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 29, 2011 NJ S 2576 Prohibits Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)
June 22, 2011 National HR 2021 Impact of Drilling on Air Quality Bill Passed - House (253 - 166)
June 15, 2011 OH HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 15, 2011 OH HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 14, 2011 National S Amdt 436 Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59)
May 31, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24)
May 31, 2011 IL HB 1723 Amending The Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 44)
May 30, 2011 IL SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Bill Passed - House (67 - 47)
May 25, 2011 OH HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
May 25, 2011 OH HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
May 18, 2011 National S 953 Offshore Production and Safety Act Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
May 17, 2011 National S 940 Amending Oil Company Tax Laws Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48)
May 11, 2011 MN SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition Bill Passed - House (76 - 54)
May 5, 2011 National HR 1230 Offshore Leasing Act Bill Passed - House (266 - 149)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 49)
April 20, 2011 MT HB 198 Eminent Domain Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
April 11, 2011 MD SB 690 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20)
April 9, 2011 MD SB 690 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 60)
March 31, 2011 AK HB 110 Reducing the Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - House (22 - 16)
March 30, 2011 NH HB 519 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (251 - 108)
March 29, 2011 WA SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 14, 2011 NJ A 3648 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
Feb. 28, 2011 UT SB 270 Modifications to Sales and Use Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
Feb. 24, 2011 MT SB 226 Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 24, 2011 MT SB 330 Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 24, 2011 CA SB 2 Increasing Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 22, 2011 AR SB 275 Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Feb. 17, 2011 MN SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - House (81 - 50)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1052 Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
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. 7, 2011 MT HB 198 Eminent Domain Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
Feb. 2, 2011 MN SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)
Jan. 28, 2011 MT SB 104 Limitations on Electricity Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Jan. 24, 2011 MN SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
Jan. 21, 2011 ND SB 2131 Surface Access Fee for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 40)
Jan. 10, 2011 NJ S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
Jan. 10, 2011 NJ S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
Nov. 29, 2010 NY S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
Oct. 18, 2010 NJ S 2381 Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities
Sept. 29, 2010 PA SB 1155 Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill Passed - House (104 - 94)
Sept. 16, 2010 National HR 4785 Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes Bill Passed - House (240 - 172)
Sept. 14, 2010 National S Amdt 4595 Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
Aug. 30, 2010 CA AB 234 Marine Oil Shipping Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 28)
Aug. 23, 2010 CA AB 234 Marine Oil Shipping Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 3, 2010 NY S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
July 30, 2010 National H Amdt 773 Ending Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling Rigs that Meet Certain Safety Standards Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 195)
July 30, 2010 National HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
July 30, 2010 National HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
July 30, 2010 National HR 5851 "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers Bill Passed - House (315 - 93)
July 10, 2010 NC HB 1829 Renewable Energy Incentives Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19)
June 29, 2010 NJ S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - House (71 - 6)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
June 8, 2010 LA SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
June 3, 2010 CA AB 2514 Energy Storage Targets Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 28)
May 28, 2010 National HR 5116 Science and Technology Funding Bill Passed - House (262 - 150)
May 4, 2010 CT SB 493 Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Bill Passed - House (81 - 40)
May 4, 2010 CT SB 493 Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 28, 2010 CO HB 1348 Regulations on Radioactive Material Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 18, 2010 AK SB 305 Separating Oil and Gas When Calculating Production Tax Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
April 14, 2010 HI HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
April 14, 2010 HI HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 11)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 277 Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 10, 2010 MD SB 277 Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - House (109 - 31)
March 31, 2010 CO HB 1365 Utility Emission Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 12)
March 31, 2010 CO HB 1365 Utility Emission Reduction Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 11, 2010 CA SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 11, 2010 UT SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 19)
March 9, 2010 UT SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 8, 2010 CO HB 1001 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 26)
March 8, 2010 CA SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
March 8, 2010 UT HB 286 Prohibiting Retirement System Investment in Iranian Petroleum Bill Passed - House (39 - 34)
March 5, 2010 CO HB 1001 Increases Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 3, 2010 AZ HB 2337 Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
Feb. 26, 2010 WY HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
Feb. 25, 2010 IN SB 313 Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
Feb. 24, 2010 VT S 289 Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26)
Feb. 22, 2010 VA HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 18, 2010 WY HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
Feb. 16, 2010 CO HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30)
Feb. 15, 2010 CO SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 10, 2010 NM HB 276 New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments Bill Failed - House (32 - 33)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
Feb. 3, 2010 CO HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
Jan. 20, 2010 WA HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
Jan. 20, 2010 KY SB 26 Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Nov. 20, 2009 WV SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 23)
Nov. 18, 2009 WV SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Sept. 16, 2009 WI SB 185 State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
Sept. 12, 2009 CA SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Sept. 12, 2009 CA SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
Aug. 10, 2009 AK HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - House (30 - 9)
