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
May 5, 2010 OK SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
May 5, 2010 IL HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
May 5, 2010 CT HB 5236 Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
April 29, 2010 AZ SB 1307 Treatment of Human Embryos Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
April 28, 2010 CT SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 28, 2010 CT SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 28, 2010 FL Amdt 841564 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
April 28, 2010 LA SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
April 28, 2010 LA SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
April 27, 2010 OK HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
April 27, 2010 HI HB 2583 Shark Feeding Penalty Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 2)
April 27, 2010 VT SR 17 Requesting Congressional Waiver From Federal Drinking Age Requirement Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 13)
April 22, 2010 CO HB 1021 Health Insurance Policy Coverage For Reproductive Services Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
April 21, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
April 21, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
April 21, 2010 OK HB 3354 Concealed and Unconcealed Weapons Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
April 21, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
April 20, 2010 LA SB 368 Notification Requirements for Iguana Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 19, 2010 AZ SB 1070 Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
April 15, 2010 CA SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 15, 2010 CO SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
April 15, 2010 FL SB 622 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
April 15, 2010 MO SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 12, 2010 NE LB 1103 Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
April 12, 2010 NE LB 594 Abortion Screening Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
April 10, 2010 MD SB 627 Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
April 8, 2010 NE LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
April 5, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 5, 2010 ME LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 30, 2010 GA SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
March 30, 2010 KS HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
March 30, 2010 NE LB 1102 Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13)
March 30, 2010 AL SB 380 Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2379 Requiring County Sheriffs to Issue Concealed Weapons Permits to Qualified Applicants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 4)
March 29, 2010 ID H 729 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
March 29, 2010 AZ HB 2307 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 29, 2010 CO HB 1180 Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
March 27, 2010 MS SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
March 27, 2010 IA Amdt 5371 Authorizing Qualified Individuals to Conceal Weapons Without a Permit Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
March 26, 2010 KY HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 529 Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 25, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 25, 2010 IL SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 24, 2010 ID H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 24, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 24, 2010 MD SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 24, 2010 MD SB 1035 Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/05 SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
5/05 HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 11)
5/05 HB 5236 Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
4/29 SB 1307 Treatment of Human Embryos Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
4/28 SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/28 SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/28 Amdt 841564 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Amendment Adopted - Senate (22 - 17)
4/28 SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
4/28 SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
4/27 HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
4/27 HB 2583 Shark Feeding Penalty Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 2)
4/27 SR 17 Requesting Congressional Waiver From Federal Drinking Age Requirement Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 13)
4/22 HB 1021 Health Insurance Policy Coverage For Reproductive Services Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
4/21 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
4/21 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 16)
4/21 HB 3354 Concealed and Unconcealed Weapons Guidelines Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
4/21 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
4/20 SB 368 Notification Requirements for Iguana Sales Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/19 SB 1070 Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
4/15 SB 4 Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/15 SB 94 State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
4/15 SB 622 Gaming Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
4/15 SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/12 LB 1103 Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
4/12 LB 594 Abortion Screening Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
4/10 SB 627 Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
4/08 LB 842 Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4)
4/05 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/05 LD 1611 State Prison Solitary Confinement Review Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/30 SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
3/30 HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15)
3/30 LB 1102 Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13)
3/30 SB 380 Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/29 SF 2379 Requiring County Sheriffs to Issue Concealed Weapons Permits to Qualified Applicants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 4)
3/29 H 729 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
3/29 HB 2307 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/29 HB 1180 Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
3/27 SB 2293 Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
3/27 Amdt 5371 Authorizing Qualified Individuals to Conceal Weapons Without a Permit Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
3/26 HB 368 Telephone and Online Gambling Tax Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/26 SB 529 Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/25 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/25 SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/24 H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/24 SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/24 SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/24 SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
3/24 SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/24 SB 1035 Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)

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