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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2009 | OR | HB 2067 | Expiration Dates for Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| April 16, 2009 | MO | HB 258 | Excluding Tipped Employees from Mandatory Minimum Wage Increases | Bill Passed - House (86 - 74) |
| April 16, 2009 | MO | HB 795 | Minimum Wage and Sales Tax Modifications for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 70) |
| April 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| April 15, 2009 | ID | S 1148 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (28 - 42) |
| April 14, 2009 | HI | SB 1111 | Transient Accommodation Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (37 - 11) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| April 11, 2009 | WV | SB 246 | Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| April 6, 2009 | OK | SB 553 | Health Insurance Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| April 6, 2009 | TN | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| April 3, 2009 | GA | HB 2 | Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (121 - 47) |
| April 2, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| April 2, 2009 | DE | HB 107 | Manufactured Housing Rental Regulations | Bill Passed - House (22 - 16) |
| April 1, 2009 | NC | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| April 1, 2009 | VT | H 438 | Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (108 - 35) |
| March 31, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
| March 27, 2009 | VT | H 436 | Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| March 26, 2009 | FL | Amdt 677495 | Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69) |
| March 26, 2009 | MI | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| March 25, 2009 | KS | SB 160 | Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (104 - 21) |
| March 20, 2009 | KS | HB 2295 | Dairy Labeling Requirements | Bill Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| March 19, 2009 | ID | H 246 | Gasoline Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (27 - 43) |
| March 16, 2009 | NJ | A 3569 | Stop-Work Orders and Workers' Compensation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| March 16, 2009 | NJ | S 2577 | Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (42 - 28) |
| March 12, 2009 | WA | SB 2252 | Shifting Local Tax Revenue | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| March 11, 2009 | UT | SB 187 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (65 - 5) |
| March 11, 2009 | WV | HB 2719 | Increase in Maximum Alcohol Level for Beer | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| March 11, 2009 | MI | HB 4454 | Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement | Bill Passed - House (75 - 33) |
| March 11, 2009 | MI | HB 4453 | Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (73 - 34) |
| March 11, 2009 | MI | HB 4455 | Mortgage Payment Modifications | Bill Passed - House (74 - 34) |
| March 10, 2009 | HI | HB 952 | Amending Unionization Requirements | Bill Passed - House (37 - 9) |
| March 9, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23) |
| March 9, 2009 | WA | HB 1709 | Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 10) |
| March 4, 2009 | NH | HB 644 | Gasoline Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (190 - 162) |
| March 4, 2009 | WA | HB 1329 | Child Care Center Unionization | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| March 4, 2009 | OK | HB 1332 | Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| March 4, 2009 | UT | SB 29 | Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
| March 4, 2009 | UT | HJR 8 | Mandating Secret Ballots | Bill Passed - House (53 - 22) |
| March 3, 2009 | OH | HB 6 | Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production | Bill Passed - House (83 - 14) |
| March 3, 2009 | AL | HB 373 | Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer | Bill Passed - House (49 - 37) |
| Feb. 27, 2009 | UT | HB 89 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Prosthetic Devices | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| Feb. 27, 2009 | KS | HB 2014 | Allowing Coal Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (79 - 44) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | GA | SB 31 | Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction | Bill Passed - House (107 - 66) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | IN | HB 1207 | Required Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | HB 1464 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | MT | HB 418 | Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | CO | HB 1001 | Tax Credit for Job Creation | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | VA | SB 1035 | Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | NV | IP 1 | Lodging Tax | Bill Passed - House (35 - 7) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | IN | HB 1379 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | CO | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | MT | HB 394 | Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing | Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | ND | HB 1213 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | IA | HF 333 | Wage Standards for Public Project Workers | Bill Failed - House (49 - 49) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | OK | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | IA | HF 311 | Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | NH | HB 103 | Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame | Bill Passed - House (194 - 164) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | OK | HB 1410 | State Purchasing Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1268 | Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases | Bill Passed - House (66 - 26) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1255 | Corporate Tax Rate Reduction | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | IN | HB 1213 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| Feb. 13, 2009 | MT | HB 400 | Revised Alcohol Content of Beer | Bill Passed - House (80 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2009 | ND | HB 1440 | Changes in Pharmacy Operation Requirements | Bill Failed - House (35 - 57) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | ND | HB 1453 | Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses | Bill Failed - House (19 - 72) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | SC | H 3301 | Payday Lending Regulations | Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | KY | HB 144 | Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (66 - 34) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | CO | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | AR | HB 1204 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | WY | HB 31 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | ND | HB 1539 | Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars | Bill Failed - House (29 - 64) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | NY | A 860 | Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/20 | HB 2067 | Expiration Dates for Tax Credits | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| 4/16 | HB 258 | Excluding Tipped Employees from Mandatory Minimum Wage Increases | Bill Passed - House (86 - 74) |
| 4/16 | HB 795 | Minimum Wage and Sales Tax Modifications for Businesses | Bill Passed - House (87 - 70) |
| 4/15 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| 4/15 | S 1148 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (28 - 42) |
| 4/14 | SB 1111 | Transient Accommodation Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (37 - 11) |
| 4/13 | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| 4/11 | SB 246 | Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers | Bill Passed - House (71 - 29) |
| 4/06 | SB 553 | Health Insurance Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 4/06 | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| 4/03 | HB 2 | Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (121 - 47) |
| 4/02 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| 4/02 | HB 107 | Manufactured Housing Rental Regulations | Bill Passed - House (22 - 16) |
| 4/01 | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| 4/01 | H 438 | Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (108 - 35) |
| 3/31 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
| 3/27 | H 436 | Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
| 3/26 | Amdt 677495 | Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69) |
| 3/26 | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
| 3/25 | SB 160 | Increasing Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - House (104 - 21) |
| 3/20 | HB 2295 | Dairy Labeling Requirements | Bill Passed - House (75 - 44) |
| 3/19 | H 246 | Gasoline Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (27 - 43) |
| 3/16 | A 3569 | Stop-Work Orders and Workers' Compensation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 3/16 | S 2577 | Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (42 - 28) |
| 3/12 | SB 2252 | Shifting Local Tax Revenue | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 3/11 | SB 187 | Alcohol Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (65 - 5) |
| 3/11 | HB 2719 | Increase in Maximum Alcohol Level for Beer | Bill Passed - House (79 - 17) |
| 3/11 | HB 4454 | Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement | Bill Passed - House (75 - 33) |
| 3/11 | HB 4453 | Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings | Bill Passed - House (73 - 34) |
| 3/11 | HB 4455 | Mortgage Payment Modifications | Bill Passed - House (74 - 34) |
| 3/10 | HB 952 | Amending Unionization Requirements | Bill Passed - House (37 - 9) |
| 3/09 | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23) |
| 3/09 | HB 1709 | Payday Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 10) |
| 3/04 | HB 644 | Gasoline Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (190 - 162) |
| 3/04 | HB 1329 | Child Care Center Unionization | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 3/04 | HB 1332 | Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
| 3/04 | SB 29 | Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation | Bill Passed - House (60 - 11) |
| 3/04 | HJR 8 | Mandating Secret Ballots | Bill Passed - House (53 - 22) |
| 3/03 | HB 6 | Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production | Bill Passed - House (83 - 14) |
| 3/03 | HB 373 | Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer | Bill Passed - House (49 - 37) |
| 2/27 | HB 89 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Prosthetic Devices | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| 2/27 | HB 2014 | Allowing Coal Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (79 - 44) |
| 2/26 | SB 31 | Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction | Bill Passed - House (107 - 66) |
| 2/25 | HB 1207 | Required Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus | Bill Passed - House (51 - 46) |
| 2/25 | HB 1464 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| 2/25 | HB 418 | Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| 2/25 | HB 1001 | Tax Credit for Job Creation | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
| 2/24 | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| 2/24 | SB 1035 | Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments | Bill Passed - House (66 - 33) |
| 2/24 | IP 1 | Lodging Tax | Bill Passed - House (35 - 7) |
| 2/24 | HB 1379 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 41) |
| 2/24 | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| 2/23 | HB 394 | Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing | Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50) |
| 2/23 | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 2/19 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39) |
| 2/19 | HB 1213 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| 2/19 | HF 333 | Wage Standards for Public Project Workers | Bill Failed - House (49 - 49) |
| 2/18 | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
| 2/18 | HF 311 | Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| 2/18 | HB 103 | Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame | Bill Passed - House (194 - 164) |
| 2/17 | HB 1410 | State Purchasing Authority Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| 2/17 | HB 1268 | Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases | Bill Passed - House (66 - 26) |
| 2/17 | HB 1255 | Corporate Tax Rate Reduction | Bill Passed - House (57 - 36) |
| 2/17 | HB 1213 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| 2/13 | HB 400 | Revised Alcohol Content of Beer | Bill Passed - House (80 - 20) |
| 2/13 | HB 1440 | Changes in Pharmacy Operation Requirements | Bill Failed - House (35 - 57) |
| 2/12 | HB 1453 | Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses | Bill Failed - House (19 - 72) |
| 2/12 | H 3301 | Payday Lending Regulations | Motion Agreed - House (93 - 16) |
| 2/11 | HB 144 | Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (66 - 34) |
| 2/09 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/09 | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/05 | HB 1204 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (75 - 24) |
| 2/03 | HB 31 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| 2/02 | HB 1539 | Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars | Bill Failed - House (29 - 64) |
| 2/02 | A 860 | Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation | Bill Passed - House (86 - 58) |