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 2, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21) |
| April 2, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| April 2, 2008 | AR | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| April 1, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| April 1, 2008 | AR | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| March 28, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - House (104 - 19) |
| March 24, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| March 24, 2008 | MD | SB 309 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 19, 2008 | NH | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| March 18, 2008 | MS | SB 2793 | Creating a Select Committee on Base Load Generation | Bill Passed - House (107 - 13) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 13, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | SB 156 | Nuclear Waste Disposal | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 12, 2008 | CA | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
| March 11, 2008 | PA | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| March 7, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7) |
| March 7, 2008 | ID | H 586 | State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing | Bill Passed - House (42 - 26) |
| March 6, 2008 | KS | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
| March 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 5, 2008 | KS | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 47) |
| March 5, 2008 | WA | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| March 5, 2008 | ID | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - House (60 - 10) |
| March 5, 2008 | ID | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 27) |
| March 5, 2008 | WI | AB 346 | Nuclear Power Plant Construction | Bill Passed - House (57 - 38) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1107 | Energy Efficiency Requirements | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | National | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
| Feb. 27, 2008 | National | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MS | SB 2793 | Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | KS | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 45) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | WA | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | NM | SB 487 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | KS | HB 2066 | Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | KS | Steineger Amnd. | Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | NM | HB 305 | Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Feb. 10, 2008 | NM | SB 487 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Feb. 8, 2008 | NM | HB 342 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (55 - 11) |
| Jan. 30, 2008 | CO | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - House (59 - 5) |
| Jan. 24, 2008 | CO | GN Baker | Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
| Jan. 7, 2008 | NJ | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/02 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21) |
| 4/02 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 4/02 | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| 4/01 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 4/01 | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 3/31 | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/31 | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| 3/28 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - House (104 - 19) |
| 3/24 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 3/24 | SB 309 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 3/19 | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| 3/18 | SB 2793 | Creating a Select Committee on Base Load Generation | Bill Passed - House (107 - 13) |
| 3/17 | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/17 | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4329 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Coastal Areas Not Covered by a Moratorium | Amendment Adopted - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/13 | S Amdt 4207 | Amendment on Certain Energy-Related Programs, Including the Development of Oil Shale and Offshore Natural Gas | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 3/12 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| 3/12 | SB 156 | Nuclear Waste Disposal | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 3/12 | ABx3 9 | Oil Tax | Bill Failed - House (45 - 30) |
| 3/11 | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| 3/07 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 7) |
| 3/07 | H 586 | State Administered Vehicle Emissions Testing | Bill Passed - House (42 - 26) |
| 3/06 | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 3/06 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/05 | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 47) |
| 3/05 | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 3/05 | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - House (60 - 10) |
| 3/05 | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 27) |
| 3/05 | AB 346 | Nuclear Power Plant Construction | Bill Passed - House (57 - 38) |
| 2/28 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 2/27 | HB 1107 | Energy Efficiency Requirements | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 2/27 | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 2/27 | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
| 2/27 | HR 5351 | Energy Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (236 - 182) |
| 2/21 | SB 2793 | Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| 2/19 | SB 327 | Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 45) |
| 2/19 | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| 2/14 | SB 487 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (45 - 23) |
| 2/14 | HB 2066 | Restricting the Secretary of Health and Environment's Enforcement Powers | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 2/13 | Steineger Amnd. | Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (3 - 32) |
| 2/12 | HB 305 | Energy Efficiency Requirements for Public Utilities | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 2/10 | SB 487 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 2/08 | HB 342 | Uranium Cleanup Fund | Bill Passed - House (55 - 11) |
| 1/30 | HB 1025 | Governor's Energy Office | Bill Passed - House (59 - 5) |
| 1/24 | GN Baker | Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 1/07 | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
| 1/07 | A 4559 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |