Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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 20, 2008 NH SB 540 Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
March 20, 2008 NH SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 20, 2008 AZ SB 1420 Public Highway Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
March 19, 2008 KS SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
March 18, 2008 KS Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 KS Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
March 18, 2008 AZ SB 1389 Healthcare Group Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 17, 2008 ID HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
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 14, 2008 National S Amdt 4299 Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the Legalization of Importing Certain Prescription Drugs Amendment Adopted - Senate (73 - 23)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
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 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 13, 2008 VA HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
March 13, 2008 IA HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
March 13, 2008 OH HB 314 Abortion and Ultrasound Bill Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
March 13, 2008 FL SB 1380 Electronic Gaming Machines Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
March 12, 2008 OK SB 1521 Mandatory Clinical Cancer Trial Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
March 12, 2008 KY SB 156 Nuclear Waste Disposal Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 12, 2008 OK SB 1407 Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
March 12, 2008 KY SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
March 10, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
March 10, 2008 IA HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
March 10, 2008 OK SB 2118 Requiring Health Insurance to Cover Autism Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
March 6, 2008 NH Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
March 6, 2008 KS SB 327 Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 276 Expanding Automotive Insurance Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 10)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 CO HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
March 6, 2008 OK SB 2114 Requiring Health Benefit Plans to Cover Medical Necessities Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 19)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
March 6, 2008 MO SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 6, 2008 MO SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 6, 2008 FL SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 5, 2008 WA HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 5, 2008 WA HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
March 4, 2008 UT SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 4, 2008 UT HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/20 SB 540 Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3)
3/20 SB 539 Education Funding Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/20 SB 1420 Public Highway Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
3/19 SB 541 Expanding Children's Health Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
3/18 Hensley Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 Kelly Amnd. Premium Assistance Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27)
3/18 SB 1389 Healthcare Group Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/18 SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/18 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/17 HCR 49 State Employee Pay Raise Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
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)
3/14 S Amdt 4299 Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the Legalization of Importing Certain Prescription Drugs Amendment Adopted - Senate (73 - 23)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
3/14 SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
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)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/13 HB 30 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14)
3/13 HF 2212 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
3/13 HB 314 Abortion and Ultrasound Bill Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
3/13 SB 1380 Electronic Gaming Machines Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
3/12 SB 1521 Mandatory Clinical Cancer Trial Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
3/12 SB 156 Nuclear Waste Disposal Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/12 SB 1407 Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
3/12 SB 120 Booster Seat Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
3/10 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
3/10 HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7)
3/10 SB 2118 Requiring Health Insurance to Cover Autism Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
3/06 Amdt 0891 to SB 530 Fully Subsidized Kindergarten Construction Program Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 12)
3/06 SB 327 Expansion of Coal-Fired Power Plants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
3/06 SB 276 Expanding Automotive Insurance Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 10)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 HB 1025 Governor's Energy Office Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
3/06 SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
3/06 SB 2114 Requiring Health Benefit Plans to Cover Medical Necessities Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 19)
3/06 SB 404 Health Insurance Marketplace Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 12)
3/06 SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/06 SB 778 HPV Immunization Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/06 SB 1852 Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Freeze Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/05 HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/05 HB 2815 Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
3/04 SB 2 2007-2009 Biennium Education Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/04 HB 359 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)

arrow_upward