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. 14, 2012 | MI | HB 5711 | Increases Requirements on Facilities that Provide Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
Dec. 14, 2012 | MI | HB 5711 | Increases Requirements on Facilities that Provide Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (72 - 35) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 26) |
Aug. 27, 2012 | CA | AB 2348 | Authorizes Registered Nurses to Dispense Contraceptives | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 28) |
Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 1640 | Expands Cash Assistance Programs for Pregnant Teenagers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Aug. 22, 2012 | CA | AB 2348 | Authorizes Registered Nurses to Dispense Contraceptives | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
July 31, 2012 | National | HR 3803 | District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act | Bill Failed - House (220 - 154) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | HB 1679 | Prohibits Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | HB 1679 | Prohibits Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 118) |
June 27, 2012 | NH | HB 217 | Prohibits Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | Veto Override Failed - House (201 - 126) |
June 21, 2012 | NJ | S 1599 | Amends Surrogacy Laws | Bill Passed - House (41 - 33) |
June 7, 2012 | National | HR 5855 | Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2013 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 182) |
May 31, 2012 | LA | SB 708 | Amends Abortion Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
May 31, 2012 | National | HR 3541 | Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2012 | Bill Failed - House (246 - 168) |
May 31, 2012 | NJ | S 1599 | Amends Surrogacy Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
May 30, 2012 | NH | HB 217 | Prohibits Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (210 - 108) |
May 16, 2012 | NH | HB 217 | Prohibits Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
May 8, 2012 | AL | SB 10 | Prohibits Insurance from Providing Coverage for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (76 - 28) |
May 7, 2012 | KS | SB 313 | Prohibits Certain Abortion-Related Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (88 - 31) |
April 27, 2012 | TN | SB 3310 | Requires Abstinence-Centered Sex Education in Schools | Bill Passed - House (68 - 23) |
April 27, 2012 | CO | SM 3 | Urges Congress to Authorize Religious Exemptions to Providing Birth Control | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
April 25, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 9) |
April 25, 2012 | NH | HB 1679 | Prohibits Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 5) |
April 24, 2012 | TN | HB 3808 | Requires Publication of Abortion Statistics | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
April 24, 2012 | AZ | HB 2800 | Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
April 23, 2012 | MN | HF 2341 | Requires Physicians to Administer Abortion Drugs In Person | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 25) |
April 20, 2012 | MN | SF 1921 | Increases Requirements for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - House (80 - 47) |
April 19, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Conference Report Adopted - House (36 - 21) |
April 19, 2012 | OK | SB 1274 | Requires physicians inform abortion patients of fetal heartbeat | Bill Passed - House (75 - 12) |
April 18, 2012 | MN | HF 2341 | Requires Physicians to Administer Abortion Drugs In Person | Bill Passed - House (80 - 48) |
April 18, 2012 | MN | SF 1921 | Increases Requirements for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 23) |
April 12, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
April 12, 2012 | IA | S 5206 | Prohibits State Funding For Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 25) |
April 11, 2012 | NE | LB 599 | Prenatal Care for Children of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
April 10, 2012 | AZ | HB 2036 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 22) |
April 10, 2012 | MS | SB 2771 | Expands Penalties for Child Homicide | Bill Passed - House (83 - 34) |
March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 954 | Prohibits Abortions after 20 Weeks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 19) |
March 29, 2012 | GA | HB 954 | Prohibits Abortions after 20 Weeks | Conference Report Adopted - House (106 - 59) |
March 29, 2012 | KS | SB 62 | Authorizes Medical Professionals and Facilities to Not Provide Referrals for Abortions or Sterilizations | Bill Passed - House (95 - 29) |
March 29, 2012 | TN | HB 3808 | Requires Publication of Abortion Statistics | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
March 29, 2012 | IL | Amendment No. 4 | Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs | Amendment Rejected - House (32 - 68) |
March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
March 29, 2012 | NH | HB 1660 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - House (190 - 109) |
March 29, 2012 | MO | SB 749 | Authorizes Employers to Exempt Contraception from Healthcare Coverage | (26 - 5) |
