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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2009 | DE | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
| June 8, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| June 8, 2009 | OR | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| June 8, 2009 | LA | HB 316 | Property Tax Exemption | Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63) |
| June 8, 2009 | OR | HB 2009 | Establishing the Oregon Health Authority | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| June 8, 2009 | LA | HB 872 | Graduate School Tuition Increase | Bill Failed - House (51 - 33) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| June 4, 2009 | ME | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| June 4, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| June 4, 2009 | LA | HB 687 | Dentistry in Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| June 4, 2009 | LA | HB 687 | Dentistry in Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| June 4, 2009 | LA | HB 717 | Physician Advisory Group | Bill Failed - House (30 - 61) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| June 3, 2009 | MA | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 3, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| June 3, 2009 | LA | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| June 3, 2009 | NY | S 2020 | SUNY Buffalo Education Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17) |
| June 2, 2009 | LA | HB 851 | School Board Operations | Bill Failed - House (46 - 51) |
| June 1, 2009 | CT | SB 1080 | Calorie Information on Menus | Bill Passed - House (89 - 60) |
| June 1, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| June 1, 2009 | OR | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| June 1, 2009 | NV | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| May 31, 2009 | TX | SB 956 | Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24) |
| May 31, 2009 | IL | SB 612 | Raising the Cap on Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
| May 31, 2009 | NV | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| May 30, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2009 | CT | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 30, 2009 | NV | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Passed - House (36 - 5) |
| May 29, 2009 | OR | HB 2834 | Funding School for Blind | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| May 29, 2009 | NV | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - House (33 - 9) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 28, 2009 | CT | HB 6187 | Requiring Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (88 - 58) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| May 27, 2009 | LA | Amendment # 1874 | Video Draw Poker Device Location Restriction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 27, 2009 | LA | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - House (60 - 24) |
| May 27, 2009 | AZ | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - House (35 - 25) |
| May 27, 2009 | AZ | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| May 27, 2009 | OR | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
| May 26, 2009 | TX | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (123 - 20) |
| May 26, 2009 | MI | HB 4377 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 31) |
| May 26, 2009 | CA | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 22, 2009 | NV | SB 311 | Washoe County Fluoridation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| May 20, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 20, 2009 | NY | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| May 20, 2009 | NY | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| May 20, 2009 | OH | HB 3 | Moratorium on Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| May 20, 2009 | MI | HB 4836 | Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
| May 20, 2009 | RI | H 5359 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (63 - 5) |
| May 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 35) |
| May 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - House (109 - 36) |
| May 19, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
| May 19, 2009 | LA | HB 517 | Health Care Protection | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| May 17, 2009 | MN | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Veto Override Failed - House (87 - 47) |
| May 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - House (43 - 15) |
| May 15, 2009 | TX | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| May 14, 2009 | TX | HB 1657 | Contractor Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (73 - 71) |
| May 14, 2009 | MO | SB 291 | Education Provision Modifications | Bill Passed - House (110 - 46) |
| May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 13, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 63) |
| May 13, 2009 | WI | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| May 13, 2009 | AZ | HB 2028 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| May 13, 2009 | WI | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/09 | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| 6/08 | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 6/08 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 6/08 | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| 6/08 | HB 316 | Property Tax Exemption | Joint Resolution Failed - House (30 - 63) |
| 6/08 | HB 2009 | Establishing the Oregon Health Authority | Bill Passed - House (38 - 22) |
| 6/08 | HB 872 | Graduate School Tuition Increase | Bill Failed - House (51 - 33) |
| 6/05 | LD 1438 | Allowing Charter Schools | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - House (65 - 72) |
| 6/05 | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 6/05 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| 6/05 | LD 1088 | Income and Sales Tax Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| 6/04 | LD 977 | Repealing School District Consolidation | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19) |
| 6/04 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| 6/04 | HB 687 | Dentistry in Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| 6/04 | HB 687 | Dentistry in Schools | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
| 6/04 | HB 717 | Physician Advisory Group | Bill Failed - House (30 - 61) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| 6/03 | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/03 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 6/03 | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| 6/03 | S 2020 | SUNY Buffalo Education Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17) |
| 6/02 | HB 851 | School Board Operations | Bill Failed - House (46 - 51) |
| 6/01 | SB 1080 | Calorie Information on Menus | Bill Passed - House (89 - 60) |
| 6/01 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| 6/01 | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 6/01 | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Failed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 5/31 | SB 956 | Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24) |
| 5/31 | SB 612 | Raising the Cap on Charter Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
| 5/31 | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 6) |
| 5/30 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/30 | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/30 | AB 458 | Establishing the K-12 Public Education Stabilization Account | Veto Override Passed - House (36 - 5) |
| 5/29 | HB 2834 | Funding School for Blind | Bill Passed - House (41 - 18) |
| 5/29 | AB 543 | Property Tax Reappropriation | Veto Override Passed - House (33 - 9) |
| 5/28 | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 5/28 | HB 6187 | Requiring Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (88 - 58) |
| 5/28 | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| 5/28 | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| 5/27 | Amendment # 1874 | Video Draw Poker Device Location Restriction | Amendment Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/27 | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - House (60 - 24) |
| 5/27 | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - House (35 - 25) |
| 5/27 | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 5/27 | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
| 5/26 | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (123 - 20) |
| 5/26 | HB 4377 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 31) |
| 5/26 | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/22 | SB 311 | Washoe County Fluoridation | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 5/20 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/20 | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| 5/20 | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| 5/20 | HB 3 | Moratorium on Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| 5/20 | HB 4836 | Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
| 5/20 | H 5359 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (63 - 5) |
| 5/20 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 35) |
| 5/20 | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - House (109 - 36) |
| 5/19 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
| 5/19 | HB 517 | Health Care Protection | Bill Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SF 97 | Legalizing Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 5/18 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 5/17 | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Veto Override Failed - House (87 - 47) |
| 5/15 | HB 2726 | Nutrition Labeling on Menus | Bill Passed - House (43 - 15) |
| 5/15 | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| 5/14 | HB 1657 | Contractor Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (73 - 71) |
| 5/14 | SB 291 | Education Provision Modifications | Bill Passed - House (110 - 46) |
| 5/14 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 5/14 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/13 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (82 - 63) |
| 5/13 | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| 5/13 | HB 2028 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| 5/13 | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |