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 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| May 18, 2010 | OK | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10) |
| May 18, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4072 | Inspector General Appointment Modification | Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21) |
| May 18, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4051 | Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| May 18, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4034 | Federal Preemption Over State Consumer Financial Laws | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| May 18, 2010 | National | S Amdt 4071 | Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18) |
| May 18, 2010 | MI | HB 5880 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| May 18, 2010 | LA | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 17, 2010 | NY | S 7846 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (92 - 50) |
| May 17, 2010 | MN | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| May 17, 2010 | MN | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| May 17, 2010 | LA | HB 300 | Authorization for the Louisiana Tax Commission to Levy and Collect Certain Fees | Bill Passed - House (63 - 27) |
| May 17, 2010 | LA | HB 1478 | Unpaid holidays for state employees | Bill Failed - House (23 - 68) |
| May 17, 2010 | NY | S 7846 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| May 13, 2010 | SC | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| May 13, 2010 | LA | HB 1474 | Choice of Health Insurance Coverage | Bill Passed - House (60 - 15) |
| May 12, 2010 | SC | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 29) |
| May 12, 2010 | VT | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| May 12, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 12, 2010 | CO | HB 1409 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27) |
| May 12, 2010 | CO | HB 1360 | Parole Violation Punishment Reduction | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 18) |
| May 12, 2010 | CO | HB 1409 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 12, 2010 | CO | HB 1360 | Parole Violation Punishment Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 12, 2010 | NH | SB 450 | General Fund Reductions and Tax and Revenue Changes | Bill Passed - House (182 - 173) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 11, 2010 | MO | HB 1764 | Prohibits Mandatory Participation in a Health Care System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 47) |
| May 11, 2010 | KS | HB 2650 | Transportation Works For Kansas Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 38) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| May 11, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| May 11, 2010 | LA | SB 407 | Removing Record Check Fee for Class D and E Drivers Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| May 10, 2010 | MN | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 63) |
| May 10, 2010 | KS | HB 2360 | Kansas Taxpayer Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 61) |
| May 10, 2010 | MN | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| May 10, 2010 | NY | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (83 - 56) |
| May 10, 2010 | NY | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (83 - 56) |
| May 10, 2010 | TN | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| May 10, 2010 | LA | HB 942 | School Board and Superintendent Contracts | Bill Passed - House (76 - 16) |
| May 10, 2010 | NY | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| May 10, 2010 | NY | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| May 7, 2010 | KS | HB 2650 | Transportation Works For Kansas Program | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 7, 2010 | IL | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| May 7, 2010 | IL | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| May 6, 2010 | National | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Bill Failed - House (268 - 147) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Bill Passed - House (87 - 28) |
| May 6, 2010 | IL | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (65 - 51) |
| May 6, 2010 | KS | HB 2360 | Kansas Tax Payer Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| May 5, 2010 | IL | SB 3695 | Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| May 5, 2010 | CT | SB 312 | Regionalization of State Emergency Telecommunications | Bill Passed - House (119 - 29) |
| May 5, 2010 | OK | SB 1685 | Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16) |
| May 5, 2010 | MN | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| May 5, 2010 | CT | SB 494 | Adjustments to State Expenditures | Bill Passed - House (93 - 57) |
| May 5, 2010 | CT | HJ 106 | Nomination of Laura Flynn Baldini to Judge of the Superior Court | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| May 5, 2010 | CT | SB 494 | Adjustments to State Expenditures | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 5, 2010 | CT | HJ 106 | Nomination of Laura Flynn Baldini to Judge of the Superior Court | Nomination Confirmed - House (110 - 40) |
| May 4, 2010 | MO | HB 1764 | Prohibits Mandatory Participation in a Health Care System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| May 4, 2010 | IL | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| May 4, 2010 | LA | HCR 144 | Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig | Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32) |
| May 4, 2010 | MN | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 54) |
| May 1, 2010 | CT | SB 1 | Tax Code Amendments | Bill Passed - House (89 - 49) |
| April 30, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| April 30, 2010 | CT | SB 1 | Tax Code Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 30, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| April 30, 2010 | CT | HB 5033 | Partial Refund of Sales Tax Imposed on the Sale of School Buses with Seat Belts | Bill Passed - House (125 - 18) |
| April 29, 2010 | MO | HB 2011 | 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 29, 2010 | CT | HB 5483 | Hotel Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| April 28, 2010 | MO | HB 2003 | Higher Education Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (115 - 34) |
| April 28, 2010 | MO | HB 2002 | 2010-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 28, 2010 | HI | HB 2377 | Board of Education Selection Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2) |
| April 28, 2010 | MO | HB 2010 | 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 70) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/20 | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| 5/18 | HJR 1054 | Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates | Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| 5/18 | HJR 1056 | Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 4072 | Inspector General Appointment Modification | Amendment Adopted - Senate (75 - 21) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 4051 | Prohibiting Funding of State and Local Governments to Prevent Defaulting on Debt | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 50) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 4034 | Federal Preemption Over State Consumer Financial Laws | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| 5/18 | S Amdt 4071 | Amending State Authority to Enforce Consumer Financial Regulations | Amendment Adopted - Senate (80 - 18) |
| 5/18 | HB 5880 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 5/18 | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/17 | S 7846 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (92 - 50) |
| 5/17 | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 5/17 | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| 5/17 | HB 300 | Authorization for the Louisiana Tax Commission to Levy and Collect Certain Fees | Bill Passed - House (63 - 27) |
| 5/17 | HB 1478 | Unpaid holidays for state employees | Bill Failed - House (23 - 68) |
| 5/17 | S 7846 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 5/13 | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 5/13 | HB 1474 | Choice of Health Insurance Coverage | Bill Passed - House (60 - 15) |
| 5/12 | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (90 - 29) |
| 5/12 | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 5/12 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/12 | HB 1409 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27) |
| 5/12 | HB 1360 | Parole Violation Punishment Reduction | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 18) |
| 5/12 | HB 1409 | State Employee Compensation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 5/12 | HB 1360 | Parole Violation Punishment Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/12 | SB 450 | General Fund Reductions and Tax and Revenue Changes | Bill Passed - House (182 - 173) |
| 5/11 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/11 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/11 | HB 1764 | Prohibits Mandatory Participation in a Health Care System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 47) |
| 5/11 | HB 2650 | Transportation Works For Kansas Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 38) |
| 5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 5/11 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 55) |
| 5/11 | SB 407 | Removing Record Check Fee for Class D and E Drivers Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 5/10 | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 63) |
| 5/10 | HB 2360 | Kansas Taxpayer Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 61) |
| 5/10 | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| 5/10 | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (83 - 56) |
| 5/10 | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (83 - 56) |
| 5/10 | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| 5/10 | HB 942 | School Board and Superintendent Contracts | Bill Passed - House (76 - 16) |
| 5/10 | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 5/10 | S 7777 | Emergency Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29) |
| 5/07 | HB 2650 | Transportation Works For Kansas Program | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 5/07 | HB 859 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| 5/07 | SB 3739 | Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program | Bill Passed - House (87 - 26) |
| 5/06 | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Bill Failed - House (268 - 147) |
| 5/06 | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11) |
| 5/06 | SB 642 | Public University Borrowing | Bill Passed - House (87 - 28) |
| 5/06 | SB 3658 | Temporary Sales Tax Holiday | Bill Passed - House (65 - 51) |
| 5/06 | HB 2360 | Kansas Tax Payer Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 5/05 | SB 3695 | Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20) |
| 5/05 | SB 312 | Regionalization of State Emergency Telecommunications | Bill Passed - House (119 - 29) |
| 5/05 | SB 1685 | Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16) |
| 5/05 | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| 5/05 | SB 494 | Adjustments to State Expenditures | Bill Passed - House (93 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HJ 106 | Nomination of Laura Flynn Baldini to Judge of the Superior Court | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| 5/05 | SB 494 | Adjustments to State Expenditures | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/05 | HJ 106 | Nomination of Laura Flynn Baldini to Judge of the Superior Court | Nomination Confirmed - House (110 - 40) |
| 5/04 | HB 1764 | Prohibits Mandatory Participation in a Health Care System | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 5/04 | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15) |
| 5/04 | HCR 144 | Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig | Motion Agreed - House (60 - 32) |
| 5/04 | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (79 - 54) |
| 5/01 | SB 1 | Tax Code Amendments | Bill Passed - House (89 - 49) |
| 4/30 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| 4/30 | SB 1 | Tax Code Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 4/30 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| 4/30 | HB 5033 | Partial Refund of Sales Tax Imposed on the Sale of School Buses with Seat Belts | Bill Passed - House (125 - 18) |
| 4/29 | HB 2011 | 2010-2011 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 63) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/29 | HB 5483 | Hotel Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| 4/28 | HB 2003 | Higher Education Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (115 - 34) |
| 4/28 | HB 2002 | 2010-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 6) |
| 4/28 | HB 2377 | Board of Education Selection Advisory Council | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 2) |
| 4/28 | HB 2010 | 2010-2011 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Serices Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 70) |