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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
Jan. 19, 2012 | CO | HR 1003 | Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Resolution Passed - House (33 - 31) |
Jan. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 1112 | Repeals HPV Vaccine Requirement | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
Jan. 27, 2012 | IN | H Amdt 3 | Drug and Alcohol Testing for Legislators | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 40) |
Jan. 26, 2012 | CA | SB 810 | Establishes a Single-Payer Health Care System | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 15) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | National | HR 1173 | Repeals the CLASS Act | Bill Passed - House (267 - 159) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | National | HR 1173 | Repeals the CLASS Act | Bill Passed - House (267 - 159) |
March 9, 2012 | IN | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 22) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | IN | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1149 | Prohibits Smoking in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1007 | Requires Drug Testing for TANF Applicants | Bill Passed - House (73 - 23) |
Feb. 8, 2012 | KY | SB 102 | Specifies Conditions for Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
Feb. 8, 2012 | KY | SB 102 | Specifies Conditions for Informed Consent | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
Feb. 9, 2012 | AZ | SB 1061 | Authorizes Schools to Opt-Out of the National School Lunch Program | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 37) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 6) |
Feb. 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
Feb. 9, 2012 | FL | HB 5001 | 2012-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - House (79 - 38) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | UT | SB 32 | Breast Cancer Screening | Bill Passed - House (66 - 6) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | UT | SB 32 | Breast Cancer Screening | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | SB 6 | Requires Drug Tests for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | KY | SB 103 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | KY | SB 103 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | OR | SB 1580 | Amends State Health Plan | Bill Passed - House (53 - 7) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | OR | SB 1580 | Amends State Health Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | WI | SB 368 | Amends Wetland Development Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | OK | SB 1433 | Defines life as beginning at conception | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
Feb. 13, 2012 | WA | HB 2330 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | FL | HB 7087 | Increases Certain Business Tax Credits and Sales Tax Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (92 - 22) |
March 27, 2012 | GA | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Failed - House (67 - 93) |
Feb. 17, 2012 | GA | SB 362 | Authorizes the Recovery and Sale of Deadhead Logs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
Jan. 31, 2012 | IN | HB 1269 | Authorizes Indiana to Join the Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (62 - 35) |
March 6, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | NH | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | NH | HR 29 | Urges Repeal of Rule Requiring Health Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives | Resolution Passed - House (227 - 121) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | UT | SB 41 | Authorizes Regulations of Tanning Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | KS | HCR 5007 | Authorizes Kansas to Determine Its Health Care Policies | Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14) |
Feb. 21, 2012 | WI | SJR 21 | Prohibits mandated health insurance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
Feb. 21, 2012 | UT | HB 245 | Prohibiting the Use of E-Cigarettes and Hookah Pipes in Public Places | Bill Passed - House (42 - 31) |
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) |
Feb. 23, 2012 | ID | HJM 10 | Urges Congress to Pass Rights of Conscience Act | Joint Resolution Passed - House (53 - 15) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | UT | HB 283 | Authorizing State Liquor Stores to Open on Certain Holidays | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
Feb. 24, 2012 | VT | H 559 | Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - House (88 - 38) |
Feb. 24, 2012 | VT | H 559 | Establishes a Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - House (88 - 38) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | SD | HB 1206 | Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 6) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | SD | HB 1206 | Repeals the South Dakota Sales Tax on Food Refund Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | National | HR 1837 | Water Resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley | Bill Passed - House (246 - 175) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
March 10, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 33) |
March 10, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | WV | HB 4486 | Requires Insurance Policy Disclosure When a Claim is Filed | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | CO | SB 20 | Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | CO | SB 20 | Authorizes Legal Immunity to Drug Overdose Reporters | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | CO | SB 93 | Requires Hospitals to Disclose Religious Objections | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
March 1, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1520 | Authorizes Moral and Religious Objections to Certain Health Care Items and Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 48) |
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 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
March 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
March 1, 2012 | VT | S 199 | Repeals Philosophical Exemption to Immunization | Motion Agreed - Senate (25 - 4) |
March 30, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
March 30, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
March 28, 2012 | KY | SB 3 | Limits Over-the-Counter Purchases of Cold Medicine | Bill Passed - House (60 - 36) |
March 1, 2012 | UT | HB 155 | Requires Drug Testing of Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (62 - 10) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 119 | Amends Personal Injury Protection Insurance Requirements and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 119 | Amends Personal Injury Protection Insurance Requirements and Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 34) |
March 5, 2012 | GA | HB 972 | Regulation of Pain Management Clinics | Bill Passed - House (124 - 38) |
March 5, 2012 | GA | HB 972 | Regulation of Pain Management Clinics | Bill Passed - House (124 - 38) |
Feb. 24, 2012 | UT | HB 198 | Prohibits Regulation of Family Food | Bill Passed - House (53 - 16) |
March 5, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
March 5, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
March 2, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (55 - 5) |
March 2, 2012 | OR | HB 4164 | Implementing the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (55 - 5) |
March 6, 2012 | AZ | SB 1359 | Prohibits Wrongful Birth Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
March 8, 2012 | National | S Amdt 1537 | Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project | Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42) |
March 5, 2012 | AZ | SB 1495 | Requires Drug Test for Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
March 3, 2012 | WA | HB 2319 | Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 39) |
March 1, 2012 | WA | HB 2319 | Requirements for Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
March 8, 2012 | FL | HB 4001 | Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
March 1, 2012 | FL | HB 4001 | Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations | Bill Passed - House (82 - 34) |
March 9, 2012 | FL | HB 1263 | Health Inspection Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 29) |