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
Jan. 24, 2011 MN SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
Sept. 23, 2010 National HR 4823 Establishing Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area Bill Failed - House (258 - 160)
Sept. 23, 2010 National HR 5110 Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Bill Failed - House (244 - 174)
Aug. 31, 2010 CA AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
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)
July 30, 2010 National HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
July 2, 2010 PA HB 2601 Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies Bill Passed - House (125 - 71)
June 21, 2010 LA SB 65 Coastal Zone Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 17)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
June 18, 2010 NY A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - House (79 - 52)
June 16, 2010 MI SR 158 Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
June 15, 2010 PA HB 708 Recycling Program for Electronic Materials Bill Passed - House (169 - 30)
June 10, 2010 National S J Res 26 Statement of Opposition to EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
June 2, 2010 CA AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores Bill Passed - House (42 - 27)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 27)
May 28, 2010 NY A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
May 12, 2010 VT H 485 Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1358 Authorizing Home Buyers to Purchase Water Efficiency Devices Up Front Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
May 11, 2010 DE SB 234 Universal Recycling and Beverage Containers Bill Passed - House (26 - 12)
May 7, 2010 CO HB 1358 Authorizing Home Buyers to Purchase Water Efficiency Devices Up Front Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 4, 2010 LA HCR 144 Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32)
April 28, 2010 CO HB 1348 Regulations on Radioactive Material Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 15, 2010 CA SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 22, 2010 CA SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Bill Passed - House (42 - 27)
March 17, 2010 ME LD 821 Prescription Drug Disposal Program Bill Passed - House (91 - 51)
March 4, 2010 SD Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 1, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33)
Feb. 25, 2010 IN SB 313 Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
Feb. 24, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
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. 17, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30)
Feb. 17, 2010 CA AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores
Feb. 16, 2010 NM Holguin Nomination Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board (17 - 25)
Feb. 15, 2010 CO SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
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)
Jan. 27, 2010 VT H 485 Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (104 - 34)
Jan. 20, 2010 KY SB 26 Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 6 Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 19)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx7 6 Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Bill Passed - House (44 - 29)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Oct. 29, 2009 National HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178)
Oct. 29, 2009 National HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
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)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 13, 2009 CA SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
June 30, 2009 OH SCR 15 Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
June 29, 2009 OR HB 3369 Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
June 29, 2009 OR SB 528 Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
June 26, 2009 OR HB 3369 Water Development Bill Passed - House (43 - 16)
June 26, 2009 National HR 2454 Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
June 26, 2009 WI AB 281 Phosphorus in Cleaning Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
June 25, 2009 NJ S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
June 25, 2009 OR SB 528 Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
June 24, 2009 OR HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
June 23, 2009 OR HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
June 22, 2009 OR HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 28)
June 22, 2009 OR SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 18, 2009 NC SB 1018 Reducing the Use of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (78 - 41)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/24 SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
9/23 HR 4823 Establishing Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area Bill Failed - House (258 - 160)
9/23 HR 5110 Expanding Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Bill Failed - House (244 - 174)
8/31 AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
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)
7/30 HR 3534 Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (209 - 193)
7/02 HB 2601 Environmentally Beneficial and Energy Efficient Technologies Bill Passed - House (125 - 71)
6/21 SB 65 Coastal Zone Expansion Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 17)
6/21 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
6/18 A 9709 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed - House (79 - 52)
6/16 SR 158 Oil Spill Prevention Plans for Dairy Farmers Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
6/15 HB 708 Recycling Program for Electronic Materials Bill Passed - House (169 - 30)
6/10 S J Res 26 Statement of Opposition to EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
6/02 AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores Bill Passed - House (42 - 27)
5/28 A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 27)
5/28 A 11308 Emergency State Parks Appropriations Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
5/12 H 485 Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
5/11 HB 1358 Authorizing Home Buyers to Purchase Water Efficiency Devices Up Front Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
5/11 SB 234 Universal Recycling and Beverage Containers Bill Passed - House (26 - 12)
5/07 HB 1358 Authorizing Home Buyers to Purchase Water Efficiency Devices Up Front Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/04 HCR 144 Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32)
4/28 HB 1348 Regulations on Radioactive Material Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/15 SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/22 SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Bill Passed - House (42 - 27)
3/17 LD 821 Prescription Drug Disposal Program Bill Passed - House (91 - 51)
3/04 Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/01 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33)
2/25 SB 313 Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
2/24 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
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)
2/17 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30)
2/17 AB 1998 Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores
2/16 Holguin Nomination Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board (17 - 25)
2/15 SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
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)
1/27 H 485 Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (104 - 34)
1/20 SB 26 Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
11/04 SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
11/04 SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
11/04 SBx7 6 Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
11/04 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
11/04 SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
11/04 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
11/04 SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Bill Passed - House (49 - 20)
11/03 SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 19)
11/03 SBx7 6 Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Bill Passed - House (44 - 29)
11/03 SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
11/02 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
11/02 SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
10/29 HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178)
10/29 HR 2996 Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28)
9/22 SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
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)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/13 SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
6/30 SCR 15 Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
6/29 HB 3369 Water Development Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
6/29 SB 528 Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
6/26 HB 3369 Water Development Bill Passed - House (43 - 16)
6/26 HR 2454 Energy and Environmental Law Amendments ("Cap and Trade") Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
6/26 AB 281 Phosphorus in Cleaning Products Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
6/25 A 3901 Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
6/25 S 702 Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
6/25 SB 528 Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
6/24 HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
6/23 HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
6/22 HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 28)
6/22 SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/18 SB 1018 Reducing the Use of Plastic Bags Bill Passed - House (78 - 41)

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