" on License Plates | Bill Passed - House (64 - 9) |
Feb. 7, 2013 | IN | HB 1005 | Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (86 - 13) |
Feb. 13, 2013 | ID | HB 55 | Authorizes Telecommunications Businesses to Solicit Existing Customers | Bill Passed - House (65 - 5) |
March 7, 2013 | IL | SB 622 | Increases Physician License Fees | Bill Passed - House (65 - 49) |
Feb. 14, 2013 | NJ | SCR 1 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 31) |
Feb. 18, 2013 | CO | HB 1229 | Requires Background Checks For Private Gun Sales and Transfers | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | NH | HB 370 | Repeals the Education Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (188 - 151) |
Feb. 21, 2013 | AZ | HB 2147 | Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 55) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | ND | HB 1362 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
March 4, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (72 - 58) |
March 7, 2013 | WI | SB 1 | Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
March 19, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
March 15, 2013 | CO | HB 1229 | Requires Background Checks for Private Gun Sales and Transfers | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 27) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | GA | HB 178 | Requires Pain Management Clinics to be Licensed | Bill Passed - House (150 - 15) |
March 21, 2013 | MI | HB 4369 | Expands the Education Achievement Authority | Bill Passed - House (57 - 53) |
March 6, 2013 | NY | A 5424 | Establishes a Two-Year Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing | Bill Passed - House (103 - 40) |
March 6, 2013 | MS | SB 2687 | Prohibits Local Government Management of Nutrition Labeling | Bill Passed - House (92 - 26) |
March 13, 2013 | ID | H 248 | Establishes Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (41 - 29) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | OK | HB 1999 | Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses | Bill Passed - House (82 - 14) |
March 25, 2013 | MD | HB 228 | Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
March 4, 2013 | GA | HB 125 | Amends State Immigration Policy | Bill Passed - House (116 - 49) |
April 3, 2013 | CT | SB 1160 | Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (105 - 44) |
April 2, 2013 | MD | SB 183 | Authorizes Tax Credits for Certain Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - House (108 - 31) |
March 21, 2013 | PA | HB 790 | Requires the State to Privatize Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (105 - 90) |
April 13, 2013 | AK | SB 21 | Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure | Bill Passed - House (27 - 12) |
April 13, 2013 | AK | SB 21 | Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure | Bill Passed - House (24 - 15) |
March 6, 2013 | WI | AB 15 | Authorizes Work-Share Programs | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
April 6, 2013 | AR | HB 1536 | Authorizes Sale of Unpasteurized Whole Milk | Bill Passed - House (60 - 19) |
March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 13 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days | Bill Passed - House (50 - 46) |
April 17, 2013 | AR | SB 1020 | Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds | Bill Passed - House (70 - 23) |
April 17, 2013 | IL | HB 1 | Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (61 - 57) |
April 9, 2013 | CO | HB 1269 | Amends Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Procedures | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
March 22, 2013 | ID | S 1117 | Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 18) |
April 20, 2013 | MT | HB 297 | Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 37) |
May 8, 2013 | National | HR 1406 | Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (223 - 204) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 71 | Repeals Requirement that Secretary of the Army Approve All Keystone XL Pipeline Permit Applications | Amendment Rejected - House (182 - 234) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 67 | Requires a Finding be Added Concerning Oil Sand Crudes | Amendment Rejected - House (146 - 269) |
May 22, 2013 | National | H Amdt 75 | Requires All Oil and Refined Fuels Transported Through the Keystone XL Pipeline to be Used Only in The United States | Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 255) |
May 17, 2013 | National | HR 1062 | SEC Regulatory Accountability Act | Bill Passed - House (235 - 161) |
April 18, 2013 | NV | AB 126 | Requires Restaurant Chains to Disclose Calorie Counts | Bill Passed - House (25 - 14) |
May 29, 2013 | CT | SB 387 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 53) |
May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 1639 | Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets | Bill Passed - House (67 - 49) |
April 8, 2013 | AZ | SB 1439 | Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender | Bill Passed - House (36 - 22) |
May 4, 2013 | TX | HB 852 | Prohibits the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - House (87 - 42) |
May 4, 2013 | TX | HB 852 | Prohibits the Sale of Shark Fins | Bill Passed - House (87 - 42) |
May 30, 2013 | OR | SB 692 | Requires Certain Electronics to Meet Energy Efficiency Standards | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
May 8, 2013 | CO | HB 1318 | Establishes Sales Taxes for Retail Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
May 23, 2013 | National | HR 1911 | Smarter Solutions for Students Act | Bill Passed - House (221 - 198) |
May 3, 2013 | MN | HF 92 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (68 - 62) |
May 30, 2013 | CA | AB 10 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (45 - 27) |
May 21, 2013 | OK | SB 550 | Repeals the Retail Sales Price Requirement | Conference Report Adopted - House (65 - 15) |
May 8, 2013 | TX | HB 500 | Expands Franchise Tax Exemption for Certain Businesses | Bill Passed - House (117 - 24) |
May 7, 2013 | CT | HB 5277 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - House (117 - 26) |
March 21, 2013 | NH | HB 443 | Prohibits Contracts with Private Entities for Inmate Custody | Bill Passed - House (197 - 136) |
May 20, 2013 | MN | SF 778 | Authorizes the Unionization of Family Child Care Providers | Bill Passed - House (68 - 66) |
May 6, 2013 | PA | HB 440 | Amends Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (129 - 65) |
May 8, 2013 | MO | SB 114 | Amends Homebrewed Beer and Liquor Distributor Regulations | Bill Passed - House (110 - 48) |
May 1, 2013 | FL | HB 7007 | Exempts Manufacturing Equipment from Sales Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 48) |
April 8, 2013 | AR | HB 1870 | Appropriates Funds for Certain Steel Mills | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
May 6, 2013 | LA | HB 45 | Establishes Licenses for the In-State Sale and Manufacture of Firearms | Bill Passed - House (77 - 20) |
June 18, 2013 | OR | HB 3162 | Requires Manufacturers to Remove Certain Chemicals from Children's Products | Bill Passed - House (39 - 21) |
Sept. 11, 2013 | MO | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Veto Override Failed - House (94 - 67) |
May 9, 2013 | MO | HB 253 | Authorizes Income Tax Cuts | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 51) |
July 25, 2013 | National | HR 2218 | Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (265 - 155) |
June 24, 2013 | NJ | S 2723 | Amends Firearm Identification Card Requirements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 34) |
Oct. 29, 2013 | National | HR 2374 | Retail Investor Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 166) |
Oct. 29, 2013 | National | HR 2374 | Retail Investor Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 166) |
Oct. 30, 2013 | National | HR 992 | Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (292 - 122) |
Oct. 30, 2013 | National | HR 992 | Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act | Bill Passed - House (292 - 122) |
April 17, 2013 | TN | SB 1248 | Requires Disclosure of Photographic Evidence of Animal Abuse | Bill Passed - House (50 - 43) |
Dec. 4, 2013 | National | HR 1105 | Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act | Bill Passed - House (254 - 159) |
Dec. 5, 2013 | National | HR 3309 | Innovation Act | Bill Passed - House (325 - 91) |