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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2009 | CA | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 30, 2009 | OH | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| June 29, 2009 | DE | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 29, 2009 | OR | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| June 25, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 25, 2009 | OR | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| June 24, 2009 | OR | HB 2186 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | MI | HB 4436 | 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| June 23, 2009 | OR | HB 3300 | Promoting Green Jobs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| June 22, 2009 | OR | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| June 16, 2009 | RI | H 5359 | Medical Marijuana | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| June 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2672 | Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| June 12, 2009 | OR | HB 3298 | Creating a Water Management Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| June 11, 2009 | OR | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| June 11, 2009 | OR | HB 2009 | Establishing the Oregon Health Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| June 11, 2009 | ME | LD 1259 | Menu Labeling | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| June 11, 2009 | National | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| June 9, 2009 | WI | SB 107 | Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 3, 2009 | CA | SB 458 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| June 3, 2009 | CA | SB 229 | California Water Commission Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| June 2, 2009 | CA | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| June 1, 2009 | OR | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| June 1, 2009 | CA | SB 435 | Smog Check Requirements for Motorcycles | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 30, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2009 | CT | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 22, 2009 | NV | SB 311 | Washoe County Fluoridation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| May 20, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 13, 2009 | WI | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 11, 2009 | MN | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 18) |
| May 11, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| May 5, 2009 | CO | SB 244 | Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| May 5, 2009 | VT | H 446 | Renewable Energy Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | SB 360 | Growth Management Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/13 | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/30 | SCR 15 | Resolution Opposing Federal Cap and Trade Legislation | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 6/29 | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/29 | HB 3369 | Water Development | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 6/25 | S 702 | Promoting Purchase of Energy-Efficient Homes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| 6/25 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/25 | SB 528 | Prohibition on Field Burning in Certain Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/25 | A 3901 | Issuing Bonds for Conservation and Preservation Purposes | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 6/24 | HB 2186 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/24 | HB 4436 | 2009-2010 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 6/23 | HB 3300 | Promoting Green Jobs | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 6/22 | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 6/22 | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| 6/16 | H 5359 | Medical Marijuana | Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 6/15 | HB 2672 | Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 6/12 | HB 3298 | Creating a Water Management Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 6/11 | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 6/11 | HB 2009 | Establishing the Oregon Health Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| 6/11 | LD 1259 | Menu Labeling | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 6/11 | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| 6/09 | SB 107 | Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 6/08 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/03 | SB 458 | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 6/03 | SB 229 | California Water Commission Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 6/01 | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 6/01 | SB 435 | Smog Check Requirements for Motorcycles | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 5/30 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/30 | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/28 | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 5/22 | SB 311 | Washoe County Fluoridation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 5/20 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 5/14 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/14 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/13 | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 5/11 | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 18) |
| 5/11 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 5/05 | SB 244 | Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 5/05 | H 446 | Renewable Energy Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| 5/04 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 5/04 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 5/01 | SB 360 | Growth Management Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |