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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2010 | IL | SB 2494 | Funding for School Vouchers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
| March 25, 2010 | FL | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 1035 | Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| March 24, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 24, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| March 24, 2010 | NH | SB 489 | Gambling Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 24, 2010 | MI | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| March 24, 2010 | ID | S 1419 | 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| March 24, 2010 | NH | SB 392 | Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 23, 2010 | IA | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
| March 23, 2010 | KY | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| March 22, 2010 | CO | HB 1188 | Navigation Rights for River Outfitters | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| March 22, 2010 | AZ | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| March 22, 2010 | AZ | SB 1309 | Expanding Parental Consent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 22, 2010 | ID | S 1418 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 18, 2010 | IL | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| March 17, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| March 17, 2010 | GA | SR 794 | Prohibiting Health Care Mandates | Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| March 16, 2010 | IA | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| March 16, 2010 | IA | SF 2378 | Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| March 12, 2010 | WV | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 11, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 11, 2010 | CA | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| March 10, 2010 | VA | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 10, 2010 | ID | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| March 9, 2010 | SD | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| March 9, 2010 | ID | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| March 9, 2010 | VA | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 9, 2010 | UT | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| March 8, 2010 | SD | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| March 8, 2010 | UT | SB 44 | Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14) |
| March 5, 2010 | CO | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| March 4, 2010 | CA | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| March 2, 2010 | AZ | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | WY | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | ID | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | VT | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| Feb. 23, 2010 | IN | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | National | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | WY | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | TN | SB 3498 | Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | NM | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/25 | SB 2494 | Funding for School Vouchers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
| 3/25 | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 3/24 | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 3/24 | SB 1035 | Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| 3/24 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/24 | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 3/24 | SB 489 | Gambling Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/24 | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 3/24 | S 1419 | 2010-2011 Higher Education Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 3/24 | SB 392 | Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/23 | HF 2456 | Texting While Driving Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 3/23 | HB 239 | School Principal Selection Process Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 3/22 | HB 1188 | Navigation Rights for River Outfitters | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 3/22 | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 3/22 | SB 1309 | Expanding Parental Consent Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/22 | S 1418 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/18 | SB 615 | Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16) |
| 3/17 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 3/17 | SR 794 | Prohibiting Health Care Mandates | Resolution Failed - Senate (34 - 19) |
| 3/16 | SF 2376 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 3/16 | SF 2378 | Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17) |
| 3/12 | HB 4652 | School Calendar Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/11 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/11 | SBx8 32 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 3/10 | HB 885 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 3/10 | S 1352 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 3/09 | HB 1231 | Prescription Drug Registry | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5) |
| 3/09 | H 391 | Opposing Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 3/09 | SB 737 | Requiring Department of Education Review of Charter School Applications | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 3/09 | SB 47 | Energy Management Program | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 3/08 | HB 1240 | Need-Based Education Grant Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 3/08 | SB 44 | Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14) |
| 3/05 | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 9 | Tax and Transportation Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 3/04 | ABx8 6 | Fuel Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 3/02 | SB 1334 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11) |
| 2/26 | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 2/26 | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 2/24 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| 2/24 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28) |
| 2/24 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/24 | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| 2/23 | HB 1367 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 2/22 | HR 2847 | Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30) |
| 2/22 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/18 | SF 64 | Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 2/17 | SB 3498 | Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1) |
| 2/17 | HB 150 | Hispanic Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 2/17 | HB 12 | Health Insurer Service Reimbursement | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 2/16 | HB 231 | Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |