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 28, 2011 NC SB 265 Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 17, 2011 AZ SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
March 14, 2011 GA SB 40 Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
March 14, 2011 AZ SB 1345 Limits Number and Compensation of Municipal Employees Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16)
March 10, 2011 TN SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
March 9, 2011 WI AB 11 Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 1)
March 8, 2011 UT HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
March 8, 2011 AZ SB 1363 Labor Organization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 2, 2011 OH SB 5 Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Feb. 24, 2011 ID S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 23, 2011 SD SB 156 Prohibits Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 17, 2011 IN SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
Feb. 16, 2011 OH HB 1 Establishes JobsOhio Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Feb. 8, 2011 WY SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
Feb. 4, 2011 ID S 1007 Labor Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Feb. 2, 2011 VA SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 1, 2011 ID S 1006 Right to Work Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Feb. 1, 2011 ID S 1006 Right to Work Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 19, 2011 NH SB 1 Repeal of Automatic Continuation Requirement for Public Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
Dec. 8, 2010 National S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
Nov. 17, 2010 National S 3772 Paycheck Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 41)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Sept. 28, 2010 National S 3816 Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 1, 2010 NY S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
May 25, 2010 LA SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 17, 2010 NY S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 11, 2010 CO SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 10, 2010 NY S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
April 30, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 12, 2010 MD HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
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 1, 2010 MD SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/28 SB 265 Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/17 SB 1611 Requires Verification of Citizenship for Certain Benefits Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 19)
3/14 SB 40 Immigration Status Verification of Private Business Workers Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 21)
3/14 SB 1345 Limits Number and Compensation of Municipal Employees Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 16)
3/10 SB 1528 Amends Requirements for Teacher Tenure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
3/09 AB 11 Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 1)
3/08 HB 183 School District Leave Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 7)
3/08 SB 1363 Labor Organization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/02 SB 5 Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
2/24 S 1108 Education Provisions and Teacher Entitlements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/23 SB 156 Prohibits Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/17 SB 575 Collective Bargaining for School Employees Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
2/16 HB 1 Establishes JobsOhio Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
2/15 S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
2/08 SF 52 Repealing Teacher Tenure Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18)
2/04 S 1007 Labor Organizations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
2/02 SB 747 Prohibits Discrimination in State Employment Based on Sexual Orientation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/01 S 1006 Right to Work Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
2/01 S 1006 Right to Work Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/19 SB 1 Repeal of Automatic Continuation Requirement for Public Employee Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5)
12/08 S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
11/17 S 3772 Paycheck Fairness Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (58 - 41)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
9/28 S 3816 Tax Law Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
8/26 SB 145 Prohibiting Denial of Workers' Compensation if the Injury or Death was Related to Certain Personal Characteristics Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/26 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
6/21 HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
6/03 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/01 S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
5/25 SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/17 S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/12 HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/11 SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/10 S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
4/30 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/20 SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/12 HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
4/12 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
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)
4/01 SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)

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