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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2011 | CO | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 20, 2011 | OR | HB 2337 | Cougar Hunting Zones | Bill Passed - House (45 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 14, 2011 | AL | HB 126 | Extending Forever Wild Land Trust | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| April 13, 2011 | MO | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - House (85 - 71) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
| April 9, 2011 | MD | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 60) |
| April 7, 2011 | National | HR 910 | Energy Tax Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 172) |
| March 31, 2011 | CA | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| March 30, 2011 | NH | HB 519 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (251 - 108) |
| March 30, 2011 | NH | HB 519 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (251 - 108) |
| March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 23, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 22, 2011 | IA | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| March 14, 2011 | NJ | A 3648 | Electric Vehicle Charging Stations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| March 10, 2011 | MO | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| March 3, 2011 | NJ | A 2215 | Loans for Development of Green Buildings | Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 32) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| March 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | MN | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 42) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | WA | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | WA | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | MN | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | MT | SB 226 | Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | CA | SB 2 | Increasing Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | MT | SB 330 | Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | MT | HB 550 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| Feb. 16, 2011 | OR | HB 2336 | Agriculture Regulation Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| Feb. 10, 2011 | MT | HB 309 | Prohibits Recreational Access to Ditches | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
| Feb. 9, 2011 | WY | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (27 - 32) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | WI | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | MN | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| Jan. 28, 2011 | MT | SB 104 | Limitations on Electricity Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Jan. 27, 2011 | WY | SF 100 | Cruelty to Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| Jan. 24, 2011 | MN | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| Jan. 19, 2011 | MT | SB 112 | Authorizes the Use of Hand-Thrown Spears | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| Jan. 10, 2011 | NJ | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| Jan. 10, 2011 | NJ | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 6495 | Mine Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (214 - 193) |
| Nov. 29, 2010 | NY | S 8129B | Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| Oct. 18, 2010 | NJ | S 2381 | Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities | |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | PA | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | National | HR 5110 | Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument | Bill Failed - House (244 - 174) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | National | HR 4823 | Establishing Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area | Bill Failed - House (258 - 160) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Aug. 30, 2010 | CA | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 3, 2010 | NY | S 8129B | Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9) |
| July 30, 2010 | National | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| July 30, 2010 | National | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1829 | Renewable Energy Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19) |
| July 2, 2010 | PA | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| July 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| June 29, 2010 | NJ | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - House (71 - 6) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| June 21, 2010 | LA | SB 65 | Coastal Zone Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 17) |
| June 21, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Bill Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| June 18, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |
| June 16, 2010 | MI | SR 158 | Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| June 16, 2010 | MI | SR 158 | Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| June 15, 2010 | PA | HB 708 | Recycling Program for Electronic Materials | Bill Passed - House (169 - 30) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/06 | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 4/20 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 4/20 | HB 2337 | Cougar Hunting Zones | Bill Passed - House (45 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/14 | HB 126 | Extending Forever Wild Land Trust | Bill Passed - House (69 - 24) |
| 4/13 | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - House (85 - 71) |
| 4/11 | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
| 4/09 | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 60) |
| 4/07 | HR 910 | Energy Tax Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (255 - 172) |
| 3/31 | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 3/30 | HB 519 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (251 - 108) |
| 3/30 | HB 519 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (251 - 108) |
| 3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/23 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 3/22 | SF 464 | Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 3/14 | A 3648 | Electric Vehicle Charging Stations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 3/10 | SB 113 | Regulating Animal Care Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 3/05 | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 3/05 | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 3/03 | A 2215 | Loans for Development of Green Buildings | Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 32) |
| 3/02 | HB 2879 | One-Time Pay Raise for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (78 - 22) |
| 3/01 | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 2/28 | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 42) |
| 2/28 | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 2/28 | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 2/24 | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| 2/24 | SB 226 | Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| 2/24 | SB 2 | Increasing Renewable Energy | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 2/24 | SB 330 | Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/23 | HB 550 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/17 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| 2/17 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (81 - 50) |
| 2/16 | HB 2336 | Agriculture Regulation Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (45 - 13) |
| 2/10 | HB 309 | Prohibits Recreational Access to Ditches | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
| 2/09 | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (27 - 32) |
| 2/08 | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| 2/07 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 30) |
| 2/02 | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - House (56 - 35) |
| 2/02 | SB 10 | Wetland Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 2/02 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| 2/02 | SF 4 | Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14) |
| 1/28 | SB 104 | Limitations on Electricity Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 1/27 | SF 100 | Cruelty to Animals | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 1/24 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| 1/24 | SF 86 | Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition | |
| 1/19 | SB 112 | Authorizes the Use of Hand-Thrown Spears | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21) |
| 1/10 | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| 1/10 | S 2381 | Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| 12/08 | HR 6495 | Mine Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (214 - 193) |
| 11/29 | S 8129B | Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| 10/18 | S 2381 | Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities | |
| 9/29 | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| 9/23 | HR 5110 | Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument | Bill Failed - House (244 - 174) |
| 9/23 | HR 4823 | Establishing Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area | Bill Failed - House (258 - 160) |
| 9/16 | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| 8/31 | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 8/30 | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 28) |
| 8/23 | AB 234 | Marine Oil Shipping Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 8/03 | S 8129B | Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9) |
| 7/30 | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| 7/30 | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| 7/10 | HB 1829 | Renewable Energy Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19) |
| 7/02 | HB 2601 | Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies | Bill Passed - House (125 - 71) |
| 7/01 | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 6/29 | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - House (71 - 6) |
| 6/28 | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 6/21 | SB 65 | Coastal Zone Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 17) |
| 6/21 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 6/20 | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 6/18 | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Bill Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| 6/18 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |
| 6/16 | SR 158 | Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 6/16 | SR 158 | Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 6/15 | HB 708 | Recycling Program for Electronic Materials | Bill Passed - House (169 - 30) |