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
Feb. 10, 2010 NM SB 148 Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
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 CA SB 810 Statewide Single Payer Health Care System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
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. 12, 2010 CA SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Jan. 11, 2010 NJ A 2029 Chiropractic Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
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. 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. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
Nov. 4, 2009 CA SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Nov. 2, 2009 CA SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
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. 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. 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)
Sept. 12, 2009 CA SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Sept. 2, 2009 CA AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Sept. 1, 2009 CA AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 12, 2009 AZ HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/10 SB 148 Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
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 SB 810 Statewide Single Payer Health Care System Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
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)
1/12 SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
1/11 A 2029 Chiropractic Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
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)
12/15 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)
11/04 SBx7 7 Statewide Water Conservation Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
11/04 SBx7 6 Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
11/04 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
11/04 SBx7 8 Water Diversion Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3)
11/04 SBx7 1 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Management Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
11/02 SBx7 2 Water Investment Bond Measure Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
11/02 SBx7 8 Water Management Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
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)
10/28 HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
10/28 HB 648 Medical Marijuana Legalization Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10)
10/21 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)
9/12 SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
9/08 AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
9/02 AB 1422 Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
9/01 AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/12 HB 2013 Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/24 ABX4 19 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
7/20 HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)

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