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 2, 2008 | CA | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| July 2, 2008 | NC | HB 2367 | Involuntary Annexation Moratorium | Bill Passed - House (98 - 18) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
| June 30, 2008 | CA | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| June 30, 2008 | CA | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
| June 28, 2008 | MI | SB 1094 | 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 30) |
| June 27, 2008 | NV | SB 5 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| June 26, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
| June 26, 2008 | AZ | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6052 | Public Transportation and Alternative Fuel Grants | Bill Passed - House (322 - 98) |
| June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
| June 26, 2008 | National | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
| June 25, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4983 | Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16) |
| June 25, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4983 | Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16) |
| June 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2156 | Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12) |
| June 25, 2008 | VA | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 25, 2008 | PA | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| June 25, 2008 | National | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
| June 25, 2008 | National | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
| June 24, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Bill Passed - House (355 - 59) |
| June 23, 2008 | AZ | SB 1167 | Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 7) |
| June 23, 2008 | AZ | HB 2156 | Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
| June 23, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
| June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1557 | FamilyCare Expansion bill | Bill Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
| June 23, 2008 | NJ | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| June 23, 2008 | NJ | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| June 20, 2008 | RI | S 2706 | Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (44 - 12) |
| June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
| June 19, 2008 | National | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12) |
| June 19, 2008 | LA | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - House (70 - 19) |
| June 19, 2008 | NC | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| June 18, 2008 | National | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14) |
| June 18, 2008 | LA | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| June 17, 2008 | National | HR 6049 | Alternative Energy Tax Incentives | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44) |
| June 17, 2008 | LA | HB 852 | Banning Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27) |
| June 17, 2008 | NC | SB 1686 | Restrictions on Public Smoking | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| June 17, 2008 | RI | S 2706 | Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| June 16, 2008 | NJ | A 500 | Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| June 12, 2008 | RI | H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors | Bill Passed - House (52 - 14) | |
| June 11, 2008 | LA | SB 733 | Supplemental Science Teaching Materials | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
| June 11, 2008 | CT | SB 1001 | Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| June 11, 2008 | DE | SB 263 | Greenhouse Gas Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| June 11, 2008 | CT | SB 1001 | Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension | Bill Passed - House (82 - 51) |
| June 11, 2008 | National | HR 6003 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (311 - 104) |
| June 11, 2008 | LA | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| June 10, 2008 | National | S 3044 | Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
| June 10, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| June 9, 2008 | CA | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
| June 9, 2008 | LA | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 18) |
| June 6, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4825 | Carbon Emissions Cap and Trade Plan | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 36) |
| June 5, 2008 | MI | SB 1094 | 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 47) |
| June 5, 2008 | CA | SB 153 | Property Transfer | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| June 4, 2008 | AZ | HB 2475 | Bonds for School Computers | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| June 4, 2008 | NH | SSHB 1 | Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| June 4, 2008 | NY | S 6823 | Long Island Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9) |
| May 31, 2008 | AL | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 4) |
| May 29, 2008 | SC | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1830 | Subprime Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 29, 2008 | MS | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 53) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1499 | Foil Balloon Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2572 | Nutritional Disclosure Bill | Bill Passed - House (46 - 15) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 3) |
| May 29, 2008 | AL | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
| May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/02 | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 7/02 | HB 2367 | Involuntary Annexation Moratorium | Bill Passed - House (98 - 18) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (33 - 7) |
| 6/30 | SB 1137 | Residential Property Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (55 - 18) |
| 6/30 | SB 823 | Private Postsecondary Education Regulation | Bill Failed - House (41 - 33) |
| 6/28 | SB 1094 | 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 30) |
| 6/27 | SB 5 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 6/26 | HR 2642 | Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
| 6/26 | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| 6/26 | HR 6052 | Public Transportation and Alternative Fuel Grants | Bill Passed - House (322 - 98) |
| 6/26 | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
| 6/26 | HR 6377 | Energy Futures Trading | Bill Passed - House (402 - 19) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 4983 | Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16) |
| 6/25 | S Amdt 4983 | Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16) |
| 6/25 | HB 2156 | Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12) |
| 6/25 | SB 6009 | Transportation Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 6/25 | A 7738 | Real ID Biometric Data | Bill Failed - House (92 - 108) |
| 6/25 | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
| 6/25 | HR 2176 | Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill | Bill Failed - House (121 - 298) |
| 6/24 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Bill Passed - House (355 - 59) |
| 6/23 | SB 1167 | Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 7) |
| 6/23 | HB 2156 | Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
| 6/23 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Passed - House (54 - 24) |
| 6/23 | S 1557 | FamilyCare Expansion bill | Bill Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| 6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
| 6/23 | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 6/23 | A 2873 | School Construction Bonds | Bill Passed - House (42 - 36) |
| 6/20 | S 2706 | Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - House (44 - 12) |
| 6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155) |
| 6/19 | HR 2642 | GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12) |
| 6/19 | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - House (70 - 19) |
| 6/19 | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| 6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - House (317 - 109) |
| 6/18 | HR 6124 | Second Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Veto Override Passed - Senate (80 - 14) |
| 6/18 | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 6/17 | HR 6049 | Alternative Energy Tax Incentives | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44) |
| 6/17 | HB 852 | Banning Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (6 - 27) |
| 6/17 | SB 1686 | Restrictions on Public Smoking | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15) |
| 6/17 | S 2706 | Red Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2) |
| 6/16 | A 500 | Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (44 - 34) |
| 6/12 | H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors | Bill Passed - House (52 - 14) | |
| 6/11 | SB 733 | Supplemental Science Teaching Materials | Bill Passed - House (94 - 3) |
| 6/11 | SB 1001 | Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 6/11 | SB 263 | Greenhouse Gas Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 6/11 | SB 1001 | Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension | Bill Passed - House (82 - 51) |
| 6/11 | HR 6003 | Amtrak Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (311 - 104) |
| 6/11 | HB 1347 | Vouchers Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 6/10 | S 3044 | Increasing Taxes on Profits, Rescinding Certain Tax Deductions, and Increasing Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy Programs for Oil Companies | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
| 6/10 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 6/09 | SB 606 | 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation | Bill Failed - House (49 - 26) |
| 6/09 | HB 734 | Tuition Increase Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 18) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 4825 | Carbon Emissions Cap and Trade Plan | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 36) |
| 6/05 | SB 1094 | 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget | Bill Passed - House (60 - 47) |
| 6/05 | SB 153 | Property Transfer | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
| 6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38) |
| 6/04 | HB 2475 | Bonds for School Computers | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| 6/04 | SSHB 1 | Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| 6/04 | S 6823 | Long Island Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9) |
| 5/31 | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (98 - 4) |
| 5/29 | H 4400 | Immigration Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16) |
| 5/29 | AB 1830 | Subprime Lending Regulations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 5/29 | CA SB 1665 | Prison Health Care Facility Bonds | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/29 | HB 17 | Medicaid Funds Bill | Bill Failed - House (55 - 53) |
| 5/29 | SB 1096 | Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 5/29 | SB 1499 | Foil Balloon Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 5/29 | AB 2572 | Nutritional Disclosure Bill | Bill Passed - House (46 - 15) |
| 5/29 | AB 3034 | High-Speed Rail Bond Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 3) |
| 5/29 | SB 51 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 5/28 | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
| 5/28 | AB 2368 | CalWORKs Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 33) |