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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 4, 2011 | CT | SB 1014 | Penalties For Certain Nonviolent Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| May 17, 2011 | LA | HB 7 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| May 11, 2011 | DE | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| May 10, 2011 | MO | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34) |
| May 5, 2011 | DE | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | S 17 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (99 - 44) |
| May 5, 2011 | FL | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| April 28, 2011 | MO | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| April 27, 2011 | MT | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| April 27, 2011 | MT | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
| April 26, 2011 | FL | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - House (78 - 38) |
| April 11, 2011 | WA | SB 5073 | Regulations for the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| April 5, 2011 | DE | HB 19 | Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| April 1, 2011 | MT | HB 161 | Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 31, 2011 | DE | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
| March 31, 2011 | MT | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| March 15, 2011 | DE | HA 1 | Reduced Punishment for Drug Possession | Amendment Adopted - House (21 - 17) |
| March 4, 2011 | MT | HB 389 | Warning Labels for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (40 - 59) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2946 | Prescriptions for Methamphetamine Chemical Precursors | Bill Passed - House (77 - 23) |
| March 2, 2011 | WA | SB 5073 | Regulations for the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 22, 2011 | IN | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2011 | MT | HB 161 | Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law | Bill Passed - House (62 - 37) |
| Feb. 17, 2011 | NJ | S 958 | Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| Feb. 7, 2011 | SD | HB 1152 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - House (32 - 36) |
| Jan. 6, 2011 | IL | SB 1381 | Legalize Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (56 - 60) |
| Dec. 13, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Nov. 22, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| June 29, 2010 | PA | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2105 | Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| June 15, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | SB 1449 | Reclassifying Marijuana Possession as an Infraction | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 13, 2010 | CA | AB 1756 | Food Stamps for Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1352 | Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5) |
| May 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1352 | Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| May 6, 2010 | CO | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 28, 2010 | LA | HB 617 | Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
| April 22, 2010 | CO | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - House (39 - 23) |
| April 10, 2010 | MD | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| March 17, 2010 | ME | LD 821 | Prescription Drug Disposal Program | Bill Passed - House (91 - 51) |
| March 10, 2010 | NH | HB 1653 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (214 - 137) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 178 | Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | NM | HB 178 | Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act | Bill Failed - House (33 - 37) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| Jan. 7, 2010 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| June 16, 2009 | LA | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| June 11, 2009 | National | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| June 2, 2009 | CA | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 27, 2009 | IL | SB 1381 | Legalize Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| April 29, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| April 2, 2009 | National | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (298 - 112) |
| March 30, 2009 | GA | HB 614 | Prescription Tracking Database | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 29) |
| March 25, 2009 | KS | HB 2275 | Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients | Bill Passed - House (99 - 26) |
| March 25, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - House (234 - 138) |
| March 19, 2009 | TX | SB 188 | Authorizes Needle Exchange Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | MT | SB 326 | Medical Marijuana Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | HB 141 | Amending DUI Statutes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 10) |
| Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| July 30, 2008 | National | HR 1108 | FDA Regulation of Tobacco | Bill Passed - House (326 - 102) |
| June 26, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
| June 23, 2008 | AZ | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
| June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
| 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 10, 2008 | National | HR 6028 | Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) | Bill Passed - House (311 - 106) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/04 | SB 1014 | Penalties For Certain Nonviolent Drug Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 18) |
| 5/17 | HB 7 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (67 - 26) |
| 5/11 | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| 5/10 | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 34) |
| 5/05 | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| 5/05 | S 17 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (99 - 44) |
| 5/05 | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 4/28 | HB 73 | Drug Testing Of Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 4/27 | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30) |
| 4/27 | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 4/26 | HB 353 | Drug Screening for Temporary Assistance Beneficiaries | Bill Passed - House (78 - 38) |
| 4/11 | SB 5073 | Regulations for the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| 4/05 | HB 19 | Reduce Punishment for Drug Possession | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| 4/01 | HB 161 | Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 3/31 | SB 17 | Authorizes Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
| 3/31 | SB 423 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 3/15 | HA 1 | Reduced Punishment for Drug Possession | Amendment Adopted - House (21 - 17) |
| 3/04 | HB 389 | Warning Labels for Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (40 - 59) |
| 3/02 | HB 2946 | Prescriptions for Methamphetamine Chemical Precursors | Bill Passed - House (77 - 23) |
| 3/02 | SB 5073 | Regulations for the Use of Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 2/22 | SB 192 | Authorizing a Study of Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 2/21 | HB 161 | Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law | Bill Passed - House (62 - 37) |
| 2/17 | S 958 | Authorizes the Limited Sale of Syringes and Needles Without a Prescription | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12) |
| 2/07 | HB 1152 | Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients | Bill Failed - House (32 - 36) |
| 1/06 | SB 1381 | Legalize Medical Marijuana | Bill Failed - House (56 - 60) |
| 12/13 | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 11/22 | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| 6/29 | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| 6/29 | SR 348 | Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 6/28 | S 2105 | Delaying the Effective Date of the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| 6/15 | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18) |
| 6/03 | SB 1449 | Reclassifying Marijuana Possession as an Infraction | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/13 | AB 1756 | Food Stamps for Drug Felons | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| 5/11 | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19) |
| 5/11 | HB 1352 | Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5) |
| 5/10 | HB 1352 | Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 5/06 | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 4/28 | HB 617 | Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
| 4/22 | HB 1284 | Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - House (39 - 23) |
| 4/10 | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 3/17 | LD 821 | Prescription Drug Disposal Program | Bill Passed - House (91 - 51) |
| 3/10 | HB 1653 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (214 - 137) |
| 2/16 | HB 178 | Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 2/12 | HB 178 | Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act | Bill Failed - House (33 - 37) |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| 1/07 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30) |
| 12/10 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| 8/05 | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 6/16 | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| 6/11 | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 5/27 | SB 1381 | Legalize Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 5/04 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 4/29 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 4/02 | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (298 - 112) |
| 3/30 | HB 614 | Prescription Tracking Database | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 29) |
| 3/25 | HB 2275 | Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients | Bill Passed - House (99 - 26) |
| 3/25 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - House (234 - 138) |
| 3/19 | SB 188 | Authorizes Needle Exchange Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| 2/24 | SB 326 | Medical Marijuana Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/23 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 1/30 | HB 141 | Amending DUI Statutes | Bill Passed - House (49 - 10) |
| 8/20 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 7/30 | HR 1108 | FDA Regulation of Tobacco | Bill Passed - House (326 - 102) |
| 6/26 | HR 2642 | Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
| 6/23 | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
| 6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
| 6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12) |
| 6/10 | HR 6028 | Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) | Bill Passed - House (311 - 106) |