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
March 6, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 6, 2008 WA SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 6, 2008 CO HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 6, 2008 FL SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 6, 2008 AZ HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
March 6, 2008 WI SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
March 6, 2008 MS HB 1601 Medicaid Appropriations Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
March 6, 2008 ID H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
March 5, 2008 CO HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 23)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 5, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 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 SC H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
March 5, 2008 SC H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
March 5, 2008 ID H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
March 5, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
March 5, 2008 AK SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
March 5, 2008 WI AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
March 5, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
March 5, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
March 5, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
March 4, 2008 WA SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
March 4, 2008 GA HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
March 4, 2008 WI SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 4, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
March 4, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
March 4, 2008 KY HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
March 4, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 4, 2008 AK HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
March 4, 2008 KY HB 31 Felony Record Expungement Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
March 3, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
March 3, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
March 3, 2008 UT SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
March 3, 2008 CO SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
March 3, 2008 MN HF 3201 Omnibus Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (81 - 51)
March 3, 2008 NJ S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
Feb. 29, 2008 ID S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
Feb. 29, 2008 UT HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
Feb. 29, 2008 KS HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
Feb. 28, 2008 MN GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS Ward Amnd. Teacher Scholarship Program Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71)
Feb. 28, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
Feb. 28, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
Feb. 28, 2008 UT SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2008 UT SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Feb. 28, 2008 KS HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
Feb. 27, 2008 KS McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
Feb. 27, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2008 WV SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 SD HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 GA HR 413 English as the Official Language of Georgia Resolution Failed - House (103 - 61)
Feb. 26, 2008 ID H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI AB 695 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2008 AL HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 WI AR 13 Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18)
Feb. 26, 2008 KY SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2008 KY SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 26, 2008 WV HB 4076 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 26, 2008 WV HB 4076 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Feb. 25, 2008 MN HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 41)
Feb. 25, 2008 MN HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/06 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 2)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/06 SB 6809 Working Family Tax Exemption Bill Passed - House (57 - 37)
3/06 HB 2043 State Government Hiring Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/06 HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/06 SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/06 HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/06 HB 2857 State Spending Freeze Bill Passed - House (33 - 24)
3/06 SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
3/06 SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - House (99 - 34)
3/06 HB 1601 Medicaid Appropriations Bill Passed - House (74 - 41)
3/06 H 588 Food Tax Credit Expansion Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
3/05 HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
3/05 HB 1130 Removing Wiretap Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 9)
3/05 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 23)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/05 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
3/05 H 561 Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production Bill Passed - House (60 - 10)
3/05 H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
3/05 H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
3/05 AB 151 Financial Aid Ineligibility for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (70 - 24)
3/05 H 562 Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
3/05 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - House (75 - 21)
3/05 AB 901 Austism Treatment Funding Bill Passed - House (55 - 39)
3/05 SB 256 2008-2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 2)
3/05 AB 47 Health Savings Account Tax Deductions Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
3/05 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
3/05 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Failed - House (110 - 62)
3/05 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - House (51 - 19)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
3/04 HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - House (124 - 38)
3/04 HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
3/04 SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
3/04 HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
3/04 HB 1245 Public Defender Funding Amendments Bill Passed - House (141 - 21)
3/04 SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/04 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
3/04 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
3/04 HB 186 Dental Health Certificate Requirement for School Enrollment Bill Passed - House (91 - 4)
3/04 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/04 HB 310 2008-2009 Operating Budget Bill Passed - House (29 - 10)
3/04 HB 31 Felony Record Expungement Bill Passed - House (76 - 21)
3/03 Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
3/03 Seifert Amendment: Restriction of State Aid Based on Compliance with Immigration Laws Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 67)
3/03 SB 48 School Building Funding Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
3/03 SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
3/03 HF 3201 Omnibus Tax Bill Bill Passed - House (81 - 51)
3/03 S 786 Extending Family Leave Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
3/03 HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - House (33 - 27)
2/29 S 1436 Teacher Pay-for-Performance Plan Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 19)
2/29 HB 75 State Inventory of Government Activities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
2/29 HB 2870 Employment Incentive for Teachers Bill Failed - House (59 - 63)
2/28 GN Molnau Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44)
2/28 Ward Amnd. Teacher Scholarship Program Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 71)
2/28 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - House (64 - 35)
2/28 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
2/28 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
2/28 SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
2/28 SB 162 State Discretion Over Federal Education Programs Bill Passed - House (38 - 33)
2/28 AB 770 Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
2/28 HB 2605 Changing School Finance Formula Bill Failed - House (62 - 63)
2/27 McKinney Amnd. A to HB 2760 Per Student Public School Funding Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 70)
2/27 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/27 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/27 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
2/27 SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
2/27 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/27 HB 1085 Constructing Science Facilities at Universities Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/27 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
2/27 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
2/27 HB 1180 Unemployment Benefits for Military Spouses Bill Passed - House (60 - 5)
2/27 HB 1297 Supplemental Department of Public Safety Funding Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/26 A Amnd. 1 Divestment Due to Genocide Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (50 - 47)
2/26 Amdt 1 to SJR 1 Adjusting the Constitutional Property Tax Cap Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 50)
2/26 Amnd. 2 Permitting Lawsuits for Injuries Caused by Hazardous Substances Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 45)
2/26 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
2/26 HR 413 English as the Official Language of Georgia Resolution Failed - House (103 - 61)
2/26 H 503 Scholarships for Drug-Free Students Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
2/26 AB 695 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - House (84 - 13)
2/26 SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/26 SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/26 HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/26 AR 13 Supporting the Individual's Right to Bear Arms Resolution Passed - House (78 - 18)
2/26 SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/26 SB 14 Non-Partisan Public Officials Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/26 HB 4076 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/26 HB 4076 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/26 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
2/25 HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 41)
2/25 HF 2800 2009-2010 Transportation Budget Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20)
2/25 Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)

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