March 29, 2012 | MO | HB 1541 | Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures. | Bill Passed - House (113 - 41) |
March 28, 2012 | NH | HB 1659 | Requires a 24 Hour Waiting Period Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (185 - 138) |
March 28, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
March 27, 2012 | AZ | HB 2036 | Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
March 26, 2012 | GA | HB 954 | Prohibits Abortions after 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19) |
March 26, 2012 | VA | Saslaw Amdt | Requires Reimbursement of the Full Cost of Ultrasounds Required Prior to Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 20) |
March 23, 2012 | ID | SJM 104 | Urging Congress to Repeal Insurance Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (51 - 16) |
March 19, 2012 | CO | HB 1130 | Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
March 19, 2012 | ID | S 1387 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
March 15, 2012 | MS | HB 790 | Regulates Certain Drugs Used for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (78 - 35) |
March 14, 2012 | NH | HB 1679 | Prohibits Partial Birth/Late Term Abortions | Bill Passed - House (224 - 110) |
March 14, 2012 | MS | HB 1196 | Additional Requirements for Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected | Bill Passed - House (77 - 37) |
March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 237 | Amending Sexual Education Guidelines | Bill Passed - House (60 - 34) |
March 13, 2012 | WI | SB 92 | Prohibits Abortion Coverage through Healthcare Insurance Exchanges | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
March 13, 2012 | MS | HB 1390 | Establishes Additional Requirements for Physicians who Perform Abortions | Bill Passed - House (80 - 37) |
March 13, 2012 | MI | HB 4799 | Prohibits Coercing a Woman into Having an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (72 - 37) |
March 7, 2012 | NH | HB 1546 | Authorizes Employers to Not Provide Contraception Coverage in Health Insurance Plans | Bill Passed - House (196 - 150) |
March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 460 | Exempts Religious Employers from Insurance Requirements for Coverage of Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 15) |
March 7, 2012 | GA | SB 438 | Prohibits State Employee Insurance Coverage of Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 18) |
March 6, 2012 | UT | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
March 6, 2012 | OK | SB 1274 | Requires physicians inform abortion patients of fetal heartbeat | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
March 6, 2012 | AZ | SB 1359 | Prohibits Wrongful Birth Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
March 5, 2012 | AZ | HB 2800 | Prohibits State Funding for Abortion Providers | Bill Passed - House (41 - 17) |
March 5, 2012 | UT | HB 461 | Requires a 72 hour waiting period prior to an abortion | Bill Passed - House (59 - 11) |
March 1, 2012 | VA | HB 462 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 35) |
March 1, 2012 | AZ | HB 2625 | Authorizes Employers to Refuse to Provide Coverage for Contraception | Bill Passed - House (39 - 18) |
March 1, 2012 | FL | HB 277 | Prohibits Abortions During the Third Trimester | Bill Passed - House (78 - 33) |
Feb. 29, 2012 | GA | HB 954 | Prohibits Abortions after 20 Weeks | Bill Passed - House (102 - 65) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | VA | HB 462 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 28, 2012 | WY | HJR 7 | Requests the President to Repeal the Rule Requiring Coverage of Contraception | Joint Resolution Passed - House (40 - 17) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | VA | SB 484 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (65 - 32) |
Feb. 22, 2012 | WI | SB 306 | Requires Physicians Performing Abortions to Determine if the Woman's Consent is Voluntary | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
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 | HB 363 | Requires Abstinence-Only Sexual Education in Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (45 - 28) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | OK | SB 1433 | Defines life as beginning at conception | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
Feb. 15, 2012 | OK | SB 1433 | Defines life as beginning at conception | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
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. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 462 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - House (63 - 36) |
Feb. 14, 2012 | VA | HB 1 | Defines Life as Beginning at Conception | Bill Passed - House (66 - 32) |
Feb. 13, 2012 | WA | HB 2330 | Requires Health Insurers to Cover Abortion | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
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. 3, 2012 | VA | HB 62 | Prohibits State Funding for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (64 - 35) |
Feb. 1, 2012 | VA | SB 484 | Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Jan. 18, 2012 | NH | HB 228 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Abortion | Bill Passed - House (207 - 147) |
Jan. 4, 2012 | NH | HB 217 | Prohibits Violent Offenses Against Fetuses | Bill Passed - House (213 - 125) |