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. 17, 2011 VA HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2011 NJ S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
Feb. 17, 2011 VA SB 1062 Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorder Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Feb. 16, 2011 AR HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2011 IA SF 166 Funding for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 21 Reducing Federal Aviation Administration Appropriations Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
Feb. 15, 2011 National S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Feb. 11, 2011 KY SB 110 Relating to Optometry Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
Feb. 10, 2011 AZ SB 1086 Tobacco Prohibitions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2011 NM SB 124 Safeguarding Bicyclists Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2011 UT SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
Feb. 8, 2011 VA SB 1351 Wireless Telecommunication Devices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 2, 2011 National S Amdt 28 Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
Feb. 2, 2011 National S Amdt 13 Repealing the Federal Health Care Law Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
Feb. 2, 2011 MN SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)
Feb. 2, 2011 AR SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 1, 2011 WY SJ 2 Health Care Decisions for Citizens Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
Jan. 28, 2011 MT SB 104 Limitations on Electricity Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2011 AR SB 113 Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Jan. 27, 2011 MT SB 106 Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Jan. 27, 2011 MT SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Jan. 26, 2011 AZ HB 2534 Annexation of Land by Cities and Towns Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
Jan. 25, 2011 IN SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Jan. 25, 2011 IN SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Jan. 24, 2011 MN SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
Jan. 24, 2011 WY SF 51 Seat Belt Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Jan. 20, 2011 WI SB 2 Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Jan. 11, 2011 IL SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29)
Jan. 10, 2011 NJ S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
Dec. 22, 2010 National Treaty Doc. 111-5 Treaty with Russia to Reduce and Limit Offensive Arms Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (71 - 26)
Dec. 21, 2010 National HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
Dec. 13, 2010 NJ ACR 151 Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Dec. 9, 2010 National HR 847 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
Nov. 17, 2010 PA HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
Oct. 18, 2010 NJ S 2381 Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
Sept. 29, 2010 National S J Res 39 Disapproving Rule for "Grandfathered Health Plans" Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
Sept. 21, 2010 National S 3454 2010-2011 Defense Authorizations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
Sept. 21, 2010 MI SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
Sept. 16, 2010 National HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
Sept. 14, 2010 National S Amdt 4596 Repealing Business Transaction Reporting Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 52)
Sept. 14, 2010 National S Amdt 4595 Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
Sept. 8, 2010 MI HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2010 CA AB 2470 Individual Health Plan Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Aug. 27, 2010 CA SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
Aug. 26, 2010 CA AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 25, 2010 CA AB 1825 Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
Aug. 25, 2010 CA AB 1600 Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
Aug. 24, 2010 CA AB 2072 Informational Pamphlet for Parents of Deaf Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/17 HB 2527 Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Fund and Bank Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
2/17 S2636 Reduction of Toll Road Prices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
2/17 SB 1062 Health Insurance Coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorder Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
2/16 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 9)
2/16 SF 166 Funding for Public Schools Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
2/15 S Amdt 21 Reducing Federal Aviation Administration Appropriations Amendment Tabled - Senate (51 - 47)
2/15 S Amdt 14 Prohibiting Transportation Security Administration Employees from Collective Bargaining Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
2/11 SB 110 Relating to Optometry Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
2/10 SB 1086 Tobacco Prohibitions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
2/10 SB 124 Safeguarding Bicyclists Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/10 SB 124 Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
2/08 SB 1351 Wireless Telecommunication Devices Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/02 S Amdt 28 Repealing the IRS 1099 Provision from the Health Care Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (44 - 54)
2/02 S Amdt 13 Repealing the Federal Health Care Law Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 51)
2/02 SF 4 Repealing the Ban on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 14)
2/02 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/01 SJ 2 Health Care Decisions for Citizens Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
1/28 SB 104 Limitations on Electricity Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
1/27 SB 113 Prohibit Abortion Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
1/27 SB 106 Lawsuit against Federal Health Care Law Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
1/27 SB 125 Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
1/26 HB 2534 Annexation of Land by Cities and Towns Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
1/25 SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
1/25 SB 47 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
1/24 SF 86 Repeals Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prohibition
1/24 SF 51 Seat Belt Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
1/20 SB 2 Tax Benefits for Health Savings Accounts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
1/11 SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 29)
1/10 S 2381 Electric Generation Facilities Pilot Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 6)
12/22 Treaty Doc. 111-5 Treaty with Russia to Reduce and Limit Offensive Arms Treaty Ratification Passed - Senate (71 - 26)
12/21 HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
12/13 ACR 151 Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
12/09 HR 847 9/11 Health and Compensation Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
11/17 HB 101 Education Law Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
10/18 S 2381 Establishing pilot program to promote construction of electric generation facilities
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
9/29 S J Res 39 Disapproving Rule for "Grandfathered Health Plans" Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 59)
9/21 S 3454 2010-2011 Defense Authorizations Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 43)
9/21 SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
9/16 HR 5297 Small Business Lending Fund and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
9/14 S Amdt 4596 Repealing Business Transaction Reporting Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 52)
9/14 S Amdt 4595 Business Transaction Reporting Requirement Amendments Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
9/08 HB 6086 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/30 AB 2470 Individual Health Plan Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
8/27 SB 1413 Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
8/26 AB 482 Prohibiting Use of Credit Reports for Employment Purposes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/25 AB 1825 Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
8/25 AB 1600 Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
8/24 AB 2072 Informational Pamphlet for Parents of Deaf Children Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)

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