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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 25, 2010 | IN | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | WI | AB 35 | Complaint Process for Race-Based Names, Logos and Mascots of Schools | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | UT | SB 55 | Authorizing Higher Education Institutions to Authorize Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | WV | HB 4292 | Changes in Required Magistrate Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | IL | HB 4654 | Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 27) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | VT | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | IN | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | SD | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - House (64 - 4) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 19, 2010 | SD | HB 1107 | Driver's License Renewal by Mail | Bill Failed - House (33 - 30) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | WY | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | WY | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | TN | SB 3498 | Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | UT | HB 113 | Child Safety Seat Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (24 - 47) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | SD | HB 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | VA | HB 1108 | "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | UT | HCR 8 | Statement of Opposition to Federal Health Care Proposal | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | VA | SB 464 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1188 | Navigation Rights for River Outfitters | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | VA | Gilbert Amdt | "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | WA | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | CO | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 12, 2010 | VA | SB 283 | Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | SD | Jerstad Amdt | Per Student Funding Increase | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | NM | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SC | H 3272 | Property Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1196 | Repealing Income Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 25) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | VA | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | NM | HB 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | NM | HB 53 | Financial Literacy as School Math Requirement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/25 | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/25 | AB 35 | Complaint Process for Race-Based Names, Logos and Mascots of Schools | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| 2/24 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| 2/24 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| 2/24 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/24 | SB 55 | Authorizing Higher Education Institutions to Authorize Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 2/24 | HB 4292 | Changes in Required Magistrate Qualifications | Bill Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| 2/24 | HB 4654 | Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors | Bill Passed - House (83 - 27) |
| 2/24 | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| 2/23 | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 2/23 | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - House (64 - 4) |
| 2/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 2/22 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| 2/22 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/19 | HB 1107 | Driver's License Renewal by Mail | Bill Failed - House (33 - 30) |
| 2/18 | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 2/18 | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| 2/17 | SB 3498 | Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| 2/17 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30) |
| 2/17 | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 2/17 | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 2/17 | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - House (50 - 17) |
| 2/17 | HB 113 | Child Safety Seat Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (24 - 47) |
| 2/17 | HB 1178 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| 2/16 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 2/16 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/16 | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/16 | HB 1108 | "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/16 | HCR 8 | Statement of Opposition to Federal Health Care Proposal | Resolution Passed - House (57 - 15) |
| 2/16 | SB 464 | Requiring Insurance Coverage of Autism Disorder | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 2/16 | HB 1188 | Navigation Rights for River Outfitters | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| 2/15 | Gilbert Amdt | "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution | Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39) |
| 2/15 | SB 6562 | Expanding State University Tuition Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 2/15 | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 2/12 | SB 283 | Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| 2/11 | Jerstad Amdt | Per Student Funding Increase | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 18) |
| 2/11 | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 21) |
| 2/11 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 2/10 | H 3272 | Property Tax Law Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 2/10 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/10 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/10 | HB 1196 | Repealing Income Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/10 | SB 148 | Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/10 | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 25) |
| 2/09 | HB 629 | Asbestos Lawsuit Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (49 - 48) |
| 2/09 | HB 10 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/09 | HB 53 | Financial Literacy as School Math Requirement | Bill Passed - House (46 - 22) |