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. 3, 2009 UT HB 90 Increasing Illegal Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
Feb. 3, 2009 SD SB 83 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
Feb. 3, 2009 WY HB 31 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
Feb. 3, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 3, 2009 MT HB 157 Children's Health Insurance Program Appropriations and Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
Feb. 3, 2009 UT HB 222 Offering Anesthetics to Women Undergoing Abortions Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
Feb. 3, 2009 SD SB 79 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 1688 Expanding Local Control Over Rent Laws Bill Passed - House (94 - 49)
Feb. 2, 2009 ND SB 2070 Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
Feb. 2, 2009 UT SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
Feb. 2, 2009 UT SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SB 81 Board of Public Education Elections Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SB 80 Board of Regents Elections Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
Feb. 2, 2009 WY HB 87 Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (24 - 36)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 2005 Expanding Rent Control Coverage Bill Passed - House (91 - 52)
Feb. 2, 2009 CO HB 1091 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
Feb. 2, 2009 CO HB 1091 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
Feb. 2, 2009 NY A 860 Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation Bill Passed - House (86 - 58)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY Amdt 2002 to HB 31 Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY Amdt 2001 to HB 31 Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
Jan. 30, 2009 ND SB 2087 Secrecy in Public University Hiring Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
Jan. 30, 2009 GA HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - House (117 - 55)
Jan. 29, 2009 MS HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Jan. 29, 2009 ND HB 1182 Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
Jan. 29, 2009 WY HB 190 Suspending Driver's Licenses for Nonpayment of Child Support Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Jan. 29, 2009 UT HB 17 Allowing Doctors to Prescribe Antibiotics to Unnamed Sexual Partners Bill Passed - House (63 - 8)
Jan. 29, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2009 AR HB 1013 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (78 - 12)
Jan. 28, 2009 WY SF 65 Ban on Texting While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
Jan. 28, 2009 OR SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Jan. 28, 2009 AR HB 1119 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups Bill Passed - House (62 - 27)
Jan. 26, 2009 MS SB 2664 Dual Charter School System Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Jan. 26, 2009 CO HB 1042 Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
Jan. 26, 2009 MT SB 131 Wildland-Urban Interface Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Jan. 22, 2009 National H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
Jan. 22, 2009 MS HB 1090 Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight Bill Passed - House (64 - 53)
Jan. 21, 2009 National HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
Jan. 21, 2009 National HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
Jan. 21, 2009 MT SB 31 Revising Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission Membership Qualifications Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
Jan. 15, 2009 National S J Res 5 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Jan. 14, 2009 FL SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Jan. 14, 2009 MS HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
Jan. 7, 2009 MS HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)
Dec. 19, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 5 Modifying Transportation Project Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/03 HB 90 Increasing Illegal Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
2/03 SB 83 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
2/03 HB 31 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (31 - 29)
2/03 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/03 HB 157 Children's Health Insurance Program Appropriations and Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 40)
2/03 HB 222 Offering Anesthetics to Women Undergoing Abortions Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
2/03 SB 79 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/02 A 1688 Expanding Local Control Over Rent Laws Bill Passed - House (94 - 49)
2/02 SB 2070 Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
2/02 SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
2/02 SB 4 2008-2009 Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/02 SB 81 Board of Public Education Elections Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29)
2/02 SB 80 Board of Regents Elections Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
2/02 HB 87 Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (24 - 36)
2/02 A 2005 Expanding Rent Control Coverage Bill Passed - House (91 - 52)
2/02 HB 1091 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
2/02 HB 1091 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
2/02 A 1686 Reducing the Cap on Vacated Apartment Rent Increases Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
2/02 A 860 Increasing Income and Rent Threshold to Qualify for Rent Deregulation Bill Passed - House (86 - 58)
1/30 Amdt 2002 to HB 31 Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18)
1/30 Amdt 2001 to HB 31 Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25)
1/30 HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
1/30 SB 2087 Secrecy in Public University Hiring Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
1/30 HB 143 Property Tax Grant Appropriation Authorization Bill Passed - House (117 - 55)
1/29 HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
1/29 HB 1182 Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
1/29 HB 190 Suspending Driver's Licenses for Nonpayment of Child Support Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
1/29 HB 17 Allowing Doctors to Prescribe Antibiotics to Unnamed Sexual Partners Bill Passed - House (63 - 8)
1/29 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
1/29 HB 1013 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (78 - 12)
1/28 SF 65 Ban on Texting While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17)
1/28 SB 338 Authorizing Bonds for Public-Works Projects Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
1/28 HB 1119 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups Bill Passed - House (62 - 27)
1/26 SB 2664 Dual Charter School System Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
1/26 HB 1042 Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
1/26 SB 131 Wildland-Urban Interface Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
1/22 H J Res 3 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Passed - House (270 - 155)
1/22 HB 1090 Increasing Public Utilities Staff Oversight Bill Passed - House (64 - 53)
1/21 HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
1/21 HR 384 Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program Bill Passed - House (260 - 166)
1/21 SB 31 Revising Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission Membership Qualifications Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
1/15 S J Res 5 Releasing Funds for Economic Stabilization Act Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (42 - 52)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
1/14 SB 2-A 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
1/14 HB 364 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (81 - 39)
1/07 HB 290 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (87 - 34)
12/19 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
12/18 ABx1 5 Modifying Transportation Project Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)

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