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
Feb. 1, 2023 KS HB 2015 Authorizes Employment Agency Designees to Petition for Mandatory Infectious Disease Testing Bill Passed - House (116 - 6)
July 26, 2022 National HR 8454 Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act Bill Passed - House (325 - 95)
April 4, 2022 National HR 5657 Medical Marijuana Research Act Bill Passed - House (343 - 75)
Feb. 9, 2022 MI HB 5558 Prohibits Research on Stem Cells Obtained from an Abortion Bill Passed - House (55 - 51)
Feb. 9, 2022 MI HB 5559 Classifies Performing Research on the Tissue of an Aborted Fetus as a Felony Bill Passed - House (55 - 51)
Feb. 4, 2022 National HR 4521 America COMPETES Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
Oct. 19, 2020 PA SB 1199 Specifies Provisions for Personal Delivery Devices Bill Passed - House (105 - 97)
March 31, 2017 MT HB 622 Revises Programs, Funds, and Regulations Related to Invasive Species Bill Passed - House (100 - 0)
March 30, 2017 National HR 1431 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (229 - 193)
March 29, 2017 National HR 1430 Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (228 - 194)
Jan. 31, 2017 RI HB 5098 Exempts University Researchers from Public Records Requests Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
Feb. 10, 2016 National HR 3293 Scientific Research in the National Interest Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 178)
June 3, 2015 National HR 2578 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 Bill Passed - House (242 - 183)
May 21, 2015 National HR 2262 Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (284 - 133)
May 20, 2015 National HR 1806 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (217 - 205)
March 20, 2015 NM SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
May 23, 2014 OK SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
May 9, 2014 National HR 4438 American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (274 - 131)
May 1, 2014 MN SF 2047 Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
April 24, 2014 OK SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
March 5, 2014 OK HB 2638 Requires an Individual Arrested for Certain Crimes to Submit DNA Bill Failed - House (35 - 51)
Feb. 25, 2014 OK HB 2070 Prohibits Certain Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - House (73 - 14)
Dec. 11, 2013 National HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
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)
Nov. 30, 2012 National HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (245 - 139)
Sept. 20, 2012 National HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Failed - House (257 - 158)
Aug. 22, 2012 CA SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
March 29, 2012 MO HB 1541 Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. Bill Passed - House (113 - 41)
March 26, 2012 TN HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23)
March 15, 2012 OK HB 1551 Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories Bill Passed - House (56 - 12)
Feb. 29, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33)
Feb. 13, 2012 SD HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
Oct. 26, 2011 CT SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
Sept. 23, 2011 MO HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
April 7, 2011 TN HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
May 28, 2010 National HR 5116 Science and Technology Funding Bill Passed - House (262 - 150)
May 19, 2010 National HR 5325 Science and Technology Funding Bill Failed - House (261 - 148)
April 28, 2010 AZ SB 1307 Treatment of Human Embryos Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2010 SD HB 1083 Appropriations for the Sanford Lab at Homestake Bill Failed - House (45 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2010 OK HB 2430 2010-2011 Space Industry Development Authority Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
Aug. 5, 2009 NC SB 138 Banning Salvia Divinorum Bill Passed - House (96 - 15)
April 23, 2009 OK HB 1326 Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research Veto Override Passed - House (68 - 26)
March 20, 2009 NM SB 77 Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
Feb. 26, 2009 National HR 1105 2009 Budget Bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 178)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
May 7, 2008 MN Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69)
May 7, 2008 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - House (71 - 62)
April 29, 2008 RI H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
April 28, 2008 FL SB 2692 Teaching Evolution in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (71 - 43)
April 15, 2008 LA HB 370 Banning Public Funds for Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (90 - 9)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 26, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
June 21, 2007 OR HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
June 7, 2007 National S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (247 - 176)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
March 1, 2007 IL HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
Feb. 22, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
Jan. 11, 2007 National HR 3 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (253 - 174)
July 19, 2006 National HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Veto Override Failed - House (235 - 193)
July 18, 2006 National S 2754 Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act Bill Failed - House (273 - 154)
June 29, 2006 National HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
April 20, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
April 19, 2006 NH SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Resolution Passed - House (198 - 140)
April 18, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
April 17, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Failed - House (25 - 30)
April 12, 2006 MO HA 9 Eminent Domain Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129)
April 12, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
April 6, 2006 FL A 990241 Stem Cell Research Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
March 23, 2006 MD Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
March 3, 2006 MD HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
March 2, 2006 OK HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
March 1, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
Jan. 3, 2006 RI H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
Nov. 9, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
July 22, 2005 National H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
June 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
May 24, 2005 National HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
March 17, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214)
Feb. 27, 2003 National HR 534 Cloning of Humans bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 155)
July 31, 2001 National H Amdt 285 Human Cloning Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (178 - 249)
July 31, 2001 National HR 2505 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (265 - 162)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
Sept. 9, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
Sept. 8, 1999 National H Amdt 423 International Space Station Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (121 - 298)
June 4, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
July 11, 1996 National H Amdt 1276 Human Embryo Research Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 256)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/01 HB 2015 Authorizes Employment Agency Designees to Petition for Mandatory Infectious Disease Testing Bill Passed - House (116 - 6)
