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 10, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 12)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 31, 2008 GA HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
March 28, 2008 GA HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
March 27, 2008 CO HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 3, 2008 ID S 1400 Real Estate Sales Price Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Feb. 25, 2008 VA HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 7, 2008 National HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
Jan. 22, 2008 IN SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Jan. 17, 2008 GA HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
Oct. 23, 2007 WI AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
June 27, 2007 OH SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 25, 2007 LA HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
June 21, 2007 ME LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
June 21, 2007 NJ S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 14, 2007 FL SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
May 31, 2007 CT Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
May 31, 2007 OH SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 16, 2007 NE LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
May 1, 2007 CO SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
April 30, 2007 TX CSSB 987 Complex Loan Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
April 25, 2007 IA SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 12, 2007 NH SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
April 11, 2007 IN HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
April 6, 2007 ND HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
Feb. 5, 2007 NJ A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 18, 2006 NC HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
July 14, 2006 IA HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
May 24, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 185 Mortgage Lending Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3)
May 9, 2006 TX CSHB 2 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
May 4, 2006 CA AB 140 Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
May 4, 2006 CA SB 1689 Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
May 2, 2006 PA HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
May 1, 2006 LA SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
April 20, 2006 MI SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
April 19, 2006 OK HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
April 6, 2006 MD SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
March 29, 2006 AL SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
March 23, 2006 ID H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 21, 2006 KS SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 1, 2006 ID SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2006 SC H 3381 Outdoor Advertising Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
Feb. 15, 2006 LA SB 49 Louisiana Housing and Land Trust Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
Feb. 8, 2006 ID S 1276 Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Jan. 31, 2006 IN SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/10 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 12)
3/31 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/31 HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
3/28 HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
3/27 HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
3/24 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
3/06 SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/03 S 1400 Real Estate Sales Price Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
2/26 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
2/25 HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/25 Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
2/25 Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/12 SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
2/12 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
2/10 HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/07 HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
2/06 SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
2/06 SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
1/30 SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
1/29 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
1/29 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
1/22 SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
1/17 HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
11/29 HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
11/29 Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
11/19 HB 1 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13)
10/23 AS SB 40 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 15)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
6/27 SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/25 HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
6/21 LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
6/21 S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/14 SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/04 HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
5/31 Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
5/31 SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/16 LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
5/01 SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
4/30 CSSB 987 Complex Loan Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
4/25 SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/12 SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
4/11 HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/06 HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
2/05 A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
8/29 AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/18 HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
7/14 HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
5/31 H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
5/30 SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/30 SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
5/24 Am Sub SB 185 Mortgage Lending Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3)
5/09 CSHB 2 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
5/04 AB 140 Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
5/04 SB 1689 Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
5/02 HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
5/01 SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
4/20 SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
4/19 HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
4/06 SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
3/29 SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
3/24 SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
3/23 H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/21 SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/01 SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/22 H 3381 Outdoor Advertising Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
2/15 SB 49 Louisiana Housing and Land Trust Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
2/08 S 1276 Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
1/31 SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)

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