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
March 5, 2012 AZ SB 1495 Requires Drug Test for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Aug. 27, 2012 CA AB 472 Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 24)
Aug. 22, 2012 CA AB 472 Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 31, 2012 CA SB 1506 Reduces Charges for Possession of Controlled Substances Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
May 31, 2012 CA AB 2312 Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - House (41 - 30)
May 15, 2012 CO HB 1005 Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (38 - 24)
Feb. 14, 2012 CO SB 20 Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 2, 2012 CO SB 117 Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
May 4, 2012 CT HB 5389 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 25, 2012 CT HB 5389 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (96 - 51)
March 9, 2012 FL HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 2, 2012 FL HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
March 29, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 56)
March 27, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
March 7, 2012 GA HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
March 7, 2012 GA SB 292 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
March 5, 2012 GA HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
May 31, 2012 IL SB 2621 Amends the Department of Corrections' Early Release Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
Jan. 27, 2012 IN H Amdt 3 Drug and Alcohol Testing for Legislators Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 40)
Jan. 31, 2012 IN HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
March 30, 2012 KY SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
April 20, 2012 KY HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 19)
April 20, 2012 KY HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 28, 2012 KY SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
May 15, 2012 LA HB 380 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (65 - 26)
April 25, 2012 MA H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
June 7, 2012 MI HB 5223 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
June 27, 2012 NH SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Veto Override Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
April 25, 2012 NH SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (236 - 96)
March 8, 2012 NH HB 1705 Legalizes Marijuana for Individuals Over 21 Years of Age "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (228 - 89)
March 8, 2012 NH HB 1526 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (162 - 161)
March 28, 2012 NH SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
Jan. 9, 2012 NJ S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
Jan. 9, 2012 NJ S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 20, 2012 NJ A 578 Authorizes Temporary Immunity for Witnesses and Victims of a Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
June 21, 2012 NJ S 2001 Expands Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 25, 2012 NJ A 1465 Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
Oct. 17, 2012 PA SB 941 Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication Bill Passed - House (104 - 87)
May 16, 2012 RI H 7888 A Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - House (64 - 7)
June 5, 2012 RI S 2253 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
June 5, 2012 RI H 7092 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (50 - 24)
May 9, 2012 RI S 2555 A Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
April 25, 2012 TN SB 2580 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
March 1, 2012 UT HB 155 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2012 VA SB 6 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
March 5, 2012 WY HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2012 WY HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/05 SB 1495 Requires Drug Test for Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
8/27 AB 472 Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 24)
8/22 AB 472 Authorizes Immunity for Reporting Drug Overdoses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/31 SB 1506 Reduces Charges for Possession of Controlled Substances Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 24)
5/31 AB 2312 Regulations for Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - House (41 - 30)
5/15 HB 1005 Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (38 - 24)
2/14 SB 20 Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/02 SB 117 Establishes Limits for Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
5/04 HB 5389 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/25 HB 5389 Authorizes the Use of Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (96 - 51)
3/09 HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/02 HB 1205 Authorizes Random Drug Tests of State Employees Bill Passed - House (79 - 37)
3/29 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (110 - 56)
3/27 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15)
3/07 HB 861 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (114 - 59)
3/07 SB 292 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18)
3/05 HB 972 Regulation of Pain Management Clinics Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
5/31 SB 2621 Amends the Department of Corrections' Early Release Program Bill Passed - House (68 - 50)
1/27 H Amdt 3 Drug and Alcohol Testing for Legislators Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 40)
1/31 HB 1007 Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
3/30 SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
4/20 HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 19)
4/20 HB 1 Requires Use of Prescription Monitoring System by Physicians Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/28 SB 3 Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
5/15 HB 380 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (65 - 26)
4/25 H Amdt 804.1 Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards Amendment Adopted - House (123 - 33)
6/07 HB 5223 Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (71 - 37)
6/27 SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Veto Override Failed - Senate (13 - 10)
4/25 SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (236 - 96)
3/08 HB 1705 Legalizes Marijuana for Individuals Over 21 Years of Age "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (228 - 89)
3/08 HB 1526 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (162 - 161)
3/28 SB 409 Authorizes Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
1/09 S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
1/09 S 958 Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/20 A 578 Authorizes Temporary Immunity for Witnesses and Victims of a Drug Overdose Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
6/21 S 2001 Expands Syringe Exchange Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/25 A 1465 Reduces Penalties for Marijuana Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
10/17 SB 941 Increases Penalties for Public Intoxication Bill Passed - House (104 - 87)
5/16 H 7888 A Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - House (64 - 7)
6/05 S 2253 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6)
6/05 H 7092 Reduces Penalties for Possession of Marijuana Bill Passed - House (50 - 24)
5/09 S 2555 A Authorizes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 3)
4/25 SB 2580 Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
3/01 HB 155 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (62 - 10)
2/14 SB 6 Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20)
3/05 HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
2/27 HB 82 Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)

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