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 18, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
April 18, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
April 16, 2010 CO HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
April 15, 2010 CO SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 15, 2010 MO SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 14, 2010 HI HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
April 14, 2010 SC H 3584 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 12, 2010 WA HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
April 8, 2010 NE LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 6, 2010 ME LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
April 1, 2010 GA HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 1, 2010 AL SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
March 31, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
March 31, 2010 AZ SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 31, 2010 AK SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
March 30, 2010 IA HF 2531 Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 30, 2010 KS HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
March 30, 2010 SD SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 29, 2010 MN HF 1671 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
March 29, 2010 AZ HB 2307 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 26, 2010 KY HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 26, 2010 IA S 5340 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 26, 2010 CT SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 26, 2010 NE LR 284 CA Abolishing Office of State Treasurer Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 25, 2010 NE LB 1105 Death Penalty Cost Study Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 22)
March 24, 2010 ID H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 24, 2010 NE LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
March 24, 2010 NE LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
March 24, 2010 MI SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 24, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 24, 2010 ID S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 23, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
March 22, 2010 IA SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
March 22, 2010 ID S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 18, 2010 KY HB 97 Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 17, 2010 GA SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 17, 2010 GA SR 794 Prohibiting Health Care Mandates Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19)
March 17, 2010 IA SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
March 16, 2010 FL SCR 10 Statement of Support for a Federal Constitutional Amendment Requiring a Balanced Budget Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
March 16, 2010 CO SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 14, 2010 VA HB 30 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 6)
March 13, 2010 WV HB 4521 Sales Tax Holiday for Purchases of Guns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
March 11, 2010 CA SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 10, 2010 WA SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 9, 2010 ID H 391 Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 5, 2010 MD SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 4, 2010 SD Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 3, 2010 FL SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 2, 2010 NM SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/18 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
4/18 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
4/16 HB 1376 2010-2011 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 12)
4/15 SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/15 SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/14 HB 2421 Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7)
4/14 H 3584 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
4/12 SB 6444 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
4/12 HB 2836 2009-2011 Supplemental Biennium Capital Budget Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/12 HB 2493 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
4/08 LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/06 LD 1830 Suspending Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
4/01 HB 307 Hospital Medicaid Fee Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15)
4/01 HB 1023 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/01 SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
3/31 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
3/31 SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/31 SJR 21 State Legislature Expansion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
3/30 HF 2531 Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/30 HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
3/30 SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/29 HF 1671 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
3/29 HB 2307 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/26 HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/26 SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/26 S 5340 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31)
3/26 SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/26 SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/26 SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/26 LR 284 CA Abolishing Office of State Treasurer Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/25 LB 1105 Death Penalty Cost Study Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 22)
3/24 H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/24 LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
3/24 LB 952 Water and Natural Gas Infrastructure Replacement and Sewage Program Sales Tax Exemption Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (23 - 22)
3/24 SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
3/24 SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/24 SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/24 SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/24 S 1419 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/23 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
3/22 SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
3/22 S 1418 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/18 HB 97 Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/17 SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/17 SR 794 Prohibiting Health Care Mandates Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19)
3/17 SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
3/16 SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
3/16 SCR 10 Statement of Support for a Federal Constitutional Amendment Requiring a Balanced Budget Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
3/16 SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/16 SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/14 HB 30 2010-2012 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 6)
3/13 HB 4521 Sales Tax Holiday for Purchases of Guns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
3/11 SBx8 32 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/10 SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/09 H 391 Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/05 SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/04 Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/03 SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/02 SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)

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