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
Oct. 30, 2013 MI SB 652 Amends Court of Claims Judge Appointment Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Sept. 11, 2013 MO SB 267 Prohibits the Enforcement of Foreign Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
July 3, 2013 NC HB 695 Amends Abortion Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
May 30, 2013 LA SB 162 Authorizes Surrogacy Contracts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 3)
May 26, 2013 TX HB 912 Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5)
May 22, 2013 AZ SB 1178 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
May 22, 2013 TX HB 950 Requires Equal Pay for Women Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
May 20, 2013 CA SB 439 Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
April 30, 2013 HI HB 622 Limits Media 'Shield Law' Provisions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
April 29, 2013 FL HB 7083 Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 11, 2013 FL SB 1792 Amends Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
April 11, 2013 MO SB 267 Prohibits the Enforcement of Foreign Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 5, 2013 AR SB 1093 Requires Racial Impact Statement For Crime Bills Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 10)
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)
March 11, 2013 CO SB 197 Prohibits a Domestic Violence Offender from Owning a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS Holland Amendment to SB 63 Prohibits the Secretary of State from Operating a PAC Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/30 SB 652 Amends Court of Claims Judge Appointment Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
9/11 SB 267 Prohibits the Enforcement of Foreign Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
7/03 HB 695 Amends Abortion Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 12)
5/30 SB 162 Authorizes Surrogacy Contracts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 3)
5/26 HB 912 Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5)
5/22 SB 1178 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
5/22 HB 950 Requires Equal Pay for Women Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
5/20 SB 439 Exempts Certain Medical Marijuana Collectives and Cooperatives from Prosecution Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
4/30 HB 622 Limits Media 'Shield Law' Provisions Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
4/29 HB 7083 Limits Post-Conviction Death Penalty Appeals Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/11 SB 1792 Amends Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/11 SB 267 Prohibits the Enforcement of Foreign Laws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/05 SB 1093 Requires Racial Impact Statement For Crime Bills Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 10)
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)
3/11 SB 197 Prohibits a Domestic Violence Offender from Owning a Firearm Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/28 SB 63 Authorizes Secretary of State to Prosecute Election Fraud Cases Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/28 SB 142 Prohibits Civil Action Lawsuits Concerning Abortion Consultation Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
2/28 Holland Amendment to SB 63 Prohibits the Secretary of State from Operating a PAC Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 17)

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