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 21, 2009 | ID | H 262 | Teacher Compensation Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| April 20, 2009 | MN | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
| April 20, 2009 | WA | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| April 20, 2009 | TX | HB 681 | Warning Signs Regarding Mercury Levels in Fish | Bill Passed - House (95 - 50) |
| April 20, 2009 | NV | AB 495 | Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| April 20, 2009 | CA | AJR 3 | Statement of Opposition to Offshore Drilling | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 25) |
| April 17, 2009 | NV | SB 372 | Smoking Ban Exceptions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | Limit of 3 Percent on Tuition Increases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) | |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| April 16, 2009 | MN | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| April 16, 2009 | WA | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 16, 2009 | MO | SB 306 | State Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| April 16, 2009 | NC | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| April 16, 2009 | MO | HB 668 | Firearm Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (105 - 50) |
| April 16, 2009 | MO | HJR 32 | Bonds to Fund Higher Education | Joint Resolution Passed - House (131 - 28) |
| April 15, 2009 | IN | HB 1607 | West Lake Commuter Rail Project | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| April 15, 2009 | OK | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| April 15, 2009 | IN | SB 89 | Health Care Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
| April 15, 2009 | VT | H 147 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
| April 15, 2009 | TX | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| April 15, 2009 | NV | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
| April 15, 2009 | NV | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
| April 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| April 15, 2009 | IN | HB 1604 | Authorizing Local Tax Increases to Fund Sports and Convention Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| April 14, 2009 | MO | HB 10 | 2009-10 Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| April 14, 2009 | TX | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 14, 2009 | HI | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - House (44 - 3) |
| April 14, 2009 | HI | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - House (44 - 3) |
| April 14, 2009 | ID | H 303 | Online Public Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| April 11, 2009 | WV | SB 373 | PROMISE Scholarship Amendments | Bill Passed - House (86 - 14) |
| April 10, 2009 | ND | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38) |
| April 10, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
| April 10, 2009 | ID | S 1186 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| April 9, 2009 | ID | H 135 | Fuel Tax for Highway Maintenance | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| April 8, 2009 | ME | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| April 7, 2009 | MN | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
| April 7, 2009 | ID | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| April 7, 2009 | MA | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
| April 7, 2009 | ID | S 1186 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 6, 2009 | CO | SB 170 | Expanding In-State Tuition Eligibility | Motion Rejected - Senate (16 - 18) |
| April 6, 2009 | ND | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 6, 2009 | OK | SB 553 | Health Insurance Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| April 6, 2009 | MN | SF 10 | Sharing Services For Schools Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| April 3, 2009 | GA | HB 243 | Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| April 3, 2009 | ID | H 173 | Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| April 2, 2009 | MN | Ending Prohibition on New Nuclear Power Plants | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 24) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/21 | H 262 | Teacher Compensation Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 4/20 | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
| 4/20 | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| 4/20 | HB 681 | Warning Signs Regarding Mercury Levels in Fish | Bill Passed - House (95 - 50) |
| 4/20 | AB 495 | Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
| 4/20 | AJR 3 | Statement of Opposition to Offshore Drilling | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 25) |
| 4/17 | SB 372 | Smoking Ban Exceptions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 4/17 | Limit of 3 Percent on Tuition Increases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) | |
| 4/17 | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| 4/17 | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| 4/17 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22) |
| 4/16 | Limmer Amdt | Homosexuality in Education | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 37) |
| 4/16 | HB 2261 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/16 | SB 306 | State Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 4/16 | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| 4/16 | HB 668 | Firearm Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (105 - 50) |
| 4/16 | HJR 32 | Bonds to Fund Higher Education | Joint Resolution Passed - House (131 - 28) |
| 4/15 | HB 1607 | West Lake Commuter Rail Project | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |
| 4/15 | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| 4/15 | SB 89 | Health Care Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
| 4/15 | H 147 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (104 - 40) |
| 4/15 | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 4/15 | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
| 4/15 | AJR 7 | Allowing for State Lottery | Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 11) |
| 4/15 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 12) |
| 4/15 | HB 1604 | Authorizing Local Tax Increases to Fund Sports and Convention Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 4/14 | HB 10 | 2009-10 Health Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 4/14 | SB 855 | Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 4/14 | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - House (44 - 3) |
| 4/14 | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - House (44 - 3) |
| 4/14 | H 303 | Online Public Education | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| 4/13 | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
| 4/13 | SB 278 | Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 30) |
| 4/11 | SB 373 | PROMISE Scholarship Amendments | Bill Passed - House (86 - 14) |
| 4/10 | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 38) |
| 4/10 | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
| 4/10 | S 1186 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - House (39 - 29) |
| 4/09 | H 135 | Fuel Tax for Highway Maintenance | Bill Failed - House (32 - 37) |
| 4/08 | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 4/07 | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
| 4/07 | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 4/07 | S 2024 | Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation | Bill Passed - House (147 - 7) |
| 4/07 | S 1186 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| 4/06 | SB 170 | Expanding In-State Tuition Eligibility | Motion Rejected - Senate (16 - 18) |
| 4/06 | HB 1171 | Home School Deregulation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 4/06 | SB 553 | Health Insurance Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 4/06 | SF 10 | Sharing Services For Schools Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| 4/03 | HB 243 | Ending New Enrollment in Bonus Program for Teachers' National Certification | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 4/03 | H 173 | Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 4/02 | Ending Prohibition on New Nuclear Power Plants | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 24) |