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 18, 2010 IL SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
March 17, 2010 KS SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
March 16, 2010 AZ HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 16, 2010 NY A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
March 11, 2010 IA SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
March 11, 2010 AZ HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28)
March 10, 2010 IA SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Bill Passed - House (73 - 25)
March 10, 2010 IA Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
March 8, 2010 UT SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
March 3, 2010 CO HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
Feb. 24, 2010 UT SB 55 Authorizing Higher Education Institutions to Authorize Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
Feb. 17, 2010 NM SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
Feb. 17, 2010 UT HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 15, 2010 WA HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 13, 2010 NM SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2010 MS HB 232 Novelty Lighter Ban Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
Feb. 4, 2010 NM SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Jan. 28, 2010 MA H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
Jan. 26, 2010 IA HF 2110 Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
Jan. 12, 2010 CA SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors
Jan. 7, 2010 NJ A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Jan. 6, 2010 CA SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Jan. 6, 2010 NH HB 569 Expanding Coverage Requirements for Autism Disorders Bill Passed - House (213 - 147)
Jan. 5, 2010 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (45 - 17)
Jan. 5, 2010 CA SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
Dec. 16, 2009 OH HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
Dec. 10, 2009 NJ A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Dec. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Nov. 3, 2009 CA SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Sept. 2, 2009 CA AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Aug. 12, 2009 AZ HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
July 31, 2009 AZ HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - House (35 - 11)
June 29, 2009 PA HB 746 Children's Health Care Insurance Bill Passed - House (106 - 94)
June 25, 2009 NJ S 1175 Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18)
June 24, 2009 NC HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4183 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (84 - 25)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4476 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
June 23, 2009 NC SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
June 22, 2009 AZ SB 1440 Smoking in Cars with Minors Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20)
June 19, 2009 CT SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
June 15, 2009 OR HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 9, 2009 WI SB 167 Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
June 4, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
June 1, 2009 TN HJR 369 Opposing the Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Bill Passed - House (70 - 20)
May 28, 2009 LA HB 834 Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
May 27, 2009 OR HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2)
May 18, 2009 OR HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
May 18, 2009 MN SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - House (95 - 39)
May 15, 2009 TX HB 2962 Childrens' Health Care Bill Passed - House (87 - 55)
May 12, 2009 LA HB 60 Birth Certificates for Adoption Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
May 6, 2009 NC SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
May 4, 2009 OR HB 2821 Employee Vacation Use Amendments Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
May 4, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26)
May 2, 2009 ND SB 2162 Child Care Background Checks Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 20)
April 27, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
April 24, 2009 ND HB 1478 Children's Health Insurance Program Eligibility Expansion Conference Report Rejected - House (41 - 47)
April 23, 2009 WI SB 27 Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
April 17, 2009 MN SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
April 16, 2009 MN Limmer Amdt Homosexuality in Education Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37)
April 16, 2009 NC HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
April 15, 2009 TX SB 1049 Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
April 10, 2009 ND HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
April 6, 2009 ND HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 2, 2009 AK HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 1, 2009 ND SB 2070 Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers Bill Failed - House (31 - 58)
March 31, 2009 National HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (275 - 149)
March 26, 2009 National HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/18 SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
3/17 SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
3/16 HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/16 A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
3/11 SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
3/11 HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28)
3/10 SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Bill Passed - House (73 - 25)
3/10 Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
3/08 SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
3/03 SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
3/03 HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
2/24 SB 55 Authorizing Higher Education Institutions to Authorize Charter Schools Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
2/17 SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - House (33 - 22)
2/17 HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
2/16 SB 464 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/15 HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/13 SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
2/10 HB 232 Novelty Lighter Ban Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
2/04 SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
1/28 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
1/28 H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
1/26 HF 2110 Military Spouse Relocation Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - House (56 - 44)
1/12 SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors
1/07 A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
1/06 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
1/06 SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
1/06 HB 569 Expanding Coverage Requirements for Autism Disorders Bill Passed - House (213 - 147)
1/05 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (45 - 17)
1/05 SBx5 4 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
12/16 HB 60 Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools Bill Passed - House (60 - 37)
12/10 A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
12/03 S Amdt 2791 Preventive Services Coverage Requirements Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
11/03 SBx5 1 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
9/02 AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
8/12 HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
7/31 HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - House (35 - 11)
6/29 HB 746 Children's Health Care Insurance Bill Passed - House (106 - 94)
6/25 S 1175 Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18)
6/24 HB 442 Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
6/24 HB 4183 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (84 - 25)
6/24 HB 4476 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
6/23 SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
6/22 SB 1440 Smoking in Cars with Minors Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20)
6/19 SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
6/15 HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/09 SB 167 Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
6/04 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
6/03 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
6/01 HJR 369 Opposing the Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Bill Passed - House (70 - 20)
5/28 HB 834 Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
5/27 HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2)
5/18 HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
5/18 SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - House (95 - 39)
5/15 HB 2962 Childrens' Health Care Bill Passed - House (87 - 55)
5/12 HB 60 Birth Certificates for Adoption Bill Passed - House (78 - 17)
5/06 SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
5/04 HB 2821 Employee Vacation Use Amendments Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
5/04 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26)
5/02 SB 2162 Child Care Background Checks Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 20)
4/27 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
4/24 HB 1478 Children's Health Insurance Program Eligibility Expansion Conference Report Rejected - House (41 - 47)
4/23 SB 27 Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
4/17 SF 971 School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
4/16 Limmer Amdt Homosexuality in Education Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37)
4/16 HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
4/15 SB 1049 Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
4/10 HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
4/06 HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/02 HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
4/02 HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/01 SB 2070 Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers Bill Failed - House (31 - 58)
3/31 HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - House (275 - 149)
3/26 HR 1388 National Volunteer Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 19)

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