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
March 17, 2011 CA AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
March 17, 2011 CA AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
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)
Aug. 29, 2011 CA AB 46 Small City Disincorporation Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Feb. 16, 2011 ID H 117 Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
May 5, 2011 VT H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 49)
May 3, 2011 VT H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9)
March 24, 2011 VT H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Bill Passed - House (92 - 49)
April 5, 2011 ID H 298 Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 30, 2011 ID H 298 Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
May 25, 2011 TX H Amdt 1 Interstate Health Care Compact Amendment Adopted - House (99 - 43)
Sept. 23, 2011 National H Amdt 799 Suspends Cross State Air Pollution Rule Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 188)
Sept. 9, 2011 MO HB 1 Authority Over the Saint Louis Police Department Bill Passed - House (123 - 27)
Feb. 21, 2011 AR HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Feb. 14, 2011 AR HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14)
Jan. 20, 2011 AR HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Passed - House (70 - 22)
March 22, 2011 CO HB 1140 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
May 10, 2011 TX HB 12 Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration Bill Passed - House (100 - 47)
March 11, 2011 ND HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 15)
Feb. 21, 2011 ND HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (65 - 28)
May 4, 2011 CO HB 1273 State Health Care Enactment Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
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)
Nov. 10, 2011 ND HB 1474 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 64)
Feb. 2, 2011 NC HB 2 Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
Feb. 16, 2011 MT HB 206 Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31)
March 10, 2011 UT HB 317 Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
March 4, 2011 UT HB 317 Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
Feb. 23, 2011 MT HB 381 Criminalizing Enforcement of Certain Federal Firearms Laws Bill Failed - House (38 - 61)
Feb. 23, 2011 MT HB 382 Nullification of Federal Laws Bill Failed - House (42 - 57)
March 15, 2011 MI HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 24, 2011 MI HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
March 15, 2011 MI HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 48)
March 9, 2011 MI HB 4216 Local Governments Fiscal Accountability Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Feb. 23, 2011 MI HB 4216 Local Governments Fiscal Accountability Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48)
Nov. 10, 2011 MI HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 12, 2011 MI HB 4479 Interstate Compact and Business Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 52)
May 12, 2011 MI HB 4479 Interstate Compact and Business Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
April 28, 2011 FL HB 45 Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
April 26, 2011 FL HB 45 Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition Bill Passed - House (85 - 33)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 461 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
March 16, 2011 GA HB 461 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (108 - 63)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 47 Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 58)
April 12, 2011 GA HB 47 Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
Oct. 13, 2011 MI HB 4815 Exempts Incandescent Light Bulbs Made in Michigan from Congressional Authority Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
June 16, 2011 TX HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
Feb. 23, 2011 MT HB 516 Limiting Local Ordinances Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
March 30, 2011 NH HB 519 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (251 - 108)
Feb. 23, 2011 MT HB 550 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
June 9, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
April 5, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 28)
March 24, 2011 AL HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28)
May 18, 2011 TN HB 600 Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 26)
May 12, 2011 TN HB 600 Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59)
April 14, 2011 GA HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
March 3, 2011 GA HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Bill Passed - House (113 - 56)
March 15, 2011 NH HB 89 State Lawsuit against the Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - House (259 - 107)
Feb. 16, 2011 ND HCR 3016 Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution Passed - House (69 - 25)
Feb. 11, 2011 KS HCR 5007 Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (91 - 27)
Feb. 2, 2011 IA HF 111 Purchase of Health Care Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 17, 2011 IA HF 260 House Rule School Governance Bill Passed - House (65 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2011 ID HJM 1 Parental Rights Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20)
May 3, 2011 National HR 1213 Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
Oct. 26, 2011 National HR 1904 Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (235 - 186)
July 13, 2011 National HR 2018 Amending Clean Water Laws Bill Passed - House (239 - 184)
Oct. 14, 2011 National HR 2273 Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act Bill Passed - House (267 - 144)
Jan. 11, 2011 MO HR 39 Attorney General Challenge of the Federal Health Care Law Resolution Passed - House (115 - 46)
March 30, 2011 National HR 471 School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
Nov. 16, 2011 National HR 822 Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms Bill Passed - House (272 - 154)
March 1, 2011 ID S 1115 Insurance Coverage of Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Feb. 22, 2011 VT S 31 Electing the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Jan. 20, 2011 AZ SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
Jan. 27, 2011 MT SB 106 Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2011 AR SB 113 Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 19, 2011 MT SB 114 Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Oct. 18, 2011 PA SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Feb. 5, 2011 MT SB 117 Coordination Between Federal and Local Government Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
March 30, 2011 GA SB 122 Public-Private Partnerships to Build Reservoirs Bill Passed - House (92 - 68)
April 26, 2011 MT SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 32)
April 5, 2011 MT SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
Jan. 27, 2011 MT SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 1, 2011 AZ SB 1394 Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
April 19, 2011 AZ SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 18, 2011 AZ SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
Feb. 28, 2011 AZ SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
March 2, 2011 AZ SB 1433 Nullification of Federal Law Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
April 18, 2011 AZ SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Sept. 7, 2011 NH SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
March 30, 2011 GA SB 17 Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - House (96 - 67)
Feb. 24, 2011 GA SB 17 Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
May 5, 2011 CO SB 200 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
May 4, 2011 CO SB 200 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (44 - 21)
Feb. 21, 2011 MT SB 228 Prohibits Creation of Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2011 MT SB 254 Eminent Domain Over Federal Property Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
June 27, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