7/26 HR 8454 Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act Bill Passed - House (325 - 95)
4/04 HR 5657 Medical Marijuana Research Act Bill Passed - House (343 - 75)
2/09 HB 5558 Prohibits Research on Stem Cells Obtained from an Abortion Bill Passed - House (55 - 51)
2/09 HB 5559 Classifies Performing Research on the Tissue of an Aborted Fetus as a Felony Bill Passed - House (55 - 51)
2/04 HR 4521 America COMPETES Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (222 - 210)
10/19 SB 1199 Specifies Provisions for Personal Delivery Devices Bill Passed - House (105 - 97)
3/31 HB 622 Revises Programs, Funds, and Regulations Related to Invasive Species Bill Passed - House (100 - 0)
3/30 HR 1431 EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (229 - 193)
3/29 HR 1430 Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment Act of 2017 Bill Passed - House (228 - 194)
1/31 HB 5098 Exempts University Researchers from Public Records Requests Bill Passed - House (59 - 8)
2/10 HR 3293 Scientific Research in the National Interest Act Bill Passed - House (236 - 178)
6/03 HR 2578 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 Bill Passed - House (242 - 183)
5/21 HR 2262 Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (284 - 133)
5/20 HR 1806 America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 Bill Passed - House (217 - 205)
3/20 SB 94 Authorizes Industrial Hemp Research Bill Passed - House (54 - 12)
5/23 SB 1848 Amends Standards for Abortion Facilities Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 8)
5/09 HR 4438 American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014 Bill Passed - House (274 - 131)
5/01 SF 2047 Authorizes State to Store Infant Blood Samples Bill Passed - House (69 - 58)
4/24 SB 1848 Prohibits Nontherapeutic Research on Human Embryos and Establishes Standards for Abortion Providers Bill Passed - House (75 - 15)
3/05 HB 2638 Requires an Individual Arrested for Certain Crimes to Submit DNA Bill Failed - House (35 - 51)
2/25 HB 2070 Prohibits Certain Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - House (73 - 14)
12/11 HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
4/05 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Conference Report Adopted - House (90 - 30)
3/26 SB 199 Establishes the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center Bill Passed - House (90 - 32)
11/30 HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Passed - House (245 - 139)
9/20 HR 6429 STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Bill Failed - House (257 - 158)
8/22 SB 1221 Prohibits the Use of Dogs to Hunt Bears or Bobcats Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
3/29 HB 1541 Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. Bill Passed - House (113 - 41)
3/26 HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 23)
3/15 HB 1551 Authorizes the Instruction of Various Scientific Theories Bill Passed - House (56 - 12)
2/29 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 33)
2/13 HB 1234 Eliminates Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - House (41 - 28)
10/26 SB 1401 Establishes the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program Bill Passed - House (101 - 41)
9/23 SB 7 Incentives for Science-Based Businesses Bill Passed - House (94 - 48)
9/23 HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
9/23 HA 1 to SB 7 Prohibits Public Funding for Certain Life Science Research Projects Amendment Rejected - House (68 - 74)
4/07 HB 368 Scientific Theories in the Classroom Bill Passed - House (70 - 23)
5/28 HR 5116 Science and Technology Funding Bill Passed - House (262 - 150)
5/19 HR 5325 Science and Technology Funding Bill Failed - House (261 - 148)
4/28 SB 1307 Treatment of Human Embryos Bill Passed - House (35 - 24)
2/23 HB 1083 Appropriations for the Sanford Lab at Homestake Bill Failed - House (45 - 23)
2/04 HB 2430 2010-2011 Space Industry Development Authority Budget Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
8/05 SB 138 Banning Salvia Divinorum Bill Passed - House (96 - 15)
4/23 HB 1326 Ban on Certain Types of Stem Cell Research Veto Override Passed - House (68 - 26)
3/20 SB 77 Allowing Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (30 - 38)
2/26 HR 1105 2009 Budget Bill Bill Passed - House (245 - 178)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
6/11 SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
5/29 AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
5/07 Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69)
5/07 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - House (71 - 62)
4/29 H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
4/28 SB 2692 Teaching Evolution in Public Schools Bill Passed - House (71 - 43)
4/15 HB 370 Banning Public Funds for Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (90 - 9)
3/20 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
2/27 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
2/13 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/26 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
6/21 HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
6/07 S 5 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (247 - 176)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
3/01 HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
2/22 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/05 Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
1/11 HR 3 Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (253 - 174)
7/19 HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Veto Override Failed - House (235 - 193)
7/18 S 2754 Alternative Stem Cell Therapies Act Bill Failed - House (273 - 154)
6/29 HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
4/20 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
4/19 SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Resolution Passed - House (198 - 140)
4/18 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
4/17 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Failed - House (25 - 30)
4/12 HA 9 Eminent Domain Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129)
4/12 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
4/06 A 990241 Stem Cell Research Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 73)
3/23 Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
3/03 HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
3/02 HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
3/01 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
1/03 H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
11/09 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
7/22 H Amdt 511 Advanced Research Opportunities Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (192 - 206)
6/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (418 - 7)
5/24 HR 810 Stem Cell Research Bill of 2005 Bill Passed - House (238 - 194)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
3/17 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - House (218 - 214)
2/27 HR 534 Cloning of Humans bill Bill Passed - House (241 - 155)
7/31 H Amdt 285 Human Cloning Substitute Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (178 - 249)
7/31 HR 2505 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (265 - 162)
10/14 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
9/09 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Bill Passed - House (235 - 187)
9/08 H Amdt 423 International Space Station Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (121 - 298)
6/04 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
7/25 H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
7/11 H Amdt 1276 Human Embryo Research Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (167 - 256)

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