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 9, 2009 | RI | H 6088 | Limiting Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (35 - 33) |
| June 8, 2009 | OR | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| June 8, 2009 | LA | HB 872 | Graduate School Tuition Increase | Bill Failed - House (51 - 33) |
| 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 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 - House (84 - 54) |
| June 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| 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 | MA | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| June 3, 2009 | LA | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| 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) |
| May 31, 2009 | TX | SB 956 | Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24) |
| 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 | 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 | AZ | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - House (35 - 25) |
| May 27, 2009 | LA | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - House (60 - 24) |
| 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 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 | CT | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - House (109 - 36) |
| 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 | 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 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 | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| May 18, 2009 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 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 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 - House (33 - 25) |
| May 12, 2009 | MO | SB 306 | State Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - House (83 - 77) |
| May 12, 2009 | RI | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
| May 11, 2009 | MN | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 51) |
| May 8, 2009 | FL | SB 788 | Gambling Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 35) |
| May 7, 2009 | TN | SB 433 | Homeschool Diplomas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
| May 7, 2009 | ID | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| May 6, 2009 | CO | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 6, 2009 | OH | HB 9 | Tenants' Protection During Foreclosure | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| May 6, 2009 | CO | SB 241 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 12) |
| May 4, 2009 | CO | SB 244 | Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| May 4, 2009 | ND | SB 2003 | 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24) |
| May 4, 2009 | CO | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | SB 360 | Growth Management Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 1495 | Property Insurance Law Modifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 35) |
| April 30, 2009 | MO | SB 71 | Income Tax Rate Reduction and Additional Tax Credt | Bill Passed - House (86 - 66) |
| April 29, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| April 29, 2009 | National | HR 1913 | Hate Crimes Expansion | Bill Passed - House (249 - 175) |
| April 28, 2009 | WI | AB 100 | Restricting Health Insurance Companies' Ability to Exclude Individuals. | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| April 28, 2009 | CO | SB 88 | Extending Health Benefits to Domestic Partners of State Employees | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| April 24, 2009 | ND | HB 1478 | Children's Health Insurance Program Eligibility Expansion | Conference Report Rejected - House (41 - 47) |
| April 23, 2009 | FL | Amdt 168357 | Extended Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Premium Rate Freeze | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 76) |
| April 23, 2009 | AL | HB 533 | Hate Crime Law Expansion | Bill Passed - House (46 - 41) |
| April 23, 2009 | WI | SB 27 | Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| April 23, 2009 | FL | HB 1293 | Changes in High School Graduation Standards | Bill Passed - House (75 - 42) |
| April 22, 2009 | NC | SB 287 | State Health Plan Changes and Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 56) |
| April 22, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/09 | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| 6/09 | H 6088 | Limiting Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (35 - 33) |
| 6/08 | HB 2116 | Changing Health Care Assessment | Bill Passed - House (36 - 24) |
| 6/08 | HB 872 | Graduate School Tuition Increase | Bill Failed - House (51 - 33) |
| 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) |
| 6/05 | 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 - House (84 - 54) |
| 6/05 | LD 1264 | Expand and Fund DirigoChoice Health Insurance | Bill Passed - House (83 - 53) |
| 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 | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| 6/03 | HB 531 | Allowing Home-Schooled Students to Participate in Public School Sports | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| 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) |
| 5/31 | SB 956 | Establishing a Public Law School in Dallas | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 24) |
| 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 | 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 | HB 2001 | Scholarships for Disabled or Displaced Students | Bill Passed - House (35 - 25) |
| 5/27 | HB 689 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Fund | Bill Passed - House (60 - 24) |
| 5/26 | SB 175 | Capping Automatic College Admissions | Bill Passed - House (123 - 20) |
| 5/26 | HB 4377 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (73 - 31) |
| 5/20 | 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 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Bill Passed - House (109 - 36) |
| 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 3 | Moratorium on Foreclosures | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| 5/20 | HB 4836 | Hate Crimes | Bill Passed - House (66 - 43) |
| 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 | Bill Passed - House (70 - 64) |
| 5/18 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 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) |
| 5/13 | 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 - House (33 - 25) |
| 5/12 | SB 306 | State Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - House (83 - 77) |
| 5/12 | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
| 5/11 | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 51) |
| 5/08 | SB 788 | Gambling Expansion | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 35) |
| 5/07 | SB 433 | Homeschool Diplomas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 27) |
| 5/07 | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| 5/06 | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 5/06 | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/06 | HB 9 | Tenants' Protection During Foreclosure | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| 5/06 | SB 241 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 12) |
| 5/04 | SB 244 | Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 5/04 | SB 2003 | 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24) |
| 5/04 | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26) |
| 5/01 | SB 360 | Growth Management Deregulation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 37) |
| 5/01 | HB 1495 | Property Insurance Law Modifications | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (80 - 35) |
| 4/30 | SB 71 | Income Tax Rate Reduction and Additional Tax Credt | Bill Passed - House (86 - 66) |
| 4/29 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/29 | HR 1913 | Hate Crimes Expansion | Bill Passed - House (249 - 175) |
| 4/28 | AB 100 | Restricting Health Insurance Companies' Ability to Exclude Individuals. | Bill Passed - House (61 - 38) |
| 4/28 | SB 88 | Extending Health Benefits to Domestic Partners of State Employees | Bill Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| 4/24 | HB 1478 | Children's Health Insurance Program Eligibility Expansion | Conference Report Rejected - House (41 - 47) |
| 4/23 | Amdt 168357 | Extended Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Premium Rate Freeze | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 76) |
| 4/23 | HB 533 | Hate Crime Law Expansion | Bill Passed - House (46 - 41) |
| 4/23 | SB 27 | Requires Insurance Coverage for Children's Hearing Aid Treatments | Bill Passed - House (80 - 16) |
| 4/23 | HB 1293 | Changes in High School Graduation Standards | Bill Passed - House (75 - 42) |
| 4/22 | SB 287 | State Health Plan Changes and Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 56) |
| 4/22 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |