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
Dec. 9, 2014 OH HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
Oct. 23, 2014 NJ SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Oct. 15, 2014 PA HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
Oct. 15, 2014 PA HB 2354 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
Oct. 14, 2014 PA HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Sept. 10, 2014 MO SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Aug. 29, 2014 CA SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Aug. 27, 2014 CA AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Aug. 21, 2014 CA AB 1699 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 14)
Aug. 13, 2014 MI Initiation of Legislation Authorizes Natural Resources Commission to Manage the Taking of Game Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
July 29, 2014 National S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
May 28, 2014 OH SB 310 Amends Energy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 28, 2014 CA SB 1319 Expands Prevention and Response Programs for Oil Spills Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 21, 2014 LA HB 1091 Prohibits the Transportation of Dogs in the Bed of a Pickup Truck on Interstates Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 9, 2014 CT SB 443 Prohibits the Sale of Genetically Modified Seed Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 7, 2014 LA S Amdt 2081 Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29)
April 5, 2014 MD HB 1168 Prohibits the Construction of a Wind-Powered Generating Station Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
April 3, 2014 NE LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
April 3, 2014 ME LD 1838 Establishes The Affordable Heating From Maine's Forest Fund "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
April 2, 2014 NE LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 21)
March 28, 2014 KY HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 28, 2014 KY HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
March 25, 2014 KS HB 2014 Repeals the Kansas Renewable Energy Standards Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 24, 2014 NE LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
March 12, 2014 OK SB 1440 Prohibits Development of Certain Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2014 OH SCR 25 Encourages State Agencies to Stop Using the LEED Green Building Rating System Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2014 VA HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2014 ID S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2014 ID S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 4, 2014 National HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32)
Feb. 4, 2014 IN SB 404 Establishes Regulations for High-Fence Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2014 SD SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 3, 2014 IN SB 340 Amends Customer Participation Requirements in Certain Energy Efficiency Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Jan. 29, 2014 SD SB 76 Amends Self Defense Against a Mountain Lion Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/09 HB 234 Authorizes Noise Suppressors on Certain Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
10/23 SCR 125 Specifies that Proposed Regulations Concerning Greenhouse Gas Cap and Trade Programs are Inconsistent with Legislative Intent Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
10/15 HB 1750 Prohibits Pigeon Shoots Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
10/15 HB 2354 Requires Legislative Approval for Certain Plans from the Department of Environmental Protection Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
10/14 HB 1565 Amends Buffer Zone Requirements around Certain Streams Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
9/10 SB 506 Expands and Establishes Certain Agricultural Programs Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
8/29 SB 270 Prohibits Retailers from Using Single-Use Carryout Bags Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
8/29 SB 1319 Authorizes Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Certain Water Basins Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
8/29 SB 1168 Requires Sustainability Plans for Groundwater Usage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
8/27 AB 1739 Amends Groundwater Laws Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
8/21 AB 1699 Prohibits the Sale of Products Containing Microplastics Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 14)
8/13 Initiation of Legislation Authorizes Natural Resources Commission to Manage the Taking of Game Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
7/29 S Amdt 3585 Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
5/28 SB 310 Amends Energy Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/28 SB 1319 Expands Prevention and Response Programs for Oil Spills Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/21 HB 1091 Prohibits the Transportation of Dogs in the Bed of a Pickup Truck on Interstates Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/09 SB 443 Prohibits the Sale of Genetically Modified Seed Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/07 S Amdt 2081 Authorizes "Chicken Boxing" under Certain Conditions Amendment Rejected - Senate (8 - 29)
4/05 HB 1168 Prohibits the Construction of a Wind-Powered Generating Station Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/03 LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
4/03 LD 1838 Establishes The Affordable Heating From Maine's Forest Fund "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 14)
4/02 LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 21)
3/28 HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/28 HB 222 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
3/25 HB 2014 Repeals the Kansas Renewable Energy Standards Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/24 LB 671 Prohibits the Hunting of Mountain Lions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
3/12 SB 1440 Prohibits Development of Certain Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
2/26 SCR 25 Encourages State Agencies to Stop Using the LEED Green Building Rating System Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
2/18 HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
2/14 S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/14 S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/04 HR 2642 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 32)
2/04 SB 404 Establishes Regulations for High-Fence Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 23)
2/04 SB 75 Prohibits a Local Government From Establishing a Dog Breed-Specific Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/03 SB 340 Amends Customer Participation Requirements in Certain Energy Efficiency Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
1/29 SB 76 Amends Self Defense Against a Mountain Lion Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)

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