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. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | UT | SB 36 | Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | VT | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | KY | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | WA | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | KY | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Nov. 20, 2009 | WV | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 23) |
| Nov. 18, 2009 | WV | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| Sept. 22, 2009 | WI | SB 107 | Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 37) |
| Sept. 16, 2009 | WI | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Sept. 16, 2009 | WI | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Aug. 10, 2009 | AK | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 10, 2009 | AK | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | National | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| July 31, 2009 | National | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 13, 2009 | CA | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| July 13, 2009 | CA | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| June 30, 2009 | OH | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| June 30, 2009 | OH | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | SB 676 | Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
| June 26, 2009 | OR | HB 2472 | Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2) |
| June 26, 2009 | National | HR 2454 | Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| June 26, 2009 | WI | AB 281 | Phosphorus in Cleaning Products | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| June 26, 2009 | OR | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - House (43 - 16) |
| June 26, 2009 | National | HR 2454 | Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| June 25, 2009 | OR | HB 2472 | Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 21) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/10 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/10 | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/08 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/08 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/03 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/02 | SB 36 | Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 2/01 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 1/27 | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| 1/20 | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 1/20 | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| 1/20 | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 11/20 | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 23) |
| 11/18 | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 10/29 | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178) |
| 10/29 | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| 10/08 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 10/07 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| 9/22 | SB 107 | Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations | Bill Passed - House (57 - 37) |
| 9/16 | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 9/16 | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| 8/10 | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| 8/10 | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 8/06 | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 7/31 | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 7/13 | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 7/13 | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 6/30 | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 6/30 | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 6/29 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| 6/29 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| 6/29 | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 6/29 | SB 676 | Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp | Bill Passed - House (46 - 11) |
| 6/26 | HB 2472 | Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2) |
| 6/26 | HR 2454 | Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| 6/26 | AB 281 | Phosphorus in Cleaning Products | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| 6/26 | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - House (43 - 16) |
| 6/26 | HR 2454 | Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| 6/25 | HB 2472 | Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 21) |
| 6/25 | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| 6/25 | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 6/25 | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |