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. 1, 2013 | National | HR 6726 | Congressional Pay Freeze and Fiscal Responsibility Act | Bill Passed - House (287 - 129) |
Jan. 28, 2013 | National | HR 152 | Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
Jan. 15, 2013 | National | HR 152 | Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 180) |
Jan. 15, 2013 | National | H Amdt 4 | Offsets Cost of Disaster Relief Appropriations Through Discretionary Budget Cuts | Amendment Rejected - House (162 - 258) |
Jan. 31, 2013 | National | HR 325 | No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 34) |
Jan. 23, 2013 | National | HR 325 | No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (285 - 144) |
Feb. 7, 2013 | IN | HB 1005 | Changes Eligibility for College Financial Aid | Bill Passed - House (86 - 13) |
Feb. 14, 2013 | ID | H 88 | Expands Tax Credit for New Employees | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
Feb. 28, 2013 | AL | HB 84 | Authorizes Schools to Apply for Waivers from State Laws | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 11) |
Feb. 14, 2013 | IA | SF 161 | Establishes the School Budget Growth for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | KS | SCR 1608 | Authorizes the Legislature To Have Sole Authority on School Funding | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 21, 2013 | AZ | HB 2147 | Requires Individuals Seeking Unemployment Benefits to Provide Proof of Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (36 - 23) |
April 9, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
Feb. 25, 2013 | IN | HB 1001 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
Feb. 22, 2013 | SD | HB 1214 | Authorizes Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (39 - 28) |
Feb. 18, 2013 | AR | HB 1295 | Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (69 - 21) |
May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 55) |
May 27, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 55) |
Feb. 28, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
Feb. 28, 2013 | IL | SB 26 | Expands Medicaid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 19) |
Feb. 21, 2013 | CO | HB 1081 | Expands Sexual Education Curriculum | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | KY | HB 416 | Establishes the Kentucky Retirement Systems Sustainability Trust Fund | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 28) |
March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 6) |
Feb. 27, 2013 | KY | SB 2 | Amends the State Employee Pension Program | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
Feb. 23, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 22, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 40) |
Feb. 13, 2013 | VA | HB 2313 | Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14) |
March 6, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - House (267 - 151) |
Feb. 26, 2013 | NC | SB 4 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 16) |
Feb. 26, 2013 | NC | SB 4 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 40) |
March 7, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28) |
March 4, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - House (72 - 58) |
March 15, 2013 | National | HR 803 | Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act (SKILLS Act) | Bill Passed - House (215 - 202) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | ND | SB 2267 | Appropriates Funding for School Safety | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
March 13, 2013 | National | S Amdt 30 | To Prohibit the Use of Funds to Carry Out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 52) |
March 21, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (318 - 109) |
March 20, 2013 | National | HR 933 | Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 | Bill Passed - Senate (73 - 26) |
March 18, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 28) |
March 14, 2013 | MN | HF 5 | Establishes the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange | Conference Report Adopted - House (72 - 61) |
March 21, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Conference Report Adopted - House (63 - 28) |
March 20, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 6) |
March 13, 2013 | OH | HB 51 | Establishes Transportation Appropriations and Highway Speed Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
March 7, 2013 | CA | SB 1-1 | Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
March 5, 2013 | ID | HB 206 | Appropriates Funding for Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
March 21, 2013 | KS | HB 2143 | 2013-2018 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
March 7, 2013 | CA | AB 1-1 | Expands Eligibility for Medi-Cal Program | Bill Passed - House (54 - 22) |
May 2, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
May 2, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - House (62 - 51) |
March 20, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22) |
March 20, 2013 | IL | SB 1 | Amends State Employee Pension Plans | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 22) |
March 21, 2013 | IL | HB 1165 | Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
March 21, 2013 | IL | HB 1165 | Establishes Cost of Living Adjustments in Pensions | Bill Passed - House (66 - 50) |
