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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2010 | NM | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | VA | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | ID | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - House (52 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | TN | SB 1092 | Banning Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus | Veto Override Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | IN | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | VA | SB 283 | Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | TN | SB 1092 | Prohibiting Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | MA | H 4441 | School Nutrition Standards | Bill Passed - House (152 - 4) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | CA | SB 810 | Statewide Single Payer Health Care System | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | VT | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| Jan. 25, 2010 | KY | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | KY | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Jan. 19, 2010 | MO | HCR 18 | Statement of Opposition to Federal Health Care Proposal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 46) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | CA | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Bill Passed - House (43 - 32) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| Jan. 11, 2010 | NJ | A 2029 | Chiropractic Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 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) |
| Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 23, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 23, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 23, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2786 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2786 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 16, 2009 | OH | HB 60 | Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Dec. 15, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2793 | Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs | Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Dec. 10, 2009 | NJ | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| Dec. 8, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2962 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| Nov. 19, 2009 | National | HR 3961 | Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO | Bill Passed - House (243 - 183) |
| Nov. 7, 2009 | National | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
| Nov. 7, 2009 | National | H Amdt 509 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 194) |
| Nov. 7, 2009 | National | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
| Nov. 7, 2009 | National | HR 3962 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (220 - 215) |
| Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
| Nov. 5, 2009 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 | National | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| Oct. 21, 2009 | National | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | MI | HB 5386 | Physician Services Tax | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/11 | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| 2/11 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/09 | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| 2/09 | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - House (52 - 18) |
| 2/08 | SB 1092 | Banning Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus | Veto Override Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 2/08 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/02 | HB 1131 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
| 2/01 | SB 283 | Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 1/28 | SB 1092 | Prohibiting Non-Elected Boards from Requiring Nutrition Information on Menus | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| 1/28 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 1/28 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 1/28 | H 4441 | School Nutrition Standards | Bill Passed - House (152 - 4) |
| 1/28 | SB 810 | Statewide Single Payer Health Care System | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 1/27 | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| 1/25 | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| 1/20 | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 1/19 | HCR 18 | Statement of Opposition to Federal Health Care Proposal | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 46) |
| 1/12 | SB 880 | Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors | |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 1/11 | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| 1/11 | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Bill Passed - House (43 - 32) |
| 1/11 | S 119 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (48 - 14) |
| 1/11 | A 2029 | Chiropractic Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 12/24 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/24 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/23 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/23 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/23 | S Amdt 2786 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 2786 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/16 | HB 60 | Restrictions on Snack and Beverage Sales in Schools | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| 12/15 | S Amdt 2793 | Authorizing Importation of Prescription Drugs | Amendment Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 12/10 | A 2762 | Authorizing Reduction of Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in School Zones | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 12/10 | S 2905 | Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 12/08 | S Amdt 2962 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 12/03 | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 12/03 | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 11/19 | HR 3961 | Revising Medicare Physician Fee Schedules and Reinstatement of PAYGO | Bill Passed - House (243 - 183) |
| 11/07 | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
| 11/07 | H Amdt 509 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Adopted - House (240 - 194) |
| 11/07 | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
| 11/07 | HR 3962 | Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (220 - 215) |
| 11/05 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
| 11/05 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (48 - 43) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - House (55 - 20) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 7 | Statewide Water Conservation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 6 | Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program | Bill Passed - House (44 - 29) |
| 11/03 | SBx7 1 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 10/29 | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (72 - 28) |
| 10/29 | HR 2996 | Continuing Appropriations Extension and 2009-2010 Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (247 - 178) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| 10/21 | S 1776 | Eliminating Adjustments to Medicare Rates of Payment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 10/08 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| 10/07 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| 10/06 | HB 5386 | Physician Services Tax | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |