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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 16, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 9, 2014 | MI | HB 6074 | Prohibits Student Athletes from Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - House (59 - 50) |
Dec. 4, 2014 | National | HR 5759 | Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 197) |
Dec. 4, 2014 | OH | HB 661 | Increases Salaries of Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (56 - 26) |
Dec. 4, 2014 | National | HR 5759 | Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 197) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (75 - 34) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (75 - 34) |
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. 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) |
Sept. 9, 2014 | National | H Res 644 | Condemning and Disapproving of the Failure of the Obama Administration to Comply with the Lawful Statutory Requirement to Notify Congress before Transferring Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Expressing Concern About the National Security Risks Over the Transfer of Five Taliban Leaders and the Repercussions of Negotiating with Terrorists | Resolution Passed - House (249 - 163) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 28) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1159 | Authorizes Undocumented Immigrants to Receive Professional Licenses | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
Aug. 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1014 | Authorizes Gun Violence Restraining Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
Aug. 11, 2014 | FL | SB 2-A | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (71 - 38) |
Aug. 11, 2014 | FL | SB 2-A | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5272 | To Prohibit Certain Actions with Respect to Deferred Action for Aliens Not Lawfully Present in the United States, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (216 - 192) |
Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5230 | Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (223 - 189) |
July 30, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
July 30, 2014 | National | H Res 676 | Providing for Authority to Initiate Litigation for Actions by the President or Other Executive Branch Officials Inconsistent with Their Duties Under the Constitution of the United States | Resolution Passed - House (225 - 201) |
July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
July 25, 2014 | NC | HB 1133 | Amends Technical Language in Education, Firearm, and Economic Statutes | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |
July 16, 2014 | National | S 2578 | Protect Women's Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1083 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
July 2, 2014 | AR | HB 1004 | Amends the Public School Health Insurance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
June 26, 2014 | DE | HB 13 | Prohibits Lawmakers from Becoming Lobbyists for 1 Year After Leaving Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (33 - 7) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
June 19, 2014 | RI | H 7194A | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
June 18, 2014 | MA | S 2123 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Conference Report Adopted - House (124 - 24) |
June 18, 2014 | MA | S 2132 | Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers | Bill Passed - House (126 - 22) |
June 18, 2014 | MA | S 2132 | Establishes Labor Standards for Domestic Workers | Bill Passed - House (126 - 22) |
June 18, 2014 | RI | H 7194A | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (63 - 10) |
June 16, 2014 | NJ | S 1038 | Requires Public Contractors to Report Certain Employment Information | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
June 16, 2014 | NY | A 6983B | Prohibits Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy on Minors | Bill Passed - House (105 - 28) |
June 16, 2014 | NJ | S 783 | Amends the Definition of an Unlawful Employment Practice | Bill Passed - House (49 - 26) |
June 12, 2014 | MA | S 2123 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 4) |
June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Bill Passed - House (65 - 48) |
May 30, 2014 | National | H Amdt 750 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the Transfer of Clemency Application Screening Personnel | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 189) |
May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1253 | Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 935 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
May 27, 2014 | CA | AB 1576 | Amends the Health and Safety Provisions for Adult Films | Bill Passed - House (48 - 13) |
May 22, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - House (75 - 35) |
May 22, 2014 | IL | SJRCA 75 | Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
May 20, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 33) |
May 16, 2014 | MO | HJR 72 | Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4) |
May 16, 2014 | MO | HJR 72 | Authorizes the Legislature to Override Certain Gubernatorial Spending Reductions | Amendment Adopted - Senate (25 - 4) |
