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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 19, 2013 AK HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
Feb. 19, 2013 AK HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
Feb. 9, 2013 MT SB 96 Reduces Business Equipment Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
Feb. 14, 2013 MN HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2013 IL SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY SB 50 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Farming Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
Feb. 14, 2013 KY SB 88 Repeals Regulations on Telephone Utility Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
March 11, 2013 CO HB 1228 Establishes a Background Check Fee Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 20, 2013 OK SB 375 Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2013 IL SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
March 7, 2013 MN HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28)
Feb. 27, 2013 WI SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
March 14, 2013 KS HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
May 22, 2013 OH HB 7 Prohibits Internet Cafes Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 15, 2013 CO HB 1229 Requires Background Checks for Private Gun Sales and Transfers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14)
March 13, 2013 NC SB 81 Establishes the Charlotte Regional Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Dec. 11, 2013 MI HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
March 4, 2013 NM SB 416 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
March 23, 2013 National S Amdt 139 Prohibits the United States From Entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46)
March 25, 2013 IA SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
March 21, 2013 ID H 248 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 26, 2013 OK HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
March 26, 2013 OK HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
March 27, 2013 MD SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 26, 2013 IN HB 1293 Establishes Micro-Distiller Permits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
April 3, 2013 CT SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
April 14, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
March 21, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
April 2, 2013 KS HB 2055 Reduces Casino Building Fee Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 24)
April 9, 2013 WI AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 12, 2013 MO SB 26 Amends State Tax Code Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 16, 2013 MO SB 112 Extends the New Markets Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 26, 2013 KS SB 72 Exempts Health Clubs From Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
April 10, 2013 AR HB 1536 Authorizes Sale of Unpasteurized Whole Milk Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
March 26, 2013 KY SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
April 4, 2013 MO SB 126 Prohibits Pharmacies from Being Required to Carry Specific Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 18, 2013 AR SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
May 17, 2013 IL HB 1 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 21)
May 6, 2013 National S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27)
April 25, 2013 National S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 30)
April 10, 2013 TX SB 1467 Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
March 6, 2013 ID S 1117 Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 23, 2013 MT HB 297 Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
May 23, 2013 CT SB 387 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 1, 2013 IL SB 1639 Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
May 20, 2013 CA SB 439 Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
April 22, 2013 TX SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
April 22, 2013 TX SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
April 30, 2013 AZ SB 1439 Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
May 24, 2013 CA SB 648 Prohibits the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Public Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/19 HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
2/19 HB 80 Amends Cruise Ship Wastewater Discharge Permits Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
2/09 SB 96 Reduces Business Equipment Tax Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16)
2/14 HF 9 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 22)
2/14 SB 622 Increases Physician License Fees Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
2/14 SB 50 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Farming Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
2/14 SB 88 Repeals Regulations on Telephone Utility Companies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
3/11 HB 1228 Establishes a Background Check Fee Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/20 SB 375 Authorizes the International Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
2/28 SB 26 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19)
3/07 HF 5 Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28)
2/27 SB 1 Amends Wisconsin's Iron-Ore Mining Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
3/14 HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
5/22 HB 7 Prohibits Internet Cafes Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/15 HB 1229 Requires Background Checks for Private Gun Sales and Transfers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 14)
3/13 SB 81 Establishes the Charlotte Regional Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
12/11 HB 4369 Expands the Education Achievement Authority Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
3/04 SB 416 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
3/23 S Amdt 139 Prohibits the United States From Entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 46)
3/25 SF 296 Expands Medicaid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
3/21 H 248 Establishes Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/26 HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
3/26 HB 1999 Authorizes the Slaughter of Horses Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
3/27 SB 274 Expands Medicaid Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/26 HB 1293 Establishes Micro-Distiller Permits Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
4/03 SB 1160 Establishes Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
4/14 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
3/21 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
4/02 HB 2055 Reduces Casino Building Fee Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 24)
4/09 AB 15 Authorizes Work-Share Programs Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/12 SB 26 Amends State Tax Code Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/16 SB 112 Extends the New Markets Tax Credit Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/26 SB 72 Exempts Health Clubs From Property Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
4/10 HB 1536 Authorizes Sale of Unpasteurized Whole Milk Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
3/26 SB 13 Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
4/04 SB 126 Prohibits Pharmacies from Being Required to Carry Specific Drugs Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/18 SB 1020 Authorizes Private Purchase of Health Insurance with Federal Funds Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
5/17 HB 1 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 21)
5/06 S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 27)
4/25 S 743 Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 30)
4/10 SB 1467 Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
3/06 S 1117 Authorizes Permits for Heavy Trucks on Certain Routes Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/23 HB 297 Prohibits the Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
5/23 SB 387 Increases Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/01 SB 1639 Requires Reimbursement for the Sale of Unhealthy Pets Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
5/20 SB 439 Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
4/22 SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
4/22 SB 1247 Limits Payday Loan Interest Rates Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
4/30 SB 1439 Authorizes the Use of Gold and Silver as Legal Tender Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
5/24 SB 648 Prohibits the Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Certain Public Areas Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)

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