March 21, 2013 | National | H Con Res 25 | Establishing the Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014 and Setting Forth Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (221 - 207) |
March 23, 2013 | National | S Con Res 8 | An Original Concurrent Resolution Setting Forth the Congressional Budget for the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2014, Revising the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Year 2013, and Setting Forth the Appropriate Budgetary Levels for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2023 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (50 - 49) |
March 13, 2013 | UT | HB 391 | Prohibits Medicaid Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 23) |
March 13, 2013 | UT | HB 96 | Extends Tax Credits for Certain Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 12) |
March 25, 2013 | MD | HB 228 | Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
March 22, 2013 | MD | HB 860 | Authorizes Construction and Renovation of Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
March 27, 2013 | MD | SB 274 | Expands Medicaid Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
March 26, 2013 | IA | SF 423 | Amends Education Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
April 5, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30) |
March 26, 2013 | KS | SB 199 | Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center | Bill Passed - House (90 - 32) |
March 29, 2013 | VT | H 530 | 2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (91 - 49) |
April 1, 2013 | IA | SF 429 | 2013-14 Community Colleges Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
April 3, 2013 | NH | HB 1 | 2013-2015 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (194 - 172) |
March 27, 2013 | NH | HB 617 | Increases Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Tax | Bill Passed - House (206 - 158) |
April 16, 2013 | IA | SF 430 | 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
April 3, 2013 | IA | SF 430 | 2013-2014 Economic Development Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
April 17, 2013 | AR | HB 1219 | Appropriates Funds for Private Health Insurance Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
April 16, 2013 | AR | HB 1219 | Appropriates Funds for Private Health Insurance Purchases | Bill Passed - House (77 - 23) |
April 1, 2013 | NV | SJR 15 | Removes the Separate Tax Rate on Mining | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
April 16, 2013 | WI | AB 82 | Prohibits the Unauthorized Transfer of Food Stamps | Bill Passed - House (73 - 24) |
April 24, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
Feb. 16, 2013 | MT | SB 81 | Establishes Tax Deductions for Donations to Educational Charities | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20) |
April 8, 2013 | MA | H 3382 | Expands Retail Tax to Include Computer System Design Services | Bill Passed - House (97 - 55) |
March 25, 2013 | WA | SB 5802 | Authorizes a Carbon Emissions Reduction Study | Bill Passed - House (61 - 32) |
March 13, 2013 | WA | SB 5802 | Authorizes a Carbon Emissions Reduction Study | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
April 23, 2013 | IA | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
April 17, 2013 | IA | SF 447 | 2013-2014 Justice Department Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
April 16, 2013 | IA | SF 439 | Establishes a Tax Credit for Farmers Who Donate to Food Banks | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
April 24, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
April 24, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
April 11, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
April 11, 2013 | OR | SB 822 | Amends the Public Employee Retirement System | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
April 16, 2013 | IA | SF 440 | Appropriates Funds for Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
March 6, 2013 | OK | HB 1908 | Establishes a Marriage Promotion Campaign | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
April 16, 2013 | MN | SF 1589 | Increases Legislator Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 32) |
April 15, 2013 | IN | SB 487 | Establishes Regulations for Hunting Preserves | Bill Passed - House (52 - 39) |
April 24, 2013 | AL | SB 191 | Requires Drug Testing for Certain Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
April 8, 2013 | AR | SB 875 | Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
April 8, 2013 | AR | SB 875 | Reduces Maximum Weekly Unemployment Benefit Amounts | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
April 17, 2013 | MN | SF 1236 | Increases Funds for Higher Education | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 18) |
March 5, 2013 | HI | SB 69 | Requires Background Checks at Gun Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
April 18, 2013 | CA | SB 140 | Appropriates Funds to the Armed Prohibited Persons System | Bill Passed - House (65 - 10) |
April 3, 2013 | WV | HB 2805 | Establishes a Public Campaign Financing Program for Supreme Court of Appeals Candidates | Bill Passed - House (70 - 29) |
April 30, 2013 | OR | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
April 23, 2013 | OR | SB 833 | Authorizes Drivers Licenses for Individuals Without Legal Proof of US Residence | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
April 18, 2013 | OH | HB 59 | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (61 - 35) |