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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2010 | IL | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| March 17, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| March 17, 2010 | MO | Amdt 4 | Deleting an Education Foundation Formula Modification | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 83) |
| March 17, 2010 | GA | SR 794 | Prohibiting Health Care Mandates | Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| March 17, 2010 | AZ | HB 2297 | Authorizing Land Annexation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| March 16, 2010 | IA | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| March 16, 2010 | IA | SF 2378 | Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| March 13, 2010 | WV | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 12) |
| March 12, 2010 | WV | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 11, 2010 | VA | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28) |
| March 11, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 11, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 11, 2010 | VA | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| March 11, 2010 | UT | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - House (53 - 19) |
| March 10, 2010 | SD | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| March 10, 2010 | VA | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 10, 2010 | ID | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| March 9, 2010 | SD | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| March 9, 2010 | ID | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 9, 2010 | UT | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| March 8, 2010 | CO | HB 1001 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 26) |
| March 8, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| March 8, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| March 8, 2010 | SD | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 8, 2010 | UT | SB 44 | Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14) |
| March 8, 2010 | UT | HB 286 | Prohibiting Retirement System Investment in Iranian Petroleum | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
| March 5, 2010 | CO | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 4, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| March 3, 2010 | WY | SF 20 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| March 3, 2010 | WY | SF 61 | Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |
| March 3, 2010 | WY | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Failed - House (17 - 41) |
| March 3, 2010 | ID | H 528 | Increasing Health Insurance Regulations | Bill Failed - House (31 - 39) |
| March 3, 2010 | NM | HB 3 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| March 3, 2010 | AZ | HB 2337 | Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| March 3, 2010 | IL | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| March 3, 2010 | IL | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - House (73 - 38) |
| March 3, 2010 | CO | HB 1147 | Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| March 2, 2010 | UT | HB 196 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (39 - 35) |
| March 2, 2010 | AZ | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
| March 1, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| March 1, 2010 | SD | SB 63 | Pilot Charter School | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | WY | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | National | HR 2701 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 168) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | ID | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | KS | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/18 | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| 3/17 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 3/17 | Amdt 4 | Deleting an Education Foundation Formula Modification | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 83) |
| 3/17 | SR 794 | Prohibiting Health Care Mandates | Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| 3/17 | HB 2297 | Authorizing Land Annexation | Bill Passed - House (31 - 26) |
| 3/16 | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 3/16 | SF 2378 | Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| 3/13 | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 12) |
| 3/12 | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/11 | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28) |
| 3/11 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/11 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/11 | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - House (62 - 34) |
| 3/11 | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - House (53 - 19) |
| 3/10 | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 9) |
| 3/10 | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 3/10 | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 3/09 | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| 3/09 | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 3/09 | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 3/09 | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 3/08 | HB 1001 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 26) |
| 3/08 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| 3/08 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
| 3/08 | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 3/08 | SB 44 | Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14) |
| 3/08 | HB 286 | Prohibiting Retirement System Investment in Iranian Petroleum | Bill Passed - House (39 - 34) |
| 3/05 | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/04 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 3/03 | SF 20 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| 3/03 | SF 61 | Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project | Bill Passed - House (42 - 16) |
| 3/03 | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Failed - House (17 - 41) |
| 3/03 | H 528 | Increasing Health Insurance Regulations | Bill Failed - House (31 - 39) |
| 3/03 | HB 3 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 3/03 | HB 2337 | Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| 3/03 | HB 4685 | Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - House (80 - 36) |
| 3/03 | HB 2360 | Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan | Bill Passed - House (73 - 38) |
| 3/03 | HB 1147 | Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 3/02 | HB 196 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (39 - 35) |
| 3/02 | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
| 3/01 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| 3/01 | SB 63 | Pilot Charter School | Bill Passed - House (49 - 20) |
| 2/26 | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 2/26 | HR 2701 | Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 | Bill Passed - House (235 - 168) |
| 2/26 | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 2/25 | HB 2221 | Ban on Smoking in Certain Public Places | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 54) |