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
Feb. 24, 2009 IN HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
Feb. 24, 2009 CO HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2009 MT HB 394 Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50)
Feb. 23, 2009 SD HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
Feb. 19, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2009 IA HF 333 Wage Standards for Public Project Workers Bill Failed - House (49 - 49)
Feb. 19, 2009 ND HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
Feb. 18, 2009 NH HB 103 Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame Bill Passed - House (194 - 164)
Feb. 18, 2009 OK HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 18, 2009 IA HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 17, 2009 OK HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
Feb. 17, 2009 IN HB 1213 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
Feb. 13, 2009 MT HB 400 Revised Alcohol Content of Beer Bill Passed - House (80 - 20)
Feb. 13, 2009 ND HB 1440 Changes in Pharmacy Operation Requirements Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
Feb. 12, 2009 ND HB 1453 Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
Feb. 12, 2009 SC H 3301 Payday Lending Regulations Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16)
Feb. 11, 2009 KY HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (66 - 34)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 9, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
Feb. 5, 2009 AR HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 3, 2009 WY HB 31 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Feb. 2, 2009 ND HB 1539 Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars Bill Failed - House (29 - 64)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 2005 Expanding Rent Control Coverage Bill Passed - House (91 - 52)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 860 Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation Bill Passed - House (86 - 58)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY Amdt 2001 to HB 31 Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY Amdt 2002 to HB 31 Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2009 WI AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Jan. 22, 2009 National H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
Jan. 21, 2009 National HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
Jan. 19, 2009 WY HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Jan. 14, 2009 MS HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
Jan. 14, 2009 CT HB 5095 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
Jan. 13, 2009 ND HB 1036 Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 6644 Prohibiting Retail Delivery of Alcohol Bill Passed - House (97 - 9)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
Oct. 27, 2008 NJ A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
Oct. 3, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
Sept. 29, 2008 National HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
Sept. 23, 2008 National HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
Sept. 23, 2008 National HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
Sept. 19, 2008 CA SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 29)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 24)
Sept. 18, 2008 National HR 6604 Commodity Markets Speculation Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 133)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
Aug. 28, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
Aug. 17, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
Aug. 17, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
July 30, 2008 National HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
July 22, 2008 AK HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - House (24 - 16)
July 18, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
July 15, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
July 15, 2008 NC SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Bill Passed - House (101 - 10)
July 15, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
July 15, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
July 9, 2008 VA SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Failed - House (39 - 59)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
June 26, 2008 DE HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
June 26, 2008 National HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
June 25, 2008 AZ HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
June 24, 2008 National HR 6346 Price Gouging Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (276 - 146)
June 24, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
June 23, 2008 CT HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39)
June 19, 2008 National HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
June 10, 2008 LA SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
June 4, 2008 NH SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (205 - 137)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
June 4, 2008 MI HB 5068 Great Lakes Water Management Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
May 29, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
May 29, 2008 MS HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/24 HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
2/24 HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
2/23 HB 394 Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50)
2/23 HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
2/19 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
2/19 HF 333 Wage Standards for Public Project Workers Bill Failed - House (49 - 49)
2/19 HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
2/18 HB 103 Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame Bill Passed - House (194 - 164)
2/18 HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/18 HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
2/17 HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/17 HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/17 HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
2/17 HB 1213 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
2/13 HB 400 Revised Alcohol Content of Beer Bill Passed - House (80 - 20)
2/13 HB 1440 Changes in Pharmacy Operation Requirements Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
2/12 HB 1453 Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses Bill Failed - House (19 - 72)
2/12 H 3301 Payday Lending Regulations Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16)
2/11 HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (66 - 34)
2/09 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/09 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
2/05 HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/03 HB 31 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
2/02 HB 1539 Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars Bill Failed - House (29 - 64)
2/02 A 2005 Expanding Rent Control Coverage Bill Passed - House (91 - 52)
2/02 A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
2/02 A 860 Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation Bill Passed - House (86 - 58)
1/30 Amdt 2001 to HB 31 Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25)
1/30 Amdt 2002 to HB 31 Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18)
1/27 AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
1/27 AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
1/27 AB 1 Wisconsin-Based Products and Services Purchasing Goals Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
1/27 AB 2 Mandatory State Contracting with Domestic Companies Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
1/22 H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
1/21 HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
1/19 HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
1/14 HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
1/14 HB 5095 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
1/13 HB 1036 Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
12/18 ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
12/04 HB 6644 Prohibiting Retail Delivery of Alcohol Bill Passed - House (97 - 9)
11/17 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
10/27 A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
10/03 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
9/29 HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
9/23 HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
9/23 HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
9/19 SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
9/18 HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 29)
9/18 SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 24)
9/18 HR 6604 Commodity Markets Speculation Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 133)
9/16 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
9/16 AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
8/31 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
8/31 AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
8/29 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
8/29 AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
8/29 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
8/28 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
8/27 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
8/27 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
8/19 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
8/19 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
8/18 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
8/18 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
8/17 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
8/17 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
8/13 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
8/12 AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
8/12 AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
7/30 HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
7/22 HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - House (24 - 16)
7/18 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
7/15 SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
7/15 SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Bill Passed - House (101 - 10)
7/15 SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
7/15 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
7/14 AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
7/14 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
7/09 SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Failed - House (39 - 59)
7/08 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
6/30 SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
6/30 SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
6/26 HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
6/26 HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
6/25 HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
6/24 HR 6346 Price Gouging Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (276 - 146)
6/24 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
6/23 HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39)
6/19 HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
6/10 SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
6/04 SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - House (205 - 137)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
6/04 HB 5068 Great Lakes Water Management Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
5/29 H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
5/29 HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
5/29 AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)

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