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.


results per page:
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)

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