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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2011 | ID | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| March 30, 2011 | MD | SB 994 | Increases Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| March 29, 2011 | ID | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 29, 2011 | AR | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 29, 2011 | SC | H 3408 | Freedom of Conscience Act | Bill Passed - House (69 - 41) |
| March 29, 2011 | AR | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| March 28, 2011 | ID | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 28, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| March 24, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28) |
| March 24, 2011 | VT | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
| March 24, 2011 | AL | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28) |
| March 23, 2011 | IA | HF 617 | Alcoholic Beverage Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 17, 2011 | ID | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
| March 17, 2011 | AZ | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| March 16, 2011 | GA | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (108 - 63) |
| March 16, 2011 | GA | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (108 - 63) |
| March 16, 2011 | GA | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 15, 2011 | DE | HA 1 | Reduced Punishment for Drug Possession | Amendment Adopted - House (21 - 17) |
| March 15, 2011 | NH | HB 89 | State Lawsuit against the Federal Health Care Law | Bill Passed - House (259 - 107) |
| March 10, 2011 | GA | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - House (111 - 47) |
| March 9, 2011 | FL | SJR 2 | Authorizes Exemptions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 10) |
| March 7, 2011 | WA | HB 1166 | Preventing Alcohol Poisoning Deaths | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| March 7, 2011 | TN | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
| March 7, 2011 | UT | 1SHB 89 | Protection of Children from Second Hand Smoke in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (39 - 35) |
| March 7, 2011 | UT | HB 354 | Restricting Health Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - House (57 - 13) |
| March 7, 2011 | ID | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| March 5, 2011 | WA | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 3, 2011 | NJ | A 2215 | Loans for Development of Green Buildings | Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 32) |
| March 3, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (314 - 112) |
| March 2, 2011 | WV | HB 2946 | Prescriptions for Methamphetamine Chemical Precursors | Bill Passed - House (77 - 23) |
| March 2, 2011 | MT | HB 248 | Income Tax Credit for Long-Term Care Insurance | Bill Failed - House (44 - 56) |
| March 2, 2011 | NC | SB 33 | Medical Malpractice Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| March 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| March 1, 2011 | SC | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 1, 2011 | ID | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 1, 2011 | ID | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | MN | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 42) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | UT | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 28, 2011 | WA | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | MN | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | UT | HB 165 | State Reimbursement for Required Medical Services Act | Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | UT | HB 165 | State Reimbursement for Required Medical Services Act | Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | GA | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 24, 2011 | GA | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | MT | HB 550 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | GA | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
| Feb. 23, 2011 | TN | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/30 | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| 3/30 | SB 994 | Increases Sales Tax on Alcoholic Beverages | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
| 3/29 | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/29 | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| 3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/29 | H 3408 | Freedom of Conscience Act | Bill Passed - House (69 - 41) |
| 3/29 | HB 1226 | 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget | Bill Failed - House (53 - 41) |
| 3/28 | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/28 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 3/24 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28) |
| 3/24 | H 202 | Single-Payer and Unified Health System | Bill Passed - House (92 - 49) |
| 3/24 | HB 60 | Prohibiting Mandatory Participation in any Health Care System | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 28) |
| 3/23 | HF 617 | Alcoholic Beverage Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 3/17 | H 260 | Medicaid Funding | Bill Passed - House (56 - 14) |
| 3/17 | SB 1405 | Hospital Admissions and Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 18) |
| 3/16 | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (108 - 63) |
| 3/16 | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - House (108 - 63) |
| 3/16 | SB 10 | Alcoholic Beverage Sales on Sundays | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/15 | HA 1 | Reduced Punishment for Drug Possession | Amendment Adopted - House (21 - 17) |
| 3/15 | HB 89 | State Lawsuit against the Federal Health Care Law | Bill Passed - House (259 - 107) |
| 3/10 | HB 47 | Ability to Purchase Insurance Out of State | Bill Passed - House (111 - 47) |
| 3/09 | SJR 2 | Authorizes Exemptions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 3/07 | HB 1166 | Preventing Alcohol Poisoning Deaths | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 3/07 | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - House (70 - 27) |
| 3/07 | 1SHB 89 | Protection of Children from Second Hand Smoke in Motor Vehicles | Bill Passed - House (39 - 35) |
| 3/07 | HB 354 | Restricting Health Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - House (57 - 13) |
| 3/07 | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| 3/05 | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/05 | SB 5769 | Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 3/05 | SB 5039 | Tobacco Cessation Treatment | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/03 | A 2215 | Loans for Development of Green Buildings | Veto Override Failed - House (44 - 32) |
| 3/03 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - House (314 - 112) |
| 3/02 | HB 2946 | Prescriptions for Methamphetamine Chemical Precursors | Bill Passed - House (77 - 23) |
| 3/02 | HB 248 | Income Tax Credit for Long-Term Care Insurance | Bill Failed - House (44 - 56) |
| 3/02 | SB 33 | Medical Malpractice Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 3/01 | SB 1394 | Regulation of Greenhouse Substances and Freedom to Breathe | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 3/01 | S 434 | Prohibiting DHHS From Reducing Provider Rates | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 3/01 | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/01 | S 1115 | Insurance Coverage of Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 2/28 | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (89 - 42) |
| 2/28 | SB 270 | Modifications to Sales and Use Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 2/28 | HB 1489 | Anti-Phosphorus Fertilizer Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| 2/24 | HF 1 | Environmental Review Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| 2/24 | HB 165 | State Reimbursement for Required Medical Services Act | Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) |
| 2/24 | HB 165 | State Reimbursement for Required Medical Services Act | Bill Passed - House (57 - 14) |
| 2/24 | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| 2/24 | SB 17 | Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16) |
| 2/23 | HB 550 | Prohibits Enforcement of Federal Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Program | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/23 | SB 36 | Prescription Drug Database | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 6) |
| 2/23 | SB 79 | Tennessee Health Care Freedom Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |