Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
April 23, 2008 FL SB 2692 Science Curriculum Flexibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
April 21, 2008 LA HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
April 8, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
April 3, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
March 31, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
March 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 27, 2008 KS Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
March 26, 2008 KS Huelskamp Amnd. 1 Employment Verification Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27)
March 24, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 19, 2008 MS SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
March 18, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
March 17, 2008 KS HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
March 14, 2008 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
March 12, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
March 11, 2008 WI AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
March 5, 2008 MS SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 26, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2008 GA SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 18, 2008 UT HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
Feb. 12, 2008 National S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
Feb. 12, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2008 NM HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
Jan. 29, 2008 NM SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
Nov. 15, 2007 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 189)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
Aug. 30, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
Aug. 4, 2007 National S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - House (227 - 183)
Aug. 3, 2007 National S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 26, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
June 21, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
June 21, 2007 OR HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
June 20, 2007 OR SB 329 Oregon Health Fund Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
June 14, 2007 OR HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
May 21, 2007 LA Amdt B-138: Cellular Phone Use While Driving Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 23)
May 21, 2007 LA HB 99 Cellular Phone Use While Driving Bill Failed - House (43 - 48)
May 9, 2007 WI AB 207 Telecommunication Regulation Bill Passed - House (66 - 28)
May 4, 2007 MN SF 646 Cyber-Bullying Bill Passed - House (96 - 35)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
April 27, 2007 MN SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
April 19, 2007 IA SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
April 11, 2007 WA Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
April 9, 2007 WA HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 29, 2007 DE SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
March 20, 2007 GA SB 148 Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
March 1, 2007 IL HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
Feb. 23, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
Feb. 22, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 14, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 13, 2007 OR HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulations Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
Sept. 28, 2006 National HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
Sept. 7, 2006 National S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
July 27, 2006 National HR 4157 Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (270 - 148)
July 11, 2006 National H Amdt 1179 Online Gambling Ban Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297)
July 11, 2006 National HR 4411 Internet Gambling Bill Bill Passed - House (317 - 93)
June 29, 2006 National HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
June 8, 2006 National HR 5252 COPE Bill of 2006 Bill Passed - House (321 - 101)
May 18, 2006 NJ S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
May 11, 2006 NH SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/23 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - House (49 - 16)
4/23 SB 2692 Science Curriculum Flexibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
4/21 HB 852 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
4/08 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
4/05 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
4/03 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
3/31 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/27 Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
3/26 Huelskamp Amnd. 1 Employment Verification Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27)
3/24 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
3/20 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
3/20 SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/19 SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
3/18 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
3/18 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Failed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/17 HB 2762 Income Tax Reduction Bill Passed - House (109 - 13)
3/17 HB 2938 Sales Tax Exemptions Bill Passed - House (96 - 26)
3/14 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
3/14 SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
3/12 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
3/11 AB 862 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
3/06 SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
3/06 HB 1779 Regulation of Telecommunications Services Bill Passed - House (130 - 22)
3/05 SB 2988 Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (112 - 8)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
2/28 AB 870 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
2/27 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/26 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17)
2/19 SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
2/19 SB 396 Virtual Charter Schools Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/18 HB 295 Policies for Electronic Devices at School Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
2/13 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - House (61 - 6)
2/13 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
2/12 S Amdt 3907 Striking Telecommunications Companies' Civil Immunity for Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 67)
2/12 S Amdt 3910 FISA as Exclusive Means for Conducting Electronic Surveillance Amendment Rejected - Senate (57 - 41)
2/12 S 2248 FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
2/12 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 23)
2/04 HB 37 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (51 - 10)
1/29 SB 23 Authorizing Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
11/15 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 189)
10/16 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
10/16 HR 2102 Reporter's Source Confidentiality Guidelines Bill Passed - House (398 - 21)
8/30 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
8/27 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
8/04 S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - House (227 - 183)
8/03 S 1927 Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 28)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/26 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - House (281 - 142)
6/21 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
6/21 HB 2801 Exploration of Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
6/20 SB 329 Oregon Health Fund Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/18 SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
6/14 HB 2637 Cyberbullying Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
6/04 HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
5/21 Amdt B-138: Cellular Phone Use While Driving Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 23)
5/21 HB 99 Cellular Phone Use While Driving Bill Failed - House (43 - 48)
5/09 AB 207 Telecommunication Regulation Bill Passed - House (66 - 28)
5/04 SF 646 Cyber-Bullying Bill Passed - House (96 - 35)
5/02 HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries Bill Passed - House (63 - 51)
4/27 SF 100 Public Funding for Stem Cell Research Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26)
4/19 SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
4/11 Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
4/09 HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/29 SB 5 Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 7)
3/20 SB 148 Umbilical Cord Blood and Stem Cell Banks Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 15)
3/01 HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (67 - 46)
2/23 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23)
2/22 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/14 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/13 HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulations Bill Passed - House (41 - 17)
2/05 Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
9/28 HR 5825 Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act Bill Passed - House (232 - 191)
9/07 S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
8/31 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
8/29 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
7/27 HR 4157 Better Health Information Systems Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (270 - 148)
7/11 H Amdt 1179 Online Gambling Ban Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (114 - 297)
7/11 HR 4411 Internet Gambling Bill Bill Passed - House (317 - 93)
6/29 HR 5672 Commerce Department Appropriations Bill FY 2006 Bill Passed - House (393 - 23)
6/08 HR 5252 COPE Bill of 2006 Bill Passed - House (321 - 101)
5/18 S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
5/11 SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)

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