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. 15, 2011 | ND | HB 1289 | Reducing Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2011 | WY | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (27 - 32) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | WY | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| Feb. 8, 2011 | VA | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2011 | National | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| Feb. 1, 2011 | WY | HB 34 | Sales Tax Distribution | Bill Failed - House (22 - 37) |
| Jan. 31, 2011 | NY | S 2706 | Limitations on Tax Levies | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 17) |
| Jan. 31, 2011 | IN | HB 1450 | Unemployment Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| Jan. 19, 2011 | NY | S 1919 | Amends Rules for Legislature | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| Jan. 19, 2011 | NY | S 1891 | New York Jobs Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9) |
| Jan. 11, 2011 | IL | SB 2505 | Amends Property Tax Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29) |
| Jan. 11, 2011 | IL | SB 2505 | Amends Property Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (60 - 57) |
| Jan. 7, 2011 | ND | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | |
| Dec. 17, 2010 | National | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (277 - 148) |
| Dec. 16, 2010 | National | H Amdt 786 | Amending the Estate Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| Dec. 15, 2010 | National | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| Dec. 4, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4727 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $250,000 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 36) |
| Dec. 4, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4728 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $1 Million | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 37) |
| Dec. 2, 2010 | National | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (234 - 188) |
| Sept. 28, 2010 | National | S 3816 | Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | National | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 27) |
| Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| July 30, 2010 | National | HR 5982 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (241 - 154) |
| July 29, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4519 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
| July 22, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
| July 21, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39) |
| July 20, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40) |
| June 17, 2010 | National | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (241 - 182) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1113 | Income Tax Appeal Modifications | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 974 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| May 28, 2010 | National | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204) |
| April 18, 2010 | AK | SB 305 | Separating Oil and Gas When Calculating Production Tax | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| March 30, 2010 | AL | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 21, 2010 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| March 21, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| March 17, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| March 16, 2010 | AZ | HCR 2001 | Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| March 11, 2010 | AZ | HCR 2001 | Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| March 4, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| March 4, 2010 | AL | HB 44 | Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification | Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 4, 2010 | AL | HB 44 | Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification | Veto Override Passed - House (56 - 21) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/15 | HB 1289 | Reducing Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - House (68 - 25) |
| 2/09 | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (27 - 32) |
| 2/08 | HB 191 | Wind Power Tax | Bill Failed - House (29 - 29) |
| 2/08 | HB 2314 | Education Improvement Scholarships | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 9 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (81 - 17) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 28 | Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54) |
| 2/01 | HB 34 | Sales Tax Distribution | Bill Failed - House (22 - 37) |
| 1/31 | S 2706 | Limitations on Tax Levies | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 17) |
| 1/31 | HB 1450 | Unemployment Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| 1/19 | S 1919 | Amends Rules for Legislature | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 19) |
| 1/19 | S 1891 | New York Jobs Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9) |
| 1/11 | SB 2505 | Amends Property Tax Code | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29) |
| 1/11 | SB 2505 | Amends Property Tax Code | Bill Passed - House (60 - 57) |
| 1/07 | HB 1189 | Corporate Income Tax Reductions | |
| 12/17 | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (277 - 148) |
| 12/16 | H Amdt 786 | Amending the Estate Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 12/15 | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| 12/04 | S Amdt 4727 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $250,000 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 36) |
| 12/04 | S Amdt 4728 | Extension of Tax Cuts for Those Making Under $1 Million | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 37) |
| 12/02 | HR 4853 | Temporary Extension of Tax Relief | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (234 - 188) |
| 9/28 | S 3816 | Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 9/23 | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| 9/16 | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 8/31 | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 8/25 | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 26) |
| 8/25 | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 8/25 | SB 1391 | Business Tax Incentive Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 8/23 | SB 1272 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 27) |
| 8/23 | AB 2666 | Establishing Public Database of Companies and Their Tax Credits in the State | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 7/30 | HR 5982 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (241 - 154) |
| 7/29 | S Amdt 4519 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 42) |
| 7/22 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152) |
| 7/21 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 7/20 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 40) |
| 6/17 | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (241 - 182) |
| 6/03 | SB 1113 | Income Tax Appeal Modifications | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20) |
| 6/03 | SB 974 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 5/28 | HR 4213 | Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (215 - 204) |
| 4/18 | SB 305 | Separating Oil and Gas When Calculating Production Tax | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| 3/30 | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/21 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (219 - 212) |
| 3/21 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| 3/17 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 3/16 | HCR 2001 | Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 3/11 | HCR 2001 | Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28) |
| 3/04 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| 3/04 | HB 44 | Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification | Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 3/04 | HB 44 | Tennessee Valley Authority Fund Allocation Modification | Veto Override Passed - House (56 - 21) |