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. 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) |
Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 18, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
Sept. 18, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
July 31, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | (81 - 13) |
July 29, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
June 25, 2014 | DE | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
June 16, 2014 | RI | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
June 15, 2014 | CA | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
June 12, 2014 | MA | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
June 5, 2014 | RI | S 2796A | Establishes Preference In State and Business Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
June 4, 2014 | OH | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 7) |
June 4, 2014 | SC | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5574 | Appropriates Funds to the Michigan Settlement Administration Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
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 | HB 6095 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 6094 | 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 6096 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 17) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 6093 | 2014-2015 K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | HB 6097 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 21) |
May 29, 2014 | IL | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |
May 29, 2014 | IL | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |
May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 837 | Establishes the California Prekindergarten Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
May 27, 2014 | MI | SB 934 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
May 27, 2014 | IL | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
May 27, 2014 | IL | SB 16 | Amends Formula for School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
May 23, 2014 | OK | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts To Issue Bonds For Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 25) |
May 23, 2014 | OK | HJR 1033 | Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 8) |
May 21, 2014 | OK | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
May 20, 2014 | OK | SB 2127 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 22) |
May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
May 16, 2014 | MN | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 17) |
May 4, 2014 | CT | HB 5596 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
May 2, 2014 | KS | HB 2231 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 25, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Base Student Allocation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 3) |
April 23, 2014 | IA | SF 2347 | 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 21, 2014 | AK | HB 278 | Increases Local Contributions for Public School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
April 16, 2014 | AZ | HB 2367 | Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
April 10, 2014 | NE | LB 1092 | Authorizes Highway Commission to Issue Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (27 - 16) |
April 8, 2014 | VA | SB 5003 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
April 7, 2014 | AZ | HB 2703 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 11) |
April 7, 2014 | TN | SB 2039 | Reduces Lifetime Eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
April 6, 2014 | KS | HB 2506 | Appropriates Funds to Certain School Districts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 170 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7) |
April 5, 2014 | MD | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
April 3, 2014 | KS | Knox Amdt | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Standards Using Certain State Funds | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
April 3, 2014 | MO | SB 673 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
March 31, 2014 | National | HR 4302 | Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
March 27, 2014 | TN | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
March 25, 2014 | KS | HB 2552 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
March 19, 2014 | NE | LB 887 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (27 - 21) |
March 13, 2014 | IN | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24) |
March 13, 2014 | NH | SB 364 | Increase Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 11) |
March 13, 2014 | MO | SB 510 | Amends the Definition of Employee Misconduct for Unemployment Benefits Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
March 12, 2014 | ME | LD 1487 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
March 6, 2014 | KS | HB 2338 | Appropriates Funds to the Judicial Branch | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 6, 2014 | NH | SB 413 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
March 4, 2014 | IN | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
March 4, 2014 | OK | SB 1651 | Appropriates Funds for the Native American Cultural Center | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
March 3, 2014 | WY | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 10) |
March 3, 2014 | WY | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 10) |
Feb. 26, 2014 | AL | SB 63 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
Feb. 20, 2014 | AR | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
Feb. 20, 2014 | OK | SB 2044 | Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
Feb. 12, 2014 | National | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (55 - 43) |
Feb. 12, 2014 | National | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 31) |
Feb. 5, 2014 | IL | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
Jan. 16, 2014 | National | HR 3547 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/10 | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
12/10 | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
10/23 | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
9/18 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
9/18 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
8/29 | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
7/31 | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | (81 - 13) |
7/29 | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
7/28 | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
6/26 | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
6/25 | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
6/16 | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
6/15 | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
6/12 | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
6/05 | S 2796A | Establishes Preference In State and Business Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
6/04 | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 7) |
6/04 | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
6/03 | HB 5574 | Appropriates Funds to the Michigan Settlement Administration Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
6/03 | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
5/30 | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
5/30 | HB 6095 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
5/30 | HB 6094 | 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 20) |
5/30 | HB 6096 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 17) |
5/30 | HB 6093 | 2014-2015 K-12 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 19) |
5/30 | HB 6097 | 2014-2015 Department Budgets | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 21) |
5/29 | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |
5/29 | SB 741 | Expands Medicaid Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (46 - 10) |
5/29 | SB 837 | Establishes the California Prekindergarten Program | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
5/27 | SB 934 | Increases Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
5/27 | HB 1154 | Amends Cook County Pension Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16) |
5/27 | SB 16 | Amends Formula for School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
5/23 | HJR 1092 | Authorizes School Districts To Issue Bonds For Improvements in Building Safety | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 25) |
5/23 | HJR 1033 | Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 8) |
5/21 | HB 2630 | Amends State Employee Retirement Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 11) |
5/20 | SB 2127 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
5/16 | HF 3172 | 2014-2015 Supplemental Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 22) |
5/16 | HF 1068 | Appropriates Funds to Certain State Agencies and Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 19) |
5/16 | HF 2490 | Appropriates Funds for Public Improvement and Capital Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 17) |
5/04 | HB 5596 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
5/02 | HB 2231 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 18) |
4/25 | HB 278 | Increases Base Student Allocation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 3) |
4/23 | SF 2347 | 2014-2015 Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 21) |
4/21 | HB 278 | Increases Local Contributions for Public School Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
4/16 | HB 2367 | Establishes Work Requirements for Certain Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
4/10 | LB 1092 | Authorizes Highway Commission to Issue Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (27 - 16) |
4/08 | SB 5003 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
4/07 | HB 2703 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 11) |
4/07 | SB 2039 | Reduces Lifetime Eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
4/06 | HB 2506 | Appropriates Funds to Certain School Districts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 16) |
4/05 | SB 170 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7) |
4/05 | SB 172 | Authorizes Eminent Domain Against Certain Film Production Entitites | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6) |
4/03 | Knox Amdt | Prohibits Implementation of Common Core Standards Using Certain State Funds | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 12) |
4/03 | SB 673 | Limits Duration of Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
3/31 | HR 4302 | Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 35) |
3/27 | HB 937 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
3/25 | HB 2552 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
3/19 | LB 887 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (27 - 21) |
3/13 | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 24) |
3/13 | SB 364 | Increase Retirement Benefits for Public Employees | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - Senate (12 - 11) |
3/13 | SB 510 | Amends the Definition of Employee Misconduct for Unemployment Benefits Claims | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
3/12 | LD 1487 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
3/06 | HB 2338 | Appropriates Funds to the Judicial Branch | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
3/06 | SB 413 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
3/04 | HB 1351 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
3/04 | SB 1651 | Appropriates Funds for the Native American Cultural Center | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
3/03 | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 10) |
3/03 | HB 1 | 2014-2016 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 10) |
2/26 | SB 63 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
2/20 | SB 111 | 2014-2015 Department of Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
2/20 | SB 2044 | Authorizes Bonds for Capitol Repairs | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
2/12 | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (55 - 43) |
2/12 | S 540 | Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 31) |
2/05 | SB 1227 | Extends the Date for the Governor to Submit the State Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 15) |
1/16 | HR 3547 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 26) |