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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Nov. 21, 2008 | NE | LB 1 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| Nov. 18, 2008 | NE | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| Oct. 1, 2008 | National | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| Oct. 1, 2008 | National | HR 7081 | United States - India Nuclear Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 13) |
| Sept. 10, 2008 | MO | SB 873 | Voting Student Curator on the University of Missouri Board of Curators | Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 17) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1420 | Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 1945 | Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | SB 375 | Global Warming and Land Use Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| Aug. 25, 2008 | CA | AB 1879 | Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Aug. 22, 2008 | CA | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | IL | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| Aug. 19, 2008 | IL | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| Aug. 18, 2008 | NM | HB 5 | Electronic Medical Records | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Aug. 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1894 | Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| Aug. 11, 2008 | CA | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Aug. 8, 2008 | NY | S 8736 | School District Property Tax Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20) |
| Aug. 8, 2008 | NY | S 8736 | School District Property Tax Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20) |
| Aug. 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2001 | Whistleblower Hotline | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| July 26, 2008 | National | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13) |
| July 17, 2008 | NC | HB 2499 | Water Management During Droughts | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
| July 16, 2008 | National | S Amdt 5077 | Funding Amendment to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 64) |
| July 16, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | S Amdt 5078 | Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | S Amdt 5078 | Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24) |
| July 10, 2008 | NC | HB 822 | Swine Farm Rebuilding | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8) |
| July 9, 2008 | National | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| July 8, 2008 | NC | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
| July 7, 2008 | CA | AB 2949 | Retrieving Abandoned Pets | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| July 2, 2008 | CA | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| July 2, 2008 | NC | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| July 1, 2008 | DE | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| June 27, 2008 | AZ | SCR 1042 | Parameters of Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| June 27, 2008 | NV | SB 5 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| June 26, 2008 | AZ | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/18 | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/15 | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 12/10 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 11/24 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| 11/21 | LB 1 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5) |
| 11/18 | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| 10/01 | HR 1424 | Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| 10/01 | HR 7081 | United States - India Nuclear Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 13) |
| 9/10 | SB 873 | Voting Student Curator on the University of Missouri Board of Curators | Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 17) |
| 8/31 | SB 840 | California Universal Healthcare Agency | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 8/31 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 8/31 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 8/31 | SB 1420 | Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 8/31 | AB 1945 | Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 8/30 | SB 375 | Global Warming and Land Use Policy | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 8/25 | AB 1879 | Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 8/22 | AB 2765 | Aerial Spraying Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 8/20 | AB 2747 | Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 8/20 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 8/19 | HB 5285 | Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17) |
| 8/19 | HB 4201 | Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 8/18 | HB 5 | Electronic Medical Records | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 8/14 | AB 1894 | Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 8/11 | AB 86 | Cyber-Bullying Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 8/08 | S 8736 | School District Property Tax Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20) |
| 8/08 | S 8736 | School District Property Tax Cap | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20) |
| 8/05 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 8/05 | AB 2567 | Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 8/05 | AB 2001 | Whistleblower Hotline | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 7/26 | HR 3221 | Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13) |
| 7/17 | HB 2499 | Water Management During Droughts | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
| 7/16 | S Amdt 5077 | Funding Amendment to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 64) |
| 7/16 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| 7/15 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26) |
| 7/15 | S Amdt 5078 | Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24) |
| 7/15 | S Amdt 5078 | Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding | Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24) |
| 7/10 | HB 822 | Swine Farm Rebuilding | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8) |
| 7/09 | HR 6331 | Medicare Bill | Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 7/08 | HB 2436 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14) |
| 7/07 | AB 2949 | Retrieving Abandoned Pets | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 7/02 | AB 97 | Trans Fats Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 7/02 | SB 1988 | Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 7/01 | SB 300 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 6/27 | SCR 1042 | Parameters of Marriage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| 6/27 | SB 5 | 2008-2009 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 6/26 | HB 2713 | Student's Religious Liberties Act | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |