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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2010 | NE | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| April 5, 2010 | CO | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| April 5, 2010 | CO | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| April 2, 2010 | WA | SB 6503 | State Employee Furlough Plan | Bill Passed - House (50 - 38) |
| April 1, 2010 | MD | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 25, 2010 | KY | SB 178 | Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| March 24, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 23, 2010 | KY | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| March 21, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| March 18, 2010 | IA | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 17, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| March 17, 2010 | IA | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| March 11, 2010 | MN | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44) |
| March 11, 2010 | MN | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| March 10, 2010 | SC | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12) |
| March 10, 2010 | SC | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| March 9, 2010 | OK | SB 1973 | Worker's Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| March 8, 2010 | SD | SB 18 | Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| March 4, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| March 2, 2010 | WY | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| March 1, 2010 | UT | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| March 1, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47) |
| March 1, 2010 | UT | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | WY | SF 72 | Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | UT | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | UT | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | IN | SB 23 | Unemployment Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | AZ | HB 2042 | Prohibiting Roadside Solicitation of Employment | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | WY | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Passed - House (54 - 3) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | NM | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - House (37 - 31) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | NM | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | National | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | National | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | WA | SB 6382 | Extending State Employee Salary Freeze | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | MN | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 239 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | NM | HB 17 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | UT | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Feb. 4, 2010 | IA | SF 2062 | State Worker Retirement Incentive Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | SD | SB 18 | Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | WA | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | IL | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | IL | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | IN | SB 23 | Unemployment Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Dec. 17, 2009 | OH | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| Dec. 17, 2009 | OH | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Dec. 16, 2009 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 212) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | MI | SB 638 | "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Nov. 18, 2009 | MA | S 2210 | Sentencing Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 76) |
| Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Aug. 26, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| Aug. 14, 2009 | AL | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| Aug. 12, 2009 | AL | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - House (17 - 15) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| July 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6502 | Concerning Standard Wage for Certain Workers | Veto Override Passed - House (106 - 35) |
| July 1, 2009 | DE | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| June 30, 2009 | DE | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/09 | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| 4/05 | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 4/05 | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| 4/02 | SB 6503 | State Employee Furlough Plan | Bill Passed - House (50 - 38) |
| 4/01 | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 3/29 | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 3/29 | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 3/26 | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68) |
| 3/26 | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/25 | SB 178 | Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| 3/24 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/23 | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 3/21 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 211) |
| 3/18 | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 3/17 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 3/17 | HF 2518 | Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 3/11 | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44) |
| 3/11 | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| 3/10 | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12) |
| 3/10 | H 3305 | Requiring Secret Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9) |
| 3/09 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42) |
| 3/09 | SB 1973 | Worker's Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 3/08 | SB 18 | Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees | Bill Passed - House (55 - 13) |
| 3/04 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| 3/02 | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15) |
| 3/01 | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 3/01 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47) |
| 3/01 | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| 2/26 | SF 72 | Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System | Bill Passed - House (37 - 21) |
| 2/26 | SB 43 | Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 2/26 | SB 63 | Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 26) |
| 2/25 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| 2/24 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| 2/24 | SB 23 | Unemployment Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| 2/24 | HB 2042 | Prohibiting Roadside Solicitation of Employment | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
| 2/22 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| 2/22 | HB 93 | Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations | Bill Passed - House (54 - 3) |
| 2/18 | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - House (37 - 31) |
| 2/16 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 2/16 | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/12 | SB 112 | Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17) |
| 2/09 | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| 2/09 | PN 1351 | Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33) |
| 2/09 | SB 6382 | Extending State Employee Salary Freeze | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| 2/09 | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 2/08 | SB 239 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 2/08 | HB 17 | Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/08 | SB 66 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/08 | HB 18 | Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 2/04 | SF 2062 | State Worker Retirement Incentive Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| 2/01 | SB 1 | Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 1/27 | SB 18 | Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 1/20 | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| 1/13 | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| 1/12 | SB 315 | Teacher Evaluation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (74 - 37) |
| 1/12 | SB 23 | Unemployment Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 12/17 | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 12/17 | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 12/16 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 212) |
| 12/03 | SB 638 | "Consistent Ineffectiveness" as Grounds for Discharging or Demoting Tenured Teachers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 11/18 | S 2210 | Sentencing Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 9/11 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (113 - 76) |
| 9/04 | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 8/26 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 8/14 | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 8/12 | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - House (17 - 15) |
| 8/05 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (112 - 85) |
| 7/20 | HB 6502 | Concerning Standard Wage for Certain Workers | Veto Override Passed - House (106 - 35) |
| 7/01 | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| 6/30 | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |