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
March 29, 2010 CO HB 1180 Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 26, 2010 KY HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1706 Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
March 25, 2010 CO HB 1288 Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 24, 2010 NH SB 392 Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 24, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 23, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
March 18, 2010 IL SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
March 17, 2010 IA SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
March 17, 2010 KS SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
March 10, 2010 SD SB 169 Insurance Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
March 10, 2010 OK SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 9, 2010 SD HB 1231 Prescription Drug Registry Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
March 9, 2010 UT SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 9, 2010 OK SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
March 8, 2010 IA HF 788 Prohibiting Liquor Licensees from Permitting Criminal Activity Adjacent to Their Premises Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 5, 2010 CO HB 1001 Increases Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 4, 2010 IN HB 1065 Authorizing Firearms at Workplace Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 27 Establishing a Process for Citizen Complaints Relating to Government Competition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
March 2, 2010 WY HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
March 1, 2010 IN SB 75 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
Feb. 18, 2010 CA ABx8 8 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2010 NM HB 12 Health Insurer Service Reimbursement Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 660 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 334 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2010 SC H 3272 Property Tax Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1192 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1193 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1191 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1189 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1199 Temporary Limit on Income Tax Reduction for Net Operating Loss Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1194 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Jan. 28, 2010 National PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
Jan. 28, 2010 TN SB 1092 Prohibiting Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Jan. 11, 2010 NJ S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
Dec. 10, 2009 NJ S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Nov. 18, 2009 WV SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Oct. 6, 2009 National S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 12, 2009 CA SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 524 Privacy Law Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Sept. 1, 2009 CA AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 7, 2009 NC SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
July 20, 2009 NC HB 1289 Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23)
July 15, 2009 NC HB 1595 Malt Beverage Special Permit Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
July 13, 2009 CA SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
June 30, 2009 DE HB 210 Liquor License Fee Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
June 30, 2009 DE HB 211 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
June 26, 2009 OR HB 2472 Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
June 24, 2009 NC SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
June 23, 2009 LA SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 23, 2009 OR HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
June 22, 2009 OR SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 22, 2009 LA HB 877 Bluebonnet-Perkins Conference Hotel Taxing District Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 17)
June 19, 2009 OR SB 676 Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
June 16, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
June 16, 2009 LA HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
June 16, 2009 AZ SB 1113 Handguns in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
June 15, 2009 OR HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 12, 2009 OR HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 11, 2009 OR HB 3405 Corporate Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 11, 2009 LA SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 11, 2009 ME LD 1259 Menu Labeling Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
June 9, 2009 WI SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
June 4, 2009 TN HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2067 Expiration Dates for Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
June 3, 2009 NY S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
June 3, 2009 PA SB 81 Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
June 2, 2009 CA SB 484 Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 1, 2009 OR HB 2726 Nutrition Labeling on Menus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
May 30, 2009 IL HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 30, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 30, 2009 CT HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 29, 2009 OR HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
May 28, 2009 LA SB 186 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 27, 2009 RI S 659 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 26, 2009 OR SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
May 26, 2009 CT SB 953 Hedge Funds Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
May 20, 2009 ME LD 290 Out-of-State Health Insurance "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
May 15, 2009 MO HB 191 Law Changes Regarding Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
May 14, 2009 AL HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
May 14, 2009 AL HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/29 HB 1180 Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/26 HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/26 SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/26 LD 1706 Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
3/25 HB 1288 Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/24 SB 392 Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/24 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/23 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
3/18 SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
3/17 SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
3/17 SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
3/10 SB 169 Insurance Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
3/10 SB 1891 Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/09 HB 1231 Prescription Drug Registry Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
3/09 SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/09 SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
3/08 HF 788 Prohibiting Liquor Licensees from Permitting Criminal Activity Adjacent to Their Premises Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/05 HB 1001 Increases Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/04 HB 1065 Authorizing Firearms at Workplace Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
3/03 SF 27 Establishing a Process for Citizen Complaints Relating to Government Competition Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
3/02 HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
3/01 SB 75 Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
2/18 ABx8 8 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/17 HB 12 Health Insurer Service Reimbursement Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
2/16 SB 660 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/16 SB 334 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Establishments that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/16 SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/12 SB 40 Authorizing Concealed Weapons in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 15)
2/10 H 3272 Property Tax Law Amendments Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13)
2/10 HB 1192 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1193 Internet Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/10 HB 1191 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/10 HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/10 HB 1189 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
2/10 HB 1199 Temporary Limit on Income Tax Reduction for Net Operating Loss Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/10 HB 1194 Repealing Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
1/28 PN 959 Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman Nomination Confirmed - Senate (70 - 30)
1/28 SB 1092 Prohibiting Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
1/12 HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 24)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
1/11 S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
12/10 S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
11/18 SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
10/06 S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/12 SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
9/08 AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
9/08 AB 524 Privacy Law Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
9/01 AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/07 SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
7/20 HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
7/20 HB 1289 Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23)
7/15 HB 1595 Malt Beverage Special Permit Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
7/13 SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
6/30 HB 210 Liquor License Fee Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
6/30 HB 211 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
6/26 HB 2472 Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2)
6/25 A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
6/24 SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
6/23 SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/23 HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
6/22 SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/22 HB 877 Bluebonnet-Perkins Conference Hotel Taxing District Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 17)
6/19 SB 676 Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
6/16 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
6/16 HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
6/16 SB 1113 Handguns in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
6/15 HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/12 HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/11 HB 3405 Corporate Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/11 SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/11 LD 1259 Menu Labeling Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
6/09 SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
6/04 HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/03 HB 2067 Expiration Dates for Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/03 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
6/03 S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
6/03 SB 81 Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
6/02 SB 484 Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/01 HB 2726 Nutrition Labeling on Menus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
5/30 HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/30 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/30 HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/29 HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
5/28 SB 186 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
5/27 SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/27 SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/27 S 659 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/26 SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
5/26 SB 953 Hedge Funds Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
5/20 LD 290 Out-of-State Health Insurance "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
5/15 HB 191 Law Changes Regarding Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
5/14 HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
5/14 HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)

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