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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 22, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| Sept. 30, 2010 | NJ | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| Sept. 29, 2010 | PA | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| Sept. 23, 2010 | National | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| Sept. 21, 2010 | MI | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 482 | Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| Aug. 12, 2010 | CA | SB 933 | Prohibiting Debit Card Fees | Bill Passed - House (45 - 24) |
| Aug. 10, 2010 | National | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161) |
| July 31, 2010 | MA | H 5000 | Gambling Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36) |
| July 30, 2010 | National | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| July 28, 2010 | MI | HB 6151 | Transportation Law Amendments ("Complete Streets" Policy) | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| July 28, 2010 | National | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| July 27, 2010 | National | HR 4899 | Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (308 - 114) |
| July 27, 2010 | National | H Con Res 301 | Directing the President to Remove Armed Forces from Pakistan | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 372) |
| July 15, 2010 | National | HR 5114 | Flood Insurance Program Extension | Bill Passed - House (329 - 90) |
| July 12, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1829 | Renewable Energy Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19) |
| July 8, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| July 6, 2010 | NC | SB 1015 | Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| July 1, 2010 | National | HR 4899 | Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (162 - 260) |
| July 1, 2010 | National | HR 4899 | Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (100 - 321) |
| July 1, 2010 | National | H Res 1500 | Deeming Supplemental Military Appropriations Passed and Allowing Divided Question | Bill Passed - House (215 - 210) |
| July 1, 2010 | CA | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| July 1, 2010 | PA | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| June 30, 2010 | National | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| June 30, 2010 | National | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| June 29, 2010 | NC | SB 1216 | Extending the Emergency Foreclosure Program | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| June 29, 2010 | NJ | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - House (71 - 6) |
| June 29, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2090 | Car Inspection Waiver | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| June 28, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5236 | Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities | Veto Override Passed - House (110 - 28) |
| June 21, 2010 | NJ | A 2740 | Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program | Bill Passed - House (57 - 21) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/22 | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| 11/15 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| 11/15 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| 9/30 | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| 9/29 | SB 1155 | Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax | Bill Passed - House (104 - 94) |
| 9/23 | HR 5297 | Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (237 - 187) |
| 9/21 | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39) |
| 9/16 | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| 9/16 | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| 9/16 | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| 8/31 | AB 482 | Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 30) |
| 8/31 | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| 8/26 | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/26 | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| 8/26 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/25 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| 8/12 | SB 933 | Prohibiting Debit Card Fees | Bill Passed - House (45 - 24) |
| 8/10 | HR 1586 | Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (247 - 161) |
| 7/31 | H 5000 | Gambling Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (117 - 36) |
| 7/30 | HR 3534 | Offshore Drilling Regulations and Other Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 193) |
| 7/28 | HB 6151 | Transportation Law Amendments ("Complete Streets" Policy) | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 7/28 | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| 7/27 | HR 4899 | Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Appropriations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (308 - 114) |
| 7/27 | H Con Res 301 | Directing the President to Remove Armed Forces from Pakistan | Joint Resolution Failed - House (38 - 372) |
| 7/15 | HR 5114 | Flood Insurance Program Extension | Bill Passed - House (329 - 90) |
| 7/12 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4) |
| 7/10 | HB 1829 | Renewable Energy Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 19) |
| 7/08 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| 7/07 | HB 80 | Banning Electronic Sweepstakes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 27) |
| 7/06 | SB 1015 | Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| 7/01 | HR 4899 | Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (162 - 260) |
| 7/01 | HR 4899 | Limiting Afghanistan Military Funding to Withdrawal and Other Specified Purposes | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (100 - 321) |
| 7/01 | H Res 1500 | Deeming Supplemental Military Appropriations Passed and Allowing Divided Question | Bill Passed - House (215 - 210) |
| 7/01 | SB 1121 | Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 7/01 | HB 67 | Driving Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126) |
| 6/30 | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| 6/30 | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| 6/29 | SB 1216 | Extending the Emergency Foreclosure Program | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| 6/29 | S 2036 | Offshore Wind Economic Development Act | Bill Passed - House (71 - 6) |
| 6/29 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| 6/29 | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| 6/28 | S 2090 | Car Inspection Waiver | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| 6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| 6/28 | A 3009 | Professional Sports Team Specialty License Plates | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
| 6/28 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 6/21 | HB 5236 | Concerning Off-Track Betting Branch Facilities | Veto Override Passed - House (110 - 28) |
| 6/21 | A 2740 | Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program | Bill Passed - House (57 - 21) |
| 6/20 | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |