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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 612 | Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| April 15, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (125 - 14) |
| April 6, 2010 | ME | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67) |
| April 5, 2010 | ME | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| April 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
| March 29, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 29, 2010 | OK | SB 1891 | Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| March 26, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| March 25, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 24, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
| March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
| March 22, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
| March 18, 2010 | IL | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| March 10, 2010 | OK | SB 1891 | Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| March 10, 2010 | ID | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| March 4, 2010 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 20) |
| March 4, 2010 | IN | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| March 3, 2010 | WY | SF 20 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| March 2, 2010 | NY | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| March 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| March 1, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | KS | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | SC | S 191 | Authorizing Warrantless Searches and Seizures of Probationers and Parolees | Motion Agreed - House (81 - 26) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | NM | SB 254 | Eliminating Criminal Conviction Disclosure on State Employment Applications | Bill Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| 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 | SD | HB 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | NM | SB 254 | Eliminating Criminal Conviction Disclosure on State Employment Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | KY | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | WY | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | HB 53 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - House (88 - 9) |
| 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 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | GA | SB 235 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | MA | H 4466 | Expanding Driving Regulations | Bill Passed - House (146 - 9) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | KY | HB 43 | Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | IN | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | WI | SB 415 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | IN | SJR 13 | Defining Marriage as Being Between One Man and One Woman | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | VA | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Jan. 25, 2010 | KY | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| Jan. 22, 2010 | HI | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| Jan. 7, 2010 | NJ | S 1967 | Legalizing Same Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
| Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 20) |
| Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| June 29, 2009 | DE | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| June 23, 2009 | OR | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
| June 19, 2009 | OR | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| June 18, 2009 | LA | HB 340 | Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (53 - 26) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/20 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33) |
| 4/15 | AB 612 | Limiting Access to 9-1-1 Recordings | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 4/15 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 4/15 | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| 4/09 | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (125 - 14) |
| 4/06 | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 67) |
| 4/05 | LD 1611 | State Prison Solitary Confinement Review | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 4/01 | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 22) |
| 4/01 | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
| 3/29 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 3/29 | SB 1891 | Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures | Bill Passed - House (80 - 13) |
| 3/26 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| 3/25 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 3/24 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 3/24 | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33) |
| 3/22 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - House (42 - 27) |
| 3/18 | HB 5428 | Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (74 - 39) |
| 3/10 | SB 1891 | Allowing Health Services Employees to Refuse Participation in Abortion and Other Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 3/10 | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 3/09 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| 3/04 | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 20) |
| 3/04 | HB 1065 | Authorizing Firearms at Workplace | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 3/03 | SF 20 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| 3/02 | A 5710 | Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (100 - 43) |
| 3/01 | HB 1201 | Requiring Police to Inform Citizens of Right to Refuse Searches | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 3/01 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| 2/25 | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
| 2/24 | S 191 | Authorizing Warrantless Searches and Seizures of Probationers and Parolees | Motion Agreed - House (81 - 26) |
| 2/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 2/18 | SB 254 | Eliminating Criminal Conviction Disclosure on State Employment Applications | Bill Passed - House (54 - 14) |
| 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 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| 2/12 | SB 254 | Eliminating Criminal Conviction Disclosure on State Employment Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 4) |
| 2/10 | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 2/10 | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| 2/10 | HB 53 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - House (88 - 9) |
| 2/09 | HJR 6 | Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54) |
| 2/09 | HB 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/08 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/04 | SB 235 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| 2/04 | H 4466 | Expanding Driving Regulations | Bill Passed - House (146 - 9) |
| 2/04 | HB 43 | Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| 2/02 | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
| 1/28 | SB 415 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements | Bill Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| 1/28 | SJR 13 | Defining Marriage as Being Between One Man and One Woman | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| 1/27 | SB 9 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 1/25 | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| 1/22 | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 1/07 | S 1967 | Legalizing Same Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (88 - 51) |
| 12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
| 10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| 9/10 | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 20) |
| 9/09 | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 9/08 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 9/08 | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 9/04 | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 9/03 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 9/03 | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| 8/05 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| 6/29 | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/25 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 6/23 | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/22 | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| 6/22 | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| 6/22 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 6/19 | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| 6/18 | HB 340 | Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (53 - 26) |