Aug. 10, 2009 AK HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
Aug. 6, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
July 31, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
June 30, 2009 OH SCR 15 Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/29 S 2576 Prohibits Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)
6/22 HR 2021 Impact of Drilling on Air Quality Bill Passed - House (253 - 166)
6/15 HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/15 HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/14 S Amdt 436 Repeals the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (40 - 59)
5/31 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24)
5/31 HB 1723 Amending The Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 44)
5/30 SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology Bill Passed - House (67 - 47)
5/25 HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
5/25 HB 133 Establishes the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission Bill Passed - House (54 - 41)
5/18 S 953 Offshore Production and Safety Act Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 57)
5/17 S 940 Amending Oil Company Tax Laws Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48)
5/11 SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition Bill Passed - House (76 - 54)
5/05 HR 1230 Offshore Leasing Act Bill Passed - House (266 - 149)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (50 - 49)
4/20 HB 198 Eminent Domain Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
4/11 SB 690 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20)
4/09 SB 690 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 60)
3/31 HB 110 Reducing the Oil and Gas Production Tax Bill Passed - House (22 - 16)
3/30 HB 519 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (251 - 108)
3/29 SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/14 A 3648 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
2/28 SB 270 Modifications to Sales and Use Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
2/24 SB 226 Amends Utility Net Metering Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/24 SB 330 Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/24 SB 2 Increasing Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/22 SB 275 Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
2/17 SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - House (81 - 50)
2/16 HB 1052 Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities Bill Passed - House (88 - 8)
2/09 HB 191 Wind Power Tax Bill Failed - House (27 - 32)
2/08 HB 191 Wind Power Tax Bill Failed - House (29 - 29)
2/07 HB 198 Eminent Domain Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (69 - 30)
2/02 SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)
1/28 SB 104 Limitations on Electricity Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
1/24 SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
1/21 SB 2131 Surface Access Fee for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 40)
1/10 S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
1/10 S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (57 - 15)
11/29 S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
10/18 S 2381 Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities
9/29 SB 1155 Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill Passed - House (104 - 94)
9/16 HR 4785 Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes Bill Passed - House (240 - 172)
9/14 S Amdt 4595 Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
8/30 AB 234 Marine Oil Shipping Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 28)
8/23 AB 234 Marine Oil Shipping Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/03 S 8129B Suspending Hydraulic Fracturing for the Extraction of Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 9)
7/30 H Amdt 773 Ending Moratorium on Deepwater Drilling Rigs that Meet Certain Safety Standards Amendment Adopted - House (216 - 195)
7/30 HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
7/30 HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
7/30 HR 5851 "Whistleblower Protection" for Offshore Oil Workers Bill Passed - House (315 - 93)
7/10 HB 1829 Renewable Energy Incentives Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19)
6/29 S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - House (71 - 6)
6/28 S 2036 Offshore Wind Economic Development Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
6/08 SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
6/03 AB 2514 Energy Storage Targets Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 28)
5/28 HR 5116 Science and Technology Funding Bill Passed - House (262 - 150)
5/04 SB 493 Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Bill Passed - House (81 - 40)
5/04 SB 493 Increasing Use of Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/28 HB 1348 Regulations on Radioactive Material Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/18 SB 305 Separating Oil and Gas When Calculating Production Tax Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
4/14 HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
4/14 HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 11)
4/12 SB 277 Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/10 SB 277 Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - House (109 - 31)
3/31 HB 1365 Utility Emission Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 12)
3/31 HB 1365 Utility Emission Reduction Plan Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/11 SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/11 SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - House (53 - 19)
3/09 SB 47 Energy Management Program Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/08 HB 1001 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 26)
3/08 SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (47 - 29)
3/08 HB 286 Prohibiting Retirement System Investment in Iranian Petroleum Bill Passed - House (39 - 34)
3/05 HB 1001 Increases Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/03 HB 2337 Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
2/26 HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
2/25 SB 313 Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
2/24 S 289 Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26)
2/22 HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/18 HB 101 Wind-Generated Electricity Tax Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
2/16 HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30)
2/15 SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
2/10 HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/10 SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/10 HB 276 New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments Bill Failed - House (32 - 33)
2/08 HB 756 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
2/03 HB 1190 Suspending Sales Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
1/20 HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
1/20 SB 26 Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
11/20 SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 23)
11/18 SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
9/16 SB 185 State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
9/12 SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
9/12 SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
8/10 HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - House (30 - 9)
8/10 HB 199 Federal Funds Appropriations Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
8/06 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
7/31 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
6/30 SCR 15 Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11)

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