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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2008 | IL | SB 2052 | Taxes for Levee Repair | Bill Passed - House (64 - 44) |
| May 14, 2008 | National | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 36) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| May 12, 2008 | AZ | HB 2017 | Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos | Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69) | |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 22) |
| May 7, 2008 | KS | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 48) |
| May 7, 2008 | MO | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| May 7, 2008 | NH | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 139) |
| May 6, 2008 | MO | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| May 3, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
| May 1, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| April 29, 2008 | National | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
| April 25, 2008 | IA | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| April 25, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| April 23, 2008 | CT | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - House (102 - 43) |
| April 23, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - House (91 - 38) |
| April 23, 2008 | CO | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| April 23, 2008 | National | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
| April 23, 2008 | National | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
| April 22, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 24) |
| April 22, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| April 21, 2008 | MO | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| April 21, 2008 | MO | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| April 17, 2008 | MI | HB 5548 | Renewable Energy Portfolios | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| April 17, 2008 | MI | HB 5525 | Energy Efficiency Program | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| April 17, 2008 | MI | HB 5524 | Energy Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| April 17, 2008 | MI | HB 5549 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 21) |
| April 15, 2008 | CO | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10) |
| April 15, 2008 | ME | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64) |
| April 15, 2008 | LA | HB 370 | Banning Public Funds for Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (90 - 9) |
| April 10, 2008 | CO | HB 1375 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23) |
| April 10, 2008 | MN | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
| April 10, 2008 | IA | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| April 8, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| April 8, 2008 | MI | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - House (87 - 19) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Passed - House (113 - 25) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | HB 374 | Energy Efficiency Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 33) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | HB 375 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 24) |
| April 6, 2008 | AK | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| April 4, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
| April 4, 2008 | MD | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
| April 3, 2008 | AZ | SB 1167 | Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations | Bill Passed - House (42 - 13) |
| 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 - House (74 - 21) |
| April 2, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| April 2, 2008 | GA | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Failed - House (55 - 107) |
| April 2, 2008 | OK | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| April 2, 2008 | OK | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| April 2, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| April 1, 2008 | MN | Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66) | |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| 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 27, 2008 | MS | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| March 27, 2008 | MO | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 66) |
| March 27, 2008 | MO | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 62) |
| March 25, 2008 | KS | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Bill Passed - House (103 - 20) |
| March 25, 2008 | ME | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - House (92 - 46) |
| March 25, 2008 | AK | HB 301 | Redefining Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (21 - 15) |
| March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
| March 20, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 20, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/15 | SB 2052 | Taxes for Levee Repair | Bill Passed - House (64 - 44) |
| 5/14 | HR 2419 | Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) | Conference Report Adopted - House (318 - 106) |
| 5/13 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 36) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 50) |
| 5/12 | HB 2017 | Legislative Approval for Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 22) |
| 5/12 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| 5/12 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| 5/07 | Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos | Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69) | |
| 5/07 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Conference Report Adopted - House (101 - 22) |
| 5/07 | HB 2412 | Coal Plant Incentives | Conference Report Adopted - House (76 - 48) |
| 5/07 | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 63) |
| 5/07 | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| 5/07 | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - House (209 - 139) |
| 5/06 | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (87 - 63) |
| 5/05 | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17) |
| 5/05 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 5/05 | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| 5/03 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 16) |
| 5/02 | SB 217 | Extended Health Care Coverage | Bill Passed - House (44 - 22) |
| 5/01 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Veto Override Failed - House (80 - 45) |
| 4/29 | S 2739 | Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 | Bill Passed - House (291 - 117) |
| 4/25 | SF 2425 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/25 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (60 - 12) |
| 4/23 | HB 5536 | Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - House (102 - 43) |
| 4/23 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - House (91 - 38) |
| 4/23 | HB 1385 | Health Insurance Website | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| 4/23 | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
| 4/23 | HR 5613 | Medicaid Extensions and Changes | Bill Passed - House (349 - 62) |
| 4/22 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 24) |
| 4/22 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 4/21 | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| 4/21 | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| 4/17 | HB 5548 | Renewable Energy Portfolios | Bill Passed - House (86 - 21) |
| 4/17 | HB 5525 | Energy Efficiency Program | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| 4/17 | HB 5524 | Energy Utility Regulations | Bill Passed - House (78 - 30) |
| 4/17 | HB 5549 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Exemptions | Bill Passed - House (84 - 21) |
| 4/15 | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 10) |
| 4/15 | LD 2247 | Alcohol and Soda Tax for Health Care Funding | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 64) |
| 4/15 | HB 370 | Banning Public Funds for Human Cloning | Bill Passed - House (90 - 9) |
| 4/10 | HB 1375 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 23) |
| 4/10 | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
| 4/10 | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - House (88 - 10) |
| 4/08 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45) |
| 4/08 | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - House (87 - 19) |
| 4/07 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Passed - House (113 - 25) |
| 4/07 | HB 374 | Energy Efficiency Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 33) |
| 4/07 | HB 375 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 24) |
| 4/06 | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| 4/04 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
| 4/04 | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
| 4/03 | SB 1167 | Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations | Bill Passed - House (42 - 13) |
| 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 - House (74 - 21) |
| 4/02 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| 4/02 | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Failed - House (55 - 107) |
| 4/02 | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| 4/02 | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| 4/02 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| 4/01 | Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66) | |
| 4/01 | HB 1280 | Extending Water Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 8) |
| 4/01 | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| 4/01 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| 3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| 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) |
| 3/27 | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/27 | HB 2010 | 2008-2009 Department of Mental Health and Department of Health and Senior Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 66) |
| 3/27 | HB 2011 | 2008-2009 Department of Social Services Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 62) |
| 3/25 | SB 81 | Health Care Reform | Bill Passed - House (103 - 20) |
| 3/25 | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - House (92 - 46) |
| 3/25 | HB 301 | Redefining Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (21 - 15) |
| 3/20 | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
| 3/20 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/20 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |