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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 25, 2008 | VA | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 17 | Elimination of Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | MO | HB 1406 | Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program | Bill Passed - House (82 - 51) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | WA | HB 2687 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | WY | HB 145 | Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | SD | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | NH | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MN | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (89 - 44) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MS | HB 1013 | Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - House (75 - 41) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MN | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| Feb. 20, 2008 | AZ | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - House (40 - 15) |
| Feb. 20, 2008 | GA | SR 845 | Regional Transportation Sales Tax | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 4) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | WA | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | WI | SB 171 | Financing of Judicial Campaigns | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| Feb. 18, 2008 | WA | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| Feb. 18, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| Feb. 15, 2008 | OR | HB 3618 | Inheritance Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | MN | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 46) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | MN | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | MS | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | NM | HB 24 | Removing Tax Restrictions for Counties and Municipalities | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | SD | HB 1124 | Teacher Compensation and Performance | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | NM | HB 237 | Mandatory Election Recounts | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | NY | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - House (92 - 40) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - House (61 - 6) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | NY | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | GA | SR 796 | Property Tax Assessment Cap | Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | GA | SR 686 | Property Tax Assessment Freeze | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3) |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | NM | SB 225 | Health Care Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19) |
| Feb. 11, 2008 | NM | HB 618 | Income Tax Overhaul | Bill Passed - House (54 - 12) |
| Feb. 10, 2008 | NM | HB 634 | Filmmakers Production Fund | Bill Passed - House (42 - 25) |
| Feb. 10, 2008 | NM | HB 661 | Affordable Housing Tax Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Feb. 8, 2008 | NM | HB 342 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (55 - 11) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | NM | HB 241 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - House (52 - 16) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | NM | HB 2 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | WA | SB 6272 | Financial Literacy for Homeowners | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | NM | HB 484 | Racetrack Tax Break | Bill Passed - House (48 - 10) |
| Feb. 6, 2008 | NM | HB 237 | Mandatory Election Recounts | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | NM | HB 147 | Health Care Commission | Bill Passed - House (56 - 6) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | NM | HB 400 | Commuter Train Funding | Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | UT | SB 35 | Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | SD | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| Feb. 5, 2008 | UT | HB 85 | Teacher Home Loan Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
| Feb. 4, 2008 | NM | SB 34 | New Mexico School for the Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | MS | HB 513 | Funding for K-12 Education and Related Activities | Bill Passed - House (95 - 26) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | GA | HB 881 | Georgia Charter Schools Commission | Bill Passed - House (119 - 48) |
| Jan. 31, 2008 | NM | HB 2 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 10) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | National | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 16 | Change in Township Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| Jan. 28, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Jan. 25, 2008 | CO | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
| Jan. 25, 2008 | MS | SB 2188 | Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| Jan. 25, 2008 | WA | HB 1551 | Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
| Jan. 24, 2008 | IN | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (93 - 1) |
| Jan. 22, 2008 | IN | Amnd. 72 | School Construction Exemption | Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44) |
| Jan. 22, 2008 | IN | SB 18 | Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47) |
| Jan. 17, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| Jan. 10, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| Jan. 10, 2008 | IL | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| Dec. 19, 2007 | National | HR 3996 | Temporary Alternative Minimum Tax Adjustment Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 64) |
| Dec. 18, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| Dec. 17, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201) |
| Dec. 17, 2007 | National | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (253 - 154) |
| Dec. 14, 2007 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/25 | HB 11 | Property Tax Exemptions | Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/25 | Amnd. 17 | Elimination of Township Assessors | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23) |
| 2/25 | HB 1406 | Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program | Bill Passed - House (82 - 51) |
| 2/25 | HB 2687 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 33) |
| 2/25 | HB 145 | Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| 2/21 | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 2/21 | CACR 34 | Constitutional Amendment to Define an Adequate Education | Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| 2/21 | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - House (89 - 44) |
| 2/21 | HB 1013 | Altering Medicaid and Medicare Eligibility and Increasing Cigarette Tax | Bill Passed - House (75 - 41) |
| 2/21 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (93 - 5) |
| 2/21 | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| 2/20 | HB 2043 | State Government Hiring Freeze | Bill Passed - House (40 - 15) |
| 2/20 | SR 845 | Regional Transportation Sales Tax | Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 4) |
| 2/19 | SB 6809 | Working Family Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| 2/19 | SB 171 | Financing of Judicial Campaigns | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 2/18 | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| 2/18 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| 2/15 | HB 3618 | Inheritance Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| 2/14 | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 46) |
| 2/14 | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17) |
| 2/14 | HB 859 | Salary Adjustments for State Officials | Bill Passed - House (61 - 60) |
| 2/14 | HB 24 | Removing Tax Restrictions for Counties and Municipalities | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
| 2/14 | HB 1124 | Teacher Compensation and Performance | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| 2/13 | HB 237 | Mandatory Election Recounts | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 2/13 | HB 1233 | Government Spending Database | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/13 | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - House (92 - 40) |
| 2/13 | HB 1085 | Constructing Science Facilities at Universities | Bill Passed - House (61 - 6) |
| 2/13 | A 9998 | New York Racing Association Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 17) |
| 2/12 | SR 796 | Property Tax Assessment Cap | Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7) |
| 2/12 | SR 686 | Property Tax Assessment Freeze | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3) |
| 2/11 | SB 225 | Health Care Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19) |
| 2/11 | HB 618 | Income Tax Overhaul | Bill Passed - House (54 - 12) |
| 2/10 | HB 634 | Filmmakers Production Fund | Bill Passed - House (42 - 25) |
| 2/10 | HB 661 | Affordable Housing Tax Relief | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 2/08 | HB 342 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (55 - 11) |
| 2/07 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
| 2/07 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (380 - 34) |
| 2/07 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| 2/07 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16) |
| 2/07 | HB 241 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - House (52 - 16) |
| 2/06 | HB 2 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4) |
| 2/06 | SB 6272 | Financial Literacy for Homeowners | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| 2/06 | HB 484 | Racetrack Tax Break | Bill Passed - House (48 - 10) |
| 2/06 | HB 237 | Mandatory Election Recounts | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| 2/05 | HB 147 | Health Care Commission | Bill Passed - House (56 - 6) |
| 2/05 | HB 400 | Commuter Train Funding | Bill Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| 2/05 | SB 35 | Salary Supplement for Math and Science Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 7) |
| 2/05 | HB 1250 | Legislative Pay Raise | Bill Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| 2/05 | HB 85 | Teacher Home Loan Program | Bill Passed - House (62 - 7) |
| 2/04 | SB 34 | New Mexico School for the Arts | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 6) |
| 1/31 | HB 513 | Funding for K-12 Education and Related Activities | Bill Passed - House (95 - 26) |
| 1/31 | HB 881 | Georgia Charter Schools Commission | Bill Passed - House (119 - 48) |
| 1/31 | HB 2 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (57 - 10) |
| 1/29 | SJR 1 | Constitutional Property Tax Cap | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| 1/29 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
| 1/29 | HR 5140 | Economic Stimulus Plan | Bill Passed - House (385 - 35) |
| 1/29 | SB 16 | Change in Township Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 1/28 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 1/25 | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
| 1/25 | SB 2188 | Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 1/25 | HB 1551 | Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
| 1/24 | HB 1001 | Property Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (93 - 1) |
| 1/22 | Amnd. 72 | School Construction Exemption | Amendment Adopted - House (49 - 44) |
| 1/22 | SB 18 | Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 1/17 | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 47) |
| 1/17 | HB 656 | Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 19) |
| 1/10 | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 51) |
| 1/10 | HB 656 | Transportation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25) |
| 1/07 | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 1/07 | A 500 | Education Funding Reform | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| 12/19 | HR 3996 | Temporary Alternative Minimum Tax Adjustment Act of 2007 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (352 - 64) |
| 12/18 | HR 2764 | Inclusion of Iraq and Afghanistan Military Operations Funding with the Consolidated Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (76 - 17) |
| 12/17 | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 201) |
| 12/17 | HR 2764 | Appropriations for Operations in Afghanistan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (253 - 154) |
| 12/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 14) |