May 15, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 62) |
May 14, 2014 | OK | HB 3143 | Requires Vendors on Military Bases to Collect Sales Tax | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 42) |
May 14, 2014 | NH | SB 390 | Prohibits an Employer from Discriminating Against a Victim of Domestic Violence | Bill Passed - House (190 - 137) |
May 13, 2014 | MN | HF 3169 | Establishes a Legislative Salary Council | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 25) |
May 8, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 24) |
May 8, 2014 | NH | HB 1403 | Increases the Minimum Wage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
May 7, 2014 | MN | HF 2536 | Increases Equal Pay and Establishes Certain Workplace Protections for Employees | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 24) |
May 7, 2014 | National | H Res 574 | Recommends that the House of Representatives Find Lois G. Lerner in Contempt of Congress | Resolution Passed - House (231 - 187) |
May 2, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 32) |
May 1, 2014 | FL | HB 755 | Authorizes Certain Non-Citizen Individuals to be Admitted to the Bar | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 37) |
May 1, 2014 | FL | HB 851 | Authorizes In-State Tuition for Non-Citizen Individuals | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
May 1, 2014 | MA | S 2123 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
April 30, 2014 | FL | SJR 1188 | Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies | Joint Resolution Passed - House (74 - 45) |
April 30, 2014 | FL | SJR 1188 | Authorizes Governor to Fill Prospective Judicial Vacancies | Joint Resolution Passed - House (74 - 45) |
April 30, 2014 | MO | SB 673 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (101 - 49) |
April 30, 2014 | National | S 2223 | Minimum Wage Fairness Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42) |
April 29, 2014 | MO | SB 510 | Amends the Definition of Employee Misconduct for Unemployment Benefits Claims | Bill Passed - House (107 - 45) |
April 25, 2014 | AK | HB 218 | Prohibits Use of Risk of Deportation as a Factor in a Felony Case Referral | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (28 - 10) |
April 25, 2014 | IA | SF 2318 | Amends School Harassment and Bullying Policies | Bill Passed - House (68 - 27) |
April 25, 2014 | CT | HB 5274 | Prohibits Employers from Discriminating Against Unemployed Applicants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 55) |
April 25, 2014 | FL | HB 7181 | Reforms Retirement Systems for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 44) |
April 25, 2014 | CT | HB 5274 | Prohibits Employers from Discriminating Against Unemployed Applicants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 55) |
April 24, 2014 | OK | SJR 21 | Amends Selection Process for Judicial Nominating Commission | Bill Failed - House (31 - 65) |
April 24, 2014 | OK | SJR 21 | Amends Selection Process for Judicial Nominating Commission | Bill Failed - House (31 - 65) |
April 23, 2014 | CO | HB 1288 | Amends Student Immunization Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
April 21, 2014 | AZ | HB 2462 | Authorizes the State to Create a Virtual Border | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 20) |
April 17, 2014 | AZ | HB 2367 | Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 22) |
April 17, 2014 | AZ | HB 2462 | Authorizes the State to Create a Virtual Border | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
April 17, 2014 | ME | LD 1578 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (94 - 51) |
April 17, 2014 | ME | LD 1578 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
April 17, 2014 | AZ | HB 2291 | Expands Eligibility to Empowerment Scholarship Account Program | Bill Failed - House (27 - 31) |
April 16, 2014 | AZ | HB 2367 | Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
April 13, 2014 | AK | HB 384 | Increases Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (21 - 19) |
April 10, 2014 | NE | LB 690 | Establishes the Aging Nebraskans Task Force | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 12) |
April 10, 2014 | MN | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 60) |
April 10, 2014 | IL | HB 8 | Requires Accommodations for Pregnant Workers | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
April 9, 2014 | MN | HF 2091 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 31) |
April 9, 2014 | TN | SB 1391 | Prohibits Women from Using Illegal Substances While Pregnant | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
April 9, 2014 | National | S 2199 | Paycheck Fairness Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 44) |
April 9, 2014 | OH | HB 485 | Establishes the Ohio Healthier Buckeye Council and the Office of Human Services Innovation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 30) |
April 8, 2014 | IL | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 23) |
April 8, 2014 | IL | SB 1922 | Amends the City of Chicago Employee Pensions | Bill Passed - House (73 - 41) |
April 8, 2014 | National | HR 1871 | Baseline Reform Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (230 - 185) |
April 7, 2014 | MD | HB 295 | Increases the Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 47) |