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
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
April 15, 2010 WI AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
April 8, 2010 AZ HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
March 27, 2010 MS SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 31)
March 22, 2010 IL HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
March 16, 2010 NY A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
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 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. 15, 2010 WA HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 10, 2010 MS HB 232 Novelty Lighter Ban Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
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. 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 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)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
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 MI HB 4476 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
June 24, 2009 MI HB 4183 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (84 - 25)
June 23, 2009 NC SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
June 19, 2009 CT SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
June 4, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
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 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 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 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 16, 2009 NC HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
April 10, 2009 ND HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
April 2, 2009 AK HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
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 25, 2009 OR HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
March 24, 2009 NH HB 531 Parental Notification for Underage Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/21 Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
4/15 AB 106 Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
4/08 HB 2650 Authorizing Extension of Divorce Waiting Period Bill Failed - House (27 - 28)
3/27 SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 31)
3/22 HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
3/16 A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
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)
3/03 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)
2/15 HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/10 HB 232 Novelty Lighter Ban Bill Passed - House (94 - 25)
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)
1/07 A 2762 Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 30)
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)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
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 4476 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (83 - 25)
6/24 HB 4183 Health Insurance for Autism Bill Passed - House (84 - 25)
6/23 SB 526 Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools Bill Passed - House (58 - 57)
6/19 SB 2001 Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers Bill Passed - House (97 - 32)
6/04 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
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)
5/18 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)
5/04 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)
4/24 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)
4/16 HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
4/10 HB 1171 Home School Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38)
4/02 HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
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)
3/25 HB 2599 Expanding School Bullying Law Bill Passed - House (50 - 9)
3/24 HB 531 Parental Notification for Underage Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160)

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