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
April 27, 2011 MT SB 423 Medical Marijuana Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30)
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)
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)
Feb. 21, 2011 MT HB 161 Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
May 18, 2009 MN SF 97 Legalizing Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (70 - 64)
April 2, 2009 National HR 1256 FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (298 - 112)
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)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
July 30, 2008 National HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
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)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
May 27, 2008 CA AB 1996 Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (42 - 35)
May 19, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28)
April 22, 2008 CO HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
March 18, 2008 NH HB 1623 Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Passed - House (193 - 141)
March 6, 2008 MO HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
March 5, 2008 National HR 1424 Mental Health Coverage Bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 148)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
Feb. 26, 2008 ID H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
Feb. 25, 2008 MO HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
Feb. 25, 2008 MS HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
Feb. 14, 2008 KS HB 2617 Mandatory Drug Testing for Drivers Causing Serious Accidents Bill Passed - House (117 - 5)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/27 SB 423 Medical Marijuana Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 30)
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)
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)
2/21 HB 161 Repeals Montana Medical Marijuana Law Bill Passed - House (62 - 37)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
5/18 SF 97 Legalizing Medical Marijuana Bill Passed - House (70 - 64)
4/02 HR 1256 FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products Bill Passed - House (298 - 112)
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)
1/30 HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
7/30 HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
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)
5/28 AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
5/27 AB 1996 Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (42 - 35)
5/19 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
5/05 HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28)
4/22 HB 1082 Sealing Criminal Records Bill Passed - House (36 - 28)
3/18 HB 1623 Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Passed - House (193 - 141)
3/06 HB 1619 Monitoring Prescription Drug Sales Bill Passed - House (84 - 69)
3/05 HR 1424 Mental Health Coverage Bill Bill Passed - House (268 - 148)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
2/26 H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
2/25 HB 1406 Establishment of Drunk Driving Memorial Sign Program Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
2/25 HB 729 Parole Eligibility for Non-Violent Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 52)
2/14 HB 2617 Mandatory Drug Testing for Drivers Causing Serious Accidents Bill Passed - House (117 - 5)

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