June 29, 2011 TX SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Motion Rejected - House (96 - 26)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/17 AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
3/17 AB 109 Criminal Justice Realignment Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
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)
8/29 AB 46 Small City Disincorporation Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
2/16 H 117 Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
5/05 H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Conference Report Adopted - House (94 - 49)
5/03 H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 9)
3/24 H 202 Single-Payer and Unified Health System Bill Passed - House (92 - 49)
4/05 H 298 Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/30 H 298 Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
5/25 H Amdt 1 Interstate Health Care Compact Amendment Adopted - House (99 - 43)
9/23 H Amdt 799 Suspends Cross State Air Pollution Rule Amendment Adopted - House (234 - 188)
9/09 HB 1 Authority Over the Saint Louis Police Department Bill Passed - House (123 - 27)
2/21 HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
2/14 HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 14)
1/20 HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Bill Passed - House (70 - 22)
3/22 HB 1140 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
5/10 HB 12 Enforcement Of State And Federal Laws Governing Immigration Bill Passed - House (100 - 47)
3/11 HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 15)
2/21 HB 1263 Athletic Nickname and Logo of the University of North Dakota Bill Passed - House (65 - 28)
5/04 HB 1273 State Health Care Enactment Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
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)
11/10 HB 1474 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Failed - House (30 - 64)
2/02 HB 2 Prohibits Enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Bill Passed - House (66 - 50)
2/16 HB 206 Constitutional Amendment on Freedom to Choose Health Insurance Coverage Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 31)
3/10 HB 317 Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
3/04 HB 317 Specifies that Gold and Silver Coins are Legal Tender in Utah Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
2/23 HB 381 Criminalizing Enforcement of Certain Federal Firearms Laws Bill Failed - House (38 - 61)
2/23 HB 382 Nullification of Federal Laws Bill Failed - House (42 - 57)
3/15 HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/24 HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
3/15 HB 4214 Fiscal Accountability for Local Governments and School Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 48)
3/09 HB 4216 Local Governments Fiscal Accountability Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
2/23 HB 4216 Local Governments Fiscal Accountability Bill Passed - House (62 - 47)
11/10 HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 48)
11/10 HB 4326 Prohibits State Agencies from Adopting Rules Stricter than Federal Rules Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/12 HB 4479 Interstate Compact and Business Tax Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 52)
5/12 HB 4479 Interstate Compact and Business Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
4/28 HB 45 Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
4/26 HB 45 Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition Bill Passed - House (85 - 33)
4/14 HB 461 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
3/16 HB 461 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (108 - 63)
4/14 HB 47 Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 58)
4/12 HB 47 Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
10/13 HB 4815 Exempts Incandescent Light Bulbs Made in Michigan from Congressional Authority Bill Passed - House (62 - 46)
6/16 HB 5 Interstate Health Care Compact Bill Passed - House (92 - 43)
2/23 HB 516 Limiting Local Ordinances Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
3/30 HB 519 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (251 - 108)
2/23 HB 550 Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
6/09 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 9)
4/05 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 28)
3/24 HB 60 Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28)
5/18 HB 600 Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 26)
5/12 HB 600 Equal Access to Interstate Commerce Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
4/14 HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (112 - 59)
4/14 HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 19)
3/03 HB 87 Immigration Enforcement Act Bill Passed - House (113 - 56)
3/15 HB 89 State Lawsuit against the Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - House (259 - 107)
2/16 HCR 3016 Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Resolution Passed - House (69 - 25)
2/11 HCR 5007 Prohibiting Mandated Health Insurance Bill Passed - House (91 - 27)
2/02 HF 111 Purchase of Health Care Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/17 HF 260 House Rule School Governance Bill Passed - House (65 - 30)
2/07 HJM 1 Parental Rights Amendment Joint Resolution Passed - House (49 - 20)
5/03 HR 1213 Repealing Funding for State Health Benefit Exchanges Bill Passed - House (238 - 183)
10/26 HR 1904 Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2011 Bill Passed - House (235 - 186)
7/13 HR 2018 Amending Clean Water Laws Bill Passed - House (239 - 184)
10/14 HR 2273 Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act Bill Passed - House (267 - 144)
1/11 HR 39 Attorney General Challenge of the Federal Health Care Law Resolution Passed - House (115 - 46)
3/30 HR 471 School Vouchers for Washington, D.C. Bill Passed - House (225 - 195)
11/16 HR 822 Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms Bill Passed - House (272 - 154)
3/01 S 1115 Insurance Coverage of Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
2/22 S 31 Electing the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
1/20 SB 1001 Request for Medicaid Waiver Bill Passed - House (40 - 20)
1/27 SB 106 Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
1/27 SB 113 Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/19 SB 114 Communication Between Federal Law Enforcement Officers and County Sheriffs Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
10/18 SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
2/05 SB 117 Coordination Between Federal and Local Government Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
3/30 SB 122 Public-Private Partnerships to Build Reservoirs Bill Passed - House (92 - 68)
4/26 SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 32)
4/05 SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
1/27 SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/01 SB 1394 Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
4/19 SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/18 SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - House (40 - 19)
2/28 SB 1406 Interstate Compact to Build a Border Fence Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
3/02 SB 1433 Nullification of Federal Law Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
4/18 SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - House (39 - 20)
3/08 SB 1495 Establishment of an Arizona State Guard Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
9/07 SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
3/30 SB 17 Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - House (96 - 67)
2/24 SB 17 Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
5/05 SB 200 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
5/04 SB 200 Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange Bill Passed - House (44 - 21)
2/21 SB 228 Prohibits Creation of Health Insurance Exchange Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/22 SB 254 Eminent Domain Over Federal Property Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
6/27 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
6/29 SB 29 Restricts Certain Types of Touching During Searches by Government Officials Motion Rejected - House (96 - 26)

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