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
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)

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