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