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. 19, 2009 ND HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2009 ND HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
Feb. 19, 2009 KS SB 59 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Feb. 18, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2009 IA HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
Feb. 18, 2009 ND HB 1348 Allowing Concealed Firearms on Campuses Bill Passed - House (48 - 46)
Feb. 18, 2009 NH HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Passed - House (197 - 155)
Feb. 17, 2009 OR HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - House (44 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2009 SD SB 106 School Funding Formula Revision Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2009 KS SB 25 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 16, 2009 MT SB 142 Consideration of Gender for Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 16, 2009 ND HB 1197 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Failed - House (34 - 58)
Feb. 16, 2009 ND HB 1431 Increasing Fines for Certain Traffic Violations Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
Feb. 13, 2009 UT SB 48 Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Feb. 13, 2009 ND SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2009 MS HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
Feb. 12, 2009 MS HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
Feb. 12, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
Feb. 12, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
Feb. 12, 2009 AR HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2009 GA HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Bill Passed - House (110 - 63)
Feb. 11, 2009 GA SB 31 Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2009 WY HB 218 Amending Hathaway Scholarship Requirements Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
Feb. 10, 2009 KY SB 3 Allowing Early High School Graduation Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Feb. 9, 2009 SD SJR 1 Authorization of Legal Gaming due to Gaming in Bordering States Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
Feb. 9, 2009 ND SB 2238 Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
Feb. 9, 2009 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
Feb. 6, 2009 WY SF 18 Expanding Workers Compensation Coverage to Include Mental Injury Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Feb. 6, 2009 ND SB 2330 Prohibiting the Use of Credit Information By Insurers Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29)
Feb. 6, 2009 GA HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 24)
Feb. 6, 2009 GA SB 83 Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA SB 1161 Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
Feb. 5, 2009 MT SB 237 Primary Seatbelt Enforcement Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
Feb. 5, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 48)
Feb. 5, 2009 CO SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 5, 2009 AR HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
Feb. 5, 2009 OR SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
Feb. 4, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
Feb. 4, 2009 VA HB 1671 "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements Bill Passed - House (80 - 17)
Feb. 3, 2009 National S Amdt 109 Hollywood Productions Tax Credit Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 45)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/19 HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
2/19 HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
2/19 SB 59 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/19 SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/18 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
2/18 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
2/18 HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
2/18 HB 1348 Allowing Concealed Firearms on Campuses Bill Passed - House (48 - 46)
2/18 HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Passed - House (197 - 155)
2/17 HB 2436 Real Estate Fees to Fund Housing Programs Bill Passed - House (44 - 15)
2/17 SB 106 School Funding Formula Revision Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/17 SB 25 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/16 SB 142 Consideration of Gender for Insurance Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/16 HB 1197 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Failed - House (34 - 58)
2/16 HB 1431 Increasing Fines for Certain Traffic Violations Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
2/13 SB 48 Amending Requirements for Obtaining Teaching Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
2/13 SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
2/12 HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
2/12 HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
2/12 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
2/12 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
2/12 HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
2/12 HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Bill Passed - House (110 - 63)
2/11 SB 31 Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
2/10 HB 218 Amending Hathaway Scholarship Requirements Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
2/10 SB 3 Allowing Early High School Graduation Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
2/10 HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
2/10 HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/09 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
2/09 SJR 1 Authorization of Legal Gaming due to Gaming in Bordering States Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
2/09 HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
2/09 SB 2238 Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22)
2/09 HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
2/09 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/09 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
2/06 SF 18 Expanding Workers Compensation Coverage to Include Mental Injury Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
2/06 SB 2330 Prohibiting the Use of Credit Information By Insurers Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29)
2/06 HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 24)
2/06 SB 83 Expanding Homestead Property Tax Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 14)
2/05 HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
2/05 SB 1161 Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/05 HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
2/05 SB 237 Primary Seatbelt Enforcement Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25)
2/05 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 48)
2/05 SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/05 HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (75 - 24)
2/05 SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
2/04 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - House (36 - 34)
2/04 HB 1671 "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements Bill Passed - House (80 - 17)
2/03 S Amdt 109 Hollywood Productions Tax Credit Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 45)

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