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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 10, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
Dec. 4, 2014 | OH | HB 661 | Increases Salaries of Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (56 - 26) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35) |
Dec. 3, 2014 | MI | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (75 - 34) |
Oct. 23, 2014 | NJ | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 18, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
Sept. 18, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
Sept. 17, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1141 | Authorizes Aid to Syrian Opposition | Amendment Adopted - House (273 - 156) |
Sept. 17, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (319 - 108) |
Sept. 17, 2014 | National | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (319 - 108) |
Aug. 30, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
Aug. 29, 2014 | CA | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
Aug. 1, 2014 | National | HR 5230 | Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (223 - 189) |
July 31, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | (81 - 13) |
July 29, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
July 29, 2014 | National | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
July 28, 2014 | NC | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1086 | Prohibits States from Penalizing a Bank for Providing Financial Services to Marijuana Businesses | Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1098 | Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (241 - 181) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1093 | Prohibits Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from Preventing States from Implementing Broadband Internet Access Service Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 200) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1079 | Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from Providing Bonuses to Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (282 - 138) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1083 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
July 16, 2014 | National | H Amdt 1083 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
July 16, 2014 | National | HR 5016 | Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
July 15, 2014 | National | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (367 - 55) |
July 1, 2014 | DE | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - House (27 - 10) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
June 26, 2014 | NJ | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
June 25, 2014 | DE | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
June 16, 2014 | RI | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
June 15, 2014 | CA | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
June 15, 2014 | CA | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 24) |
June 13, 2014 | RI | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (63 - 12) |
June 12, 2014 | MA | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 815 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Acquire Traffic Cameras | Amendment Adopted - House (255 - 171) |
June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 823 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the California High-Speed Rail | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 186) |
June 10, 2014 | National | H Amdt 813 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement a Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 207) |
June 10, 2014 | National | HR 4745 | Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 192) |
June 9, 2014 | National | H Amdt 783 | Reduces Appropriations to Amtrak | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 248) |
June 5, 2014 | RI | S 2796A | Establishes Preference In State and Business Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
June 4, 2014 | OH | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 7) |
June 4, 2014 | OH | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
June 4, 2014 | SC | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
June 4, 2014 | SC | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 28) |
June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
June 3, 2014 | MI | HB 5574 | Appropriates Funds to the Michigan Settlement Administration Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
May 30, 2014 | IL | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/10 | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
12/10 | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
12/04 | HB 661 | Increases Salaries of Elected Officials | Bill Passed - House (56 - 26) |
12/03 | HB 4118 | Requires Drug Testing For Certain Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 35) |
12/03 | SB 275 | Requires Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (75 - 34) |
10/23 | A 939 | Amends Tax Expenditure Report | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
9/18 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
9/18 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (78 - 22) |
9/17 | H Amdt 1141 | Authorizes Aid to Syrian Opposition | Amendment Adopted - House (273 - 156) |
9/17 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (319 - 108) |
9/17 | H J Res 124 | Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 | Joint Resolution Passed - House (319 - 108) |
8/30 | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 25) |
8/29 | AB 1522 | Requires Paid Sick Leave for Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
8/01 | HR 5230 | Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2014, and for Other Purposes | Bill Passed - House (223 - 189) |
7/31 | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | (81 - 13) |
7/29 | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 18) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3584 | Transportation Empowerment Act | Amendment Rejected - Senate (28 - 69) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3583 | Appropriates Funds to the Highway Trust Fund | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 31) |
7/29 | S Amdt 3585 | Exempts Infrastructure Damaged by Natural Disasters from Environmental Reviews | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
7/28 | HB 1181 | Establishes Commercial Managed Care for Medicaid Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1086 | Prohibits States from Penalizing a Bank for Providing Financial Services to Marijuana Businesses | Amendment Adopted - House (231 - 192) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1098 | Prohibits District of Columbia from Implementing Certain Firearm Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (241 - 181) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1093 | Prohibits Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from Preventing States from Implementing Broadband Internet Access Service Laws | Amendment Adopted - House (223 - 200) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1079 | Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from Providing Bonuses to Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (282 - 138) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1083 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
7/16 | H Amdt 1083 | Prohibits Federal Agencies from Paying Federal Employees Certain Pay Rates | Amendment Rejected - House (193 - 230) |
7/16 | HR 5016 | Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 195) |
7/15 | HR 5021 | Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 | Bill Passed - House (367 - 55) |
7/01 | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - House (27 - 10) |
6/26 | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 34) |
6/26 | S 2264 | Authorizes Additional Teacher Pension Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
6/25 | SB 220 | Appropriates Funds for State Casino Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
6/16 | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
6/15 | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11) |
6/15 | SB 852 | 2014-2015 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (55 - 24) |
6/13 | H 7133AAA | 2014-2015 Budget | Bill Passed - House (63 - 12) |
6/12 | H 4111 | Appropriates Funds for the Expansion of the Boston Convention Center | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
6/10 | H Amdt 815 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Acquire Traffic Cameras | Amendment Adopted - House (255 - 171) |
6/10 | H Amdt 823 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used for the California High-Speed Rail | Amendment Adopted - House (227 - 186) |
6/10 | H Amdt 813 | Prohibits Funds from Being Used to Implement a Department of Housing and Urban Development Plan | Amendment Adopted - House (219 - 207) |
6/10 | HR 4745 | Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 | Bill Passed - House (229 - 192) |
6/09 | H Amdt 783 | Reduces Appropriations to Amtrak | Amendment Rejected - House (154 - 248) |
6/05 | S 2796A | Establishes Preference In State and Business Contracts | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
6/04 | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 7) |
6/04 | HB 483 | Reduces State Income Tax Rates | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 33) |
6/04 | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 10) |
6/04 | H 4701 | 2014-2015 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (85 - 28) |
6/03 | HB 5575 | Establishes the Mighigan Settlement Authority Administration | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
6/03 | HB 5574 | Appropriates Funds to the Michigan Settlement Administration Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
5/30 | SB 274 | Requires Salary Payments to State Legislators | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 18) |