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. 22, 2010 | WY | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Passed - House (54 - 3) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | NM | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - House (37 - 31) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | UT | HB 12 | Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | GA | SR 1120 | Temporary Legislative Adjournment | Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | SB 26 | Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NH | CACR 28 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 135) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NH | HB 1590 | Repealing Same-Sex Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 109) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | UT | HB 113 | Child Safety Seat Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (24 - 47) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | Holguin Nomination | Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board | (17 - 25) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | SB 216 | Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea | Bill Passed - House (40 - 21) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | VA | SB 464 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | HB 2793 | Legalizing Paid Surrogacy | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | AZ | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | HB 2793 | Legalizing Paid Surrogacy | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 13, 2010 | NM | SB 10 | Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19) |
| Feb. 13, 2010 | NM | SB 10 | Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | NM | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | CA | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | CA | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | (37 - 36) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | NM | SB 216 | Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | WA | HB 1956 | Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | MS | HB 232 | Novelty Lighter Ban | Bill Passed - House (94 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | National | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | WA | SB 6382 | Extending State Employee Salary Freeze | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | VA | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | IA | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | NM | HB 162 | Severance Bonds For Tribal Infrastructure | Bill Passed - House (42 - 24) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | MN | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | NY | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | NY | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | NM | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | NM | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | UT | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | UT | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | NM | HB 17 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 239 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | IA | SF 2062 | State Worker Retirement Incentive Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | NM | SB 26 | Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | MS | HB 959 | Sale of State Plane | Bill Passed - House (65 - 55) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | VA | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/22 | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Passed - House (54 - 3) |
| 2/18 | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - House (37 - 31) |
| 2/18 | HB 12 | Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 2/18 | SR 1120 | Temporary Legislative Adjournment | Resolution Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| 2/17 | SB 26 | Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| 2/17 | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| 2/17 | CACR 28 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (201 - 135) |
| 2/17 | HB 1590 | Repealing Same-Sex Marriage | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 109) |
| 2/17 | HB 113 | Child Safety Seat Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (24 - 47) |
| 2/16 | Holguin Nomination | Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board | (17 - 25) |
| 2/16 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 2/16 | SB 216 | Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea | Bill Passed - House (40 - 21) |
| 2/16 | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/16 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 2/16 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 2/16 | SB 464 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 2/15 | HB 2793 | Legalizing Paid Surrogacy | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/15 | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 2/15 | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 2/15 | HB 2793 | Legalizing Paid Surrogacy | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/13 | SB 10 | Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19) |
| 2/13 | SB 10 | Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19) |
| 2/12 | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17) |
| 2/11 | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/11 | Maldonado Nomination | Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor | (37 - 36) |
| 2/11 | SB 216 | Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19) |
| 2/10 | HB 1956 | Limiting Local Regulations of Homeless Shelters | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 2/10 | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 2/10 | HB 232 | Novelty Lighter Ban | Bill Passed - House (94 - 25) |
| 2/09 | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| 2/09 | SB 6382 | Extending State Employee Salary Freeze | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| 2/09 | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| 2/09 | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
| 2/09 | HB 162 | Severance Bonds For Tribal Infrastructure | Bill Passed - House (42 - 24) |
| 2/09 | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 2/09 | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| 2/09 | R 3904 | Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate from the Senate | Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 8) |
| 2/08 | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| 2/08 | SB 531 | Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8) |
| 2/08 | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 2/08 | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 2/08 | HB 17 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/08 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/08 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/08 | SB 239 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 2/04 | SF 2062 | State Worker Retirement Incentive Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| 2/04 | SB 26 | Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 2/03 | HB 959 | Sale of State Plane | Bill Passed - House (65 - 55) |
| 2/03 | HB 502 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 24) |
| 2/01 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |