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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |