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 28, 2010 | CO | HB 1348 | Regulations on Radioactive Material | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| April 28, 2010 | CT | SB 168 | Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| April 28, 2010 | MN | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
| April 27, 2010 | VT | SR 17 | Requesting Congressional Waiver From Federal Drinking Age Requirement | Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| April 23, 2010 | CO | SB 190 | Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 22, 2010 | AZ | HB 2338 | Yellow Light Standardization | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| April 22, 2010 | FL | HJR 37 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| April 21, 2010 | AL | SB 121 | Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 8) |
| April 21, 2010 | LA | SB 9 | Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| April 20, 2010 | MO | SB 943 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 15, 2010 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| April 15, 2010 | CO | SB 94 | State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| April 15, 2010 | FL | SB 622 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | SB 437 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| April 14, 2010 | HI | HB 2421 | Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 14, 2010 | SC | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| April 14, 2010 | AL | HB 105 | Required Physical Education | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| April 13, 2010 | NE | LB 999 | Temporary Prohibition on New Hospital Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| April 12, 2010 | ME | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | SB 277 | Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| April 12, 2010 | WA | HB 2493 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| April 10, 2010 | MD | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| April 9, 2010 | NE | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| April 7, 2010 | ME | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 7, 2010 | MD | HB 825 | Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| April 1, 2010 | GA | HB 307 | Hospital Medicaid Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| April 1, 2010 | AL | SB 233 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| March 31, 2010 | CO | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 31, 2010 | AZ | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 30, 2010 | GA | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| March 30, 2010 | NE | LB 1102 | Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13) |
| March 30, 2010 | AL | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 29, 2010 | SD | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 29, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 29, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 27, 2010 | MS | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| March 26, 2010 | KY | HB 368 | Telephone and Online Gambling Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | SB 407 | Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| March 26, 2010 | IA | S 5340 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 25, 2010 | CO | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 25, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/28 | HB 1348 | Regulations on Radioactive Material | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 4/28 | SB 168 | Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 4/28 | SF 2716 | Charter School Facilities Financing Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 15) |
| 4/27 | SR 17 | Requesting Congressional Waiver From Federal Drinking Age Requirement | Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 13) |
| 4/23 | SB 190 | Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/22 | HB 2338 | Yellow Light Standardization | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3) |
| 4/22 | HJR 37 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 4/21 | SB 121 | Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 4/21 | SB 9 | Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9) |
| 4/20 | SB 943 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 4/15 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 4/15 | SB 94 | State Funding for Works of Art in Capital Construction Projects | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 4/15 | SB 622 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 4/15 | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 4/15 | SB 434 | Legalizing Sale of Unpasteurized Milk | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 4/15 | SB 437 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 4/14 | HB 2421 | Petroleum Tax ("Barrel Tax") Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 4/14 | H 3584 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 12) |
| 4/14 | HB 105 | Required Physical Education | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| 4/13 | LB 999 | Temporary Prohibition on New Hospital Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 6) |
| 4/12 | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 4/12 | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 4/12 | SB 277 | Modifies the Solar Energy Portfolio Standard | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| 4/12 | HB 2493 | Cigarette Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 4/10 | SB 627 | Establishes Medical Marijuana Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 4/09 | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| 4/07 | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/07 | HB 825 | Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| 4/01 | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| 4/01 | HB 307 | Hospital Medicaid Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| 4/01 | SB 233 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 3/31 | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/31 | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/30 | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 3/30 | LB 1102 | Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 3/30 | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/29 | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 3/29 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 3/29 | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/27 | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 3/26 | HB 368 | Telephone and Online Gambling Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/26 | SB 407 | Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 3/26 | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 3/26 | S 5340 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31) |
| 3/26 | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/25 | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/25 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |