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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sept. 6, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
May 19, 2011 | CA | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
April 28, 2011 | SC | Amdt 46 | Educational Television Commission Amendment to 2011-2012 Budget | Amendment Adopted - House (25 - 18) |
Nov. 3, 2011 | National | H Amdt 853 | Requires Crowdfunding Intermediaries to Disclose Methods of Compensation to Investors | Amendment Rejected - House (189 - 234) |
Feb. 16, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9) |
Feb. 1, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
Jan. 31, 2011 | AR | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
Feb. 15, 2011 | NH | HB 113 | Prohibits the Use of State Funds for Public Television | Bill Passed - House (263 - 102) |
March 28, 2011 | ND | HB 1195 | Bans Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
Feb. 8, 2011 | ND | HB 1195 | Bans Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
May 5, 2011 | NC | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 32) |
May 3, 2011 | NC | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
June 21, 2011 | OR | HB 2301 | Online Charter School Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
June 21, 2011 | OR | HB 2301 | Online Charter School Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
April 27, 2011 | TX | HB 2403 | Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (125 - 20) |
April 13, 2011 | AZ | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
March 7, 2011 | AZ | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
May 29, 2011 | TX | HB 242 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 61) |
April 25, 2011 | LA | HB 338 | Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving | |
June 9, 2011 | LA | HB 338 | Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving | Bill Failed - House (33 - 55) |
March 7, 2011 | UT | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 29) |
March 7, 2011 | UT | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
May 18, 2011 | CT | HB 5866 | Internet Dating Safety | Bill Passed - House (94 - 47) |
May 23, 2011 | PA | HB 815 | Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors | Bill Passed - House (178 - 20) |
April 8, 2011 | National | H J Res 37 | Disapproving FCC Rules Concerning Internet Providers | Joint Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179) |
April 1, 2011 | ID | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
March 24, 2011 | ID | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 25, 2011 | TX | S Amdt 3 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
June 8, 2011 | WI | SB 116 | Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
May 11, 2011 | WI | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
May 11, 2011 | WI | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | SB 1351 | Wireless Telecommunication Devices | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
May 30, 2011 | NV | SB 140 | Prohibiting the Use of Cellular Devices While Driving | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
March 15, 2011 | AZ | SB 1538 | Cell Phone Usage While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
Feb. 15, 2011 | AR | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
Feb. 2, 2011 | AR | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
June 2, 2011 | CA | SB 242 | Privacy Control Requirements for Social Networks | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
Feb. 28, 2011 | UT | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
April 25, 2011 | CA | SB 28 | Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
April 14, 2011 | GA | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 32) |
Feb. 23, 2011 | GA | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
Oct. 27, 2011 | MI | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
March 2, 2011 | UT | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
March 1, 2011 | UT | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10) |
Sept. 23, 2011 | MO | SB 7 | Incentives for Science-Based Businesses | Bill Passed - House (94 - 48) |
June 1, 2011 | CA | SB 914 | Requires a Warrant to Search Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
Nov. 9, 2011 | IL | SB 965 | Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
Oct. 26, 2011 | IL | SB 965 | Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24) |
April 20, 2011 | IA | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
Nov. 10, 2011 | National | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
9/06 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
5/19 | AB 1236 | Prohibits Requirement of Electronic Employment Verification | Bill Passed - House (55 - 22) |
4/28 | Amdt 46 | Educational Television Commission Amendment to 2011-2012 Budget | Amendment Adopted - House (25 - 18) |
11/03 | H Amdt 853 | Requires Crowdfunding Intermediaries to Disclose Methods of Compensation to Investors | Amendment Rejected - House (189 - 234) |
2/16 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9) |
2/01 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (53 - 41) |
1/31 | HB 1049 | Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones | Bill Failed - House (46 - 47) |
2/15 | HB 113 | Prohibits the Use of State Funds for Public Television | Bill Passed - House (263 - 102) |
3/28 | HB 1195 | Bans Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
2/08 | HB 1195 | Bans Texting While Driving | Bill Passed - House (50 - 41) |
5/05 | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 32) |
5/03 | HB 129 | Regulates Competition Between Local Government and Private Business | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
6/21 | HB 2301 | Online Charter School Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
6/21 | HB 2301 | Online Charter School Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
4/27 | HB 2403 | Internet Sales Tax | Bill Passed - House (125 - 20) |
4/13 | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
3/07 | HB 2415 | Punishment Guidelines for Bullying in Schools | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
5/29 | HB 242 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 61) |
4/25 | HB 338 | Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving | |
6/09 | HB 338 | Prohibits Handheld Cellular Devices While Driving | Bill Failed - House (33 - 55) |
3/07 | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 29) |
3/07 | HB 477 | Government Records Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
5/18 | HB 5866 | Internet Dating Safety | Bill Passed - House (94 - 47) |
5/23 | HB 815 | Reduces the Offense of "Sexting" for Minors | Bill Passed - House (178 - 20) |
4/08 | H J Res 37 | Disapproving FCC Rules Concerning Internet Providers | Joint Resolution Passed - House (240 - 179) |
4/01 | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - House (44 - 26) |
3/24 | S 1184 | Technology in the Classroom | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
5/25 | S Amdt 3 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
6/08 | SB 116 | Relating to Overseas Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
5/11 | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
5/11 | SB 13 | Repealing Regulations for Telecommunications Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
2/08 | SB 1351 | Wireless Telecommunication Devices | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
5/30 | SB 140 | Prohibiting the Use of Cellular Devices While Driving | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
3/15 | SB 1538 | Cell Phone Usage While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
2/15 | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - House (52 - 41) |
2/02 | SB 154 | Cell Phones in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
6/02 | SB 242 | Privacy Control Requirements for Social Networks | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 17) |
2/28 | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
4/25 | SB 28 | Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
4/14 | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (131 - 32) |
2/23 | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
10/27 | SB 619 | Cyber Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
3/02 | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
3/01 | SB 65 | Statewide Online Education Program | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 10) |
9/23 | SB 7 | Incentives for Science-Based Businesses | Bill Passed - House (94 - 48) |
6/01 | SB 914 | Requires a Warrant to Search Cell Phones | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
11/09 | SB 965 | Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
10/26 | SB 965 | Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 24) |
4/20 | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
11/10 | S J Res 6 | Disapproval of FCC Regulation of Internet and Broadband Industry | Motion Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |