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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | HB 2946 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 49) |
| May 7, 2008 | MO | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | HB 2946 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 11) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| May 7, 2008 | NH | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
| May 7, 2008 | OH | SB 57 | Disability Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | S 7594 | Gasoline Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| May 7, 2008 | NY | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| May 7, 2008 | PA | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| May 7, 2008 | MO | HB 2393 | Mega-Project Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (138 - 14) |
| May 6, 2008 | SC | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1329 | Voter Registration Confirmation Card | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15) |
| May 6, 2008 | KS | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 6, 2008 | KS | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| May 6, 2008 | MO | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| May 6, 2008 | OK | SB 1150 | Voter Identification Requirement | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1378 | Allowing Ranked Voting Methods | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| May 6, 2008 | MA | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| May 6, 2008 | AZ | HB 2677 | Real ID | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| May 6, 2008 | CT | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund | Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54) | |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund | Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54) | |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday | Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102) | |
| May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1329 | Voter Registration Confirmation Card | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 5, 2008 | MO | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
| May 5, 2008 | KS | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1378 | Allowing Ranked Voting Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | MN | HF 3149 | Homeowner and Property Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 52) |
| May 5, 2008 | CT | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
| May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1) |
| May 2, 2008 | FL | HB 5001 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 1, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| May 1, 2008 | FL | HB 5001 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 44) |
| May 1, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 10) |
| May 1, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | HI | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 10) |
| May 1, 2008 | AL | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| May 1, 2008 | MO | HB 2393 | Mega-Project Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| May 1, 2008 | IL | SJRCA 70 | Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials | Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| May 1, 2008 | IL | SJRCA 70 | Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials | Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| April 30, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| April 30, 2008 | AZ | SB 1450 | Theme Park Funding | Bill Passed - House (39 - 17) |
| April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5278 | Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
| April 29, 2008 | LA | S Amdt 2096 | Gradual Income Tax Deduction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18) |
| April 29, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| April 29, 2008 | TN | SB 3042 | Open Container Law | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| April 28, 2008 | MN | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 25, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2432 | Prison and Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| April 25, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| April 24, 2008 | FL | Amdt 28283 | Commuter Trains in Orlando | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64) |
| April 24, 2008 | AZ | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
| April 24, 2008 | IA | SF 2432 | 2008-2009 Prison and Infrastructure Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/07 | S Amdt P-4A | Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24) |
| 5/07 | HB 2946 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (73 - 49) |
| 5/07 | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| 5/07 | HB 2946 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 5/07 | H 3567 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11) |
| 5/07 | SB 539 | Education Funding Amendments | Bill Passed - House (184 - 141) |
| 5/07 | SB 57 | Disability Scholarship Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 5/07 | S 7594 | Gasoline Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 15) |
| 5/07 | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| 5/07 | A 10083 | Foreclosure Assistance Finance | Bill Passed - House (104 - 33) |
| 5/07 | A 8972 | Foreclosure and Lending | Bill Passed - House (113 - 21) |
| 5/07 | A 10219 | Mortgage Bill of Rights | Bill Passed - House (122 - 15) |
| 5/07 | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| 5/07 | A 9695 | Foreclosure Relief | Bill Passed - House (126 - 11) |
| 5/07 | HJR 132 | Legislative Salaries | Joint Resolution Passed - House (94 - 8) |
| 5/07 | HB 2297 | Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone | Bill Passed - House (126 - 72) |
| 5/07 | HB 2393 | Mega-Project Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (138 - 14) |
| 5/06 | S Amdt P-1 | Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid | Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 5/06 | HB 1329 | Voter Registration Confirmation Card | Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15) |
| 5/06 | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 5/06 | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| 5/06 | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| 5/06 | SB 1150 | Voter Identification Requirement | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 5/06 | HB 1378 | Allowing Ranked Voting Methods | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| 5/06 | H 4645 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 5/06 | HB 2677 | Real ID | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 5/06 | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 5/05 | Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund | Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54) | |
| 5/05 | Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund | Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54) | |
| 5/05 | Howes Amendment: Gas Tax Holiday | Amendment Rejected - House (28 - 102) | |
| 5/05 | HB 2002 | 2008-2009 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 62) |
| 5/05 | HB 1329 | Voter Registration Confirmation Card | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/05 | HB 2003 | 2008-2009 Department of Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 63) |
| 5/05 | HB 2860 | Eminent Domain and Water Rights | Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| 5/05 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 5/05 | HB 1378 | Allowing Ranked Voting Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HF 3149 | Homeowner and Property Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (80 - 52) |
| 5/05 | HB 5577 | Mortgage Assistance | Bill Passed - House (124 - 24) |
| 5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| 5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 1) |
| 5/02 | HB 5001 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 5/02 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/02 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 5/01 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| 5/01 | HB 5001 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 44) |
| 5/01 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 10) |
| 5/01 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11) |
| 5/01 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11) |
| 5/01 | SB 2423 | Turtle Bay Acquisition | Conference Report Adopted - House (37 - 10) |
| 5/01 | HB 787 | State Employees in Public Office | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 5/01 | HB 2393 | Mega-Project Tax Credits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 5/01 | SJRCA 70 | Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials | Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| 5/01 | SJRCA 70 | Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials | Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/01 | HB 1357 | Changing student testing requirements | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 4/30 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| 4/30 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| 4/30 | SB 1450 | Theme Park Funding | Bill Passed - House (39 - 17) |
| 4/30 | HB 5278 | Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
| 4/29 | S Amdt 2096 | Gradual Income Tax Deduction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18) |
| 4/29 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 4/29 | SB 3042 | Open Container Law | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 4/28 | Walker Amdt to SF 3001 | Sex Education in Schools | Amendment Adopted - House (79 - 53) |
| 4/25 | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/25 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| 4/25 | SF 2432 | Prison and Infrastructure Funding | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 4/25 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| 4/25 | H 8672 | DUI Appeals | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 50) |
| 4/24 | Amdt 28283 | Commuter Trains in Orlando | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 64) |
| 4/24 | HB 2711 | State Control of Mismanaged Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 6) |
| 4/24 | SF 2432 | 2008-2009 Prison and Infrastructure Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |