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. 15, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
Dec. 14, 2011 National HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
Dec. 8, 2011 MI HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
Dec. 7, 2011 MI HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Nov. 2, 2011 WI SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Nov. 1, 2011 WI SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
Oct. 25, 2011 WI SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Sept. 13, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
Sept. 12, 2011 NC SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
Sept. 9, 2011 CA AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 8, 2011 CA SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Sept. 8, 2011 CA AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Sept. 6, 2011 CA AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27)
Sept. 6, 2011 CA SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
Sept. 2, 2011 CA SB 746 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Sept. 1, 2011 CA SB 746 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors Bill Passed - House (49 - 27)
Aug. 31, 2011 CA AB 499 Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
Aug. 30, 2011 CA AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
June 29, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
June 24, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
June 22, 2011 NH HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
June 22, 2011 NH HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - House (266 - 102)
June 15, 2011 NY A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
June 9, 2011 TX SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
May 23, 2011 PA HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - House (178 - 20)
May 23, 2011 CA AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Bill Passed - House (42 - 29)
May 21, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
May 19, 2011 RI H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
May 12, 2011 CA AB 499 Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs Bill Passed - House (50 - 25)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
May 9, 2011 NJ S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
May 9, 2011 NJ S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
April 27, 2011 MT HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 35)
April 27, 2011 MT HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 35)
April 26, 2011 MT HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 26, 2011 MT HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
April 21, 2011 WA HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
April 14, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
April 7, 2011 OR SB 695 Standards for Infant Formula Containers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
April 7, 2011 OR SB 695 Standards for Infant Formula Containers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
April 7, 2011 DE SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
April 1, 2011 TX Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
April 1, 2011 TX Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
March 24, 2011 CO SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 23, 2011 KS HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 23, 2011 KS HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1308 Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/15 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (86 - 13)
12/14 HR 1540 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 Conference Report Adopted - House (283 - 136)
12/08 HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (63 - 45)
12/07 HB 4770 Prohibits Public Employers from Providing Medical Benefits to Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
11/02 SB 237 Amending Sexual Education Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
11/01 SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - House (63 - 32)
10/25 SB 45 Administration of Medications to Students Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
9/13 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
9/12 SB 514 Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage Bill Passed - House (75 - 42)
9/09 AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/08 SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
9/08 AB 101 Allows Family Child Care Providers to Organize Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
9/06 AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 27)
9/06 SB 299 Pregnancy or Childbirth Leave for Employees Bill Passed - House (52 - 26)
9/02 SB 746 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
9/01 SB 746 Prohibits the Use of Tanning Beds by Minors Bill Passed - House (49 - 27)
8/31 AB 499 Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
8/30 AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
6/29 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/24 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 29)
6/22 HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
6/22 HB 329 Revising Abortion Procedures for Unemancipated Minors Veto Override Passed - House (266 - 102)
6/15 A 8354 Marriage Equality Enactment Bill Passed - House (80 - 63)
6/09 SB 7 Health Care Bill Passed - House (89 - 41)
5/23 HB 815 Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors Bill Passed - House (178 - 20)
5/23 AB 1319 Prohibiting the Use of BPA in Baby Products Bill Passed - House (42 - 29)
5/21 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 62)
5/19 H 6103 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (62 - 11)
5/12 AB 499 Authorizes Minors to Seek Medical Care for STDs Bill Passed - House (50 - 25)
5/11 SF 1308 Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage Amendment Adopted - Senate (38 - 27)
5/09 S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
5/09 S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - House (45 - 26)
4/27 HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 35)
4/27 HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 35)
4/26 HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/26 HB 627 Requiring Parental Notification for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
4/21 HB 1267 Definition of Parenthood Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 21)
4/14 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - House (26 - 15)
4/07 SB 695 Standards for Infant Formula Containers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
4/07 SB 695 Standards for Infant Formula Containers Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
4/07 SB 30 Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 6)
4/01 Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
4/01 Amdt 143 Requiring Public Colleges and Universities to Fund Student Centers for Family and Traditional Values Amendment Adopted - House (110 - 24)
3/24 SB 172 Authorizes Civil Unions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/23 HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/23 HB 2035 Amending Statutes Regulating Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
3/17 SB 1308 Separate Birth Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)

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