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. 5, 2009 OR SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
Feb. 5, 2009 AR HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 4, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
Feb. 4, 2009 OR HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2009 NH HB 30 Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Reductions Bill Passed - House (321 - 54)
Feb. 3, 2009 MT HB 157 Children's Health Insurance Program Appropriations and Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
Feb. 3, 2009 NY S 249-A Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (104 - 42)
Feb. 3, 2009 NY A 163-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (102 - 44)
Feb. 2, 2009 UT HB 3 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (65 - 9)
Feb. 2, 2009 WY HB 87 Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (24 - 36)
Feb. 2, 2009 ND HB 1539 Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars Bill Failed - House (29 - 64)
Feb. 2, 2009 UT SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
Jan. 31, 2009 AZ SB 1001 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
Jan. 30, 2009 GA HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - House (117 - 55)
Jan. 29, 2009 IA SF 44 Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
Jan. 28, 2009 MT HB 13 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Jan. 26, 2009 MO HCR 5 Rejecting Pay Increases for Elected Officials and Judges Resolution Passed - House (129 - 31)
Jan. 19, 2009 WY HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Jan. 14, 2009 MS HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
Jan. 14, 2009 CT HB 5095 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
Jan. 7, 2009 MS HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)
Dec. 19, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
Dec. 16, 2008 OH HB 649 Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
Dec. 11, 2008 MI HB 4141 Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
Dec. 10, 2008 OH HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 11 to H 5300 Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 20 to H 5300 Repealing Property Tax Exemption Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17)
Sept. 19, 2008 CA SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA SCA 12 State Lottery Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14)
Sept. 9, 2008 CA SB 1087 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Failed - House (27 - 45)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
Aug. 30, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Aug. 19, 2008 NY A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
Aug. 17, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
Aug. 17, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/05 SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
2/05 HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/04 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
2/04 HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
2/04 HB 30 Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Reductions Bill Passed - House (321 - 54)
2/03 HB 157 Children's Health Insurance Program Appropriations and Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
2/03 S 249-A Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (104 - 42)
2/03 A 163-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (102 - 44)
2/02 HB 3 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (65 - 9)
2/02 HB 87 Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (24 - 36)
2/02 HB 1539 Sales Tax Exemption for Purchase of "Big-Three" Cars Bill Failed - House (29 - 64)
2/02 SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
1/31 SB 1001 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (34 - 22)
1/30 HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - House (117 - 55)
1/29 SF 44 Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas Bill Passed - House (55 - 37)
1/28 HB 13 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
1/26 HCR 5 Rejecting Pay Increases for Elected Officials and Judges Resolution Passed - House (129 - 31)
1/19 HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
1/14 HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
1/14 HB 5095 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (111 - 35)
1/07 HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)
12/19 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
12/18 ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
12/16 HB 649 Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
12/15 S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
12/11 HB 4141 Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
12/10 HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
12/04 HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
11/17 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
11/17 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
11/17 A 3374 Public Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (67 - 10)
10/21 H Amdt 11 to H 5300 Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50)
10/21 H Amdt 20 to H 5300 Repealing Property Tax Exemption Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17)
9/19 SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
9/16 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11)
9/16 AB 1452 Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21)
9/16 SCA 12 State Lottery Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14)
9/09 SB 1087 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Failed - House (27 - 45)
8/31 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/31 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
8/30 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
8/29 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
8/29 SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
8/19 SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
8/19 A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
8/18 SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
8/17 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
8/17 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)

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