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
Dec. 10, 2014 MI HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Feb. 17, 2014 IN HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Jan. 28, 2014 IN SB 229 Amends Firearm Buy-Back Program Laws Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 13, 2014 IN HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24)
March 4, 2014 IN HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 13, 2014 TN SB 1496 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry a Handgun in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2014 MI SB 319 Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Feb. 4, 2014 IN SB 404 Establishes Regulations for High-Fence Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2014 NE LB 399 Authorizes Crime Prevention Vehicles to Use Amber Lights Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (32 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2014 KS HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 13, 2014 KS HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 5, 2014 KY SB 8 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Feb. 19, 2014 AZ SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2014 AZ SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 18, 2014 ID S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2014 ID S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 20, 2014 MO SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 20, 2014 MO SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 20, 2014 KS HB 2387 Requires 50 Year Minimum Sentence for Certain Murder Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
Feb. 19, 2014 KY SB 119 Establishes Medical Malpractice Claims Review Panel Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 6, 2014 MD SB 263 Amends Baltimore's Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
Feb. 18, 2014 VA HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Jan. 30, 2014 CA SB 383 Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 6, 2014 OR HB 4143 Amends Payout Procedures In Class Action Lawsuits Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/10 HB 4118 Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
2/17 HJR 3 Defines Marriage as Between 1 Man and 1 Woman Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
1/28 SB 229 Amends Firearm Buy-Back Program Laws Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/13 HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24)
3/04 HB 1351 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/13 SB 1496 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Carry a Handgun in Public Parks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/12 SB 319 Amends the Sentencing Procedure for Certain Juvenile Offenders Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
2/04 SB 404 Establishes Regulations for High-Fence Hunting Preserves Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 23)
2/04 LB 399 Authorizes Crime Prevention Vehicles to Use Amber Lights Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (32 - 12)
2/13 HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/13 HB 2389 Establishes Time Limits on Death Penalty Appeals Process Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/05 SB 8 Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
2/19 SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/19 SB 1062 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Infringements of Religious Freedom as a Claim or Defense Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/18 S 1254 Authorizes the Concealed Carry of Firearms on College or University Campuses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/14 S 1337 Prohibits Recording of Agricultural Operations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/20 SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/20 SB 613 Prohibits the Enforcement of Federal Firearms Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/20 HB 2387 Requires 50 Year Minimum Sentence for Certain Murder Convictions Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
2/19 SB 119 Establishes Medical Malpractice Claims Review Panel Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/06 SB 263 Amends Baltimore's Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 6)
2/18 HB 1237 Authorizes Hunting on Sundays Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
1/30 SB 383 Authorizes Businesses to Collect Certain Cardholder Information in Online Transactions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/06 HB 4143 Amends Payout Procedures In Class Action Lawsuits Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)

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