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
March 29, 2013 MD HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 21, 2013 AK SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
March 14, 2013 IL SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
March 8, 2013 MD HB 226 Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
Feb. 28, 2013 KS SB 82 Extends Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 23)
Feb. 27, 2013 NC SB 76 Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2013 ND SB 2336 Restructures Oil and Gas Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
Feb. 23, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 19, 2013 SD SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 13, 2013 VA HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
Nov. 28, 2012 National S Amdt 3095 Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
Nov. 28, 2012 National S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
July 2, 2012 NC SB 820 Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 13)
June 6, 2012 NH HB 1490 Authorizes New Hamshire to Leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
June 6, 2012 NC SB 820 Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
May 30, 2012 CA SB 1054 Requires Notifying Property Owners Prior to Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
May 15, 2012 OH SB 315 Regulates Practice of Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
May 3, 2012 HI SB 2785 Establishes Regulations for an Undersea Power Cable Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
April 11, 2012 NE LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
April 9, 2012 AK SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
March 29, 2012 National S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
March 29, 2012 National S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
March 15, 2012 NJ S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 14, 2012 ID H 464 Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 8, 2012 National S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
March 8, 2012 FL HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Feb. 28, 2012 SD HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2012 National HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 36)
Feb. 7, 2012 PA HB 1950 Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
Jan. 30, 2012 MN Anderson Nomination Confirmation of Ellen Anderson as Public Utilities Commissioner Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 37)
Jan. 25, 2012 NH Amdt 367s Restricting Eminent Domain Petitions Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)
Dec. 17, 2011 National S Amdt 1465 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
Nov. 15, 2011 PA SB 1100 Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Sept. 7, 2011 NH SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
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 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)
April 28, 2011 MT SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
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)
March 29, 2011 WA SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
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 CA SB 2 Increasing Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2011 MT SB 330 Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 22, 2011 AR SB 275 Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
Feb. 2, 2011 MN SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/29 HB 1515 Increases the Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/21 SB 21 Amends the Oil Industry Tax Rate Structure Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
3/14 SB 9 Increases Utility Rates Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 9)
3/08 HB 226 Establishes Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
2/28 SB 82 Extends Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 23)
2/27 SB 76 Amends Hydraulic Fracturing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 7)
2/26 SB 2336 Restructures Oil and Gas Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
2/23 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 15)
2/19 SB 195 Establishes Incentives for Wind Energy Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/13 HB 2313 Repeals the Retail Gas Tax and Establishes a Wholesale Gas Tax Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
11/28 S Amdt 3095 Repeals the Prohibition on Biofuel Refinery Construction Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 41)
11/28 S Amdt 2985 Repeals the Limit on the Use of Funds to Procure Alternative Fuel Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 37)
7/02 SB 820 Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 13)
6/06 HB 1490 Authorizes New Hamshire to Leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 6)
6/06 SB 820 Authorizes Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
5/30 SB 1054 Requires Notifying Property Owners Prior to Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
5/15 SB 315 Regulates Practice of Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
5/03 SB 2785 Establishes Regulations for an Undersea Power Cable Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
4/11 LB 1161 Authorizes Land Study in Nebraska for Keystone XL Pipeline Route Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/09 SB 203 Establishes an Energy Assistance Program Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 4)
3/29 S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
3/29 S 2204 Amends Energy-Related Tax Credits Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 47)
3/15 S 1322 Requires Participation In the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/14 H 464 Prohibits Local Ordinances from Limiting Oil and Gas Extraction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/08 S Amdt 1537 Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 42)
3/08 HB 4001 Repeals Provisions for Cap and Trade Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
2/28 HB 1228 Tax Credits for Alternative Energy Projects Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/17 HR 3630 Extends Payroll Tax Cut Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 36)
2/07 HB 1950 Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
1/30 Anderson Nomination Confirmation of Ellen Anderson as Public Utilities Commissioner Motion Rejected - Senate (29 - 37)
1/25 Amdt 367s Restricting Eminent Domain Petitions Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 8)
12/17 S Amdt 1465 Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 10)
11/15 SB 1100 Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
9/07 SB 154 Withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Veto Override Failed - Senate (15 - 9)
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)
5/18 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)
4/28 SB 329 Oil and Natural Gas Revenue for Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
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)
3/29 SB 5251 Electric Vehicle Registration Fees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
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 2 Increasing Renewable Energy Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
2/24 SB 330 Waiver from Renewable Portfolio Standard Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/22 SB 275 Reduction of Excise Tax on Electricity and Natural Gas Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
2/02 SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)

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