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 28, 2009 | NC | SB 703 | Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 296 | Retirement Debt Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 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 | CT | HB 6385 | Probate Court System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| May 27, 2009 | RI | S 659 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| May 27, 2009 | OR | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
| May 26, 2009 | OR | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| May 26, 2009 | CA | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 21, 2009 | LA | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| May 21, 2009 | LA | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3372 | Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects | Bill Passed - House (54 - 22) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 20, 2009 | NY | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| May 20, 2009 | NH | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| May 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 35) |
| 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 | MN | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| May 15, 2009 | TX | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| May 15, 2009 | TX | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| May 15, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| May 14, 2009 | TX | HB 1657 | Contractor Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (73 - 71) |
| May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| May 12, 2009 | LA | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| May 12, 2009 | LA | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| May 12, 2009 | RI | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
| May 12, 2009 | LA | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| May 12, 2009 | NY | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 6, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 6, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 6, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| May 5, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - House (89 - 57) |
| May 5, 2009 | CO | HB 1170 | Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| May 5, 2009 | CO | HB 1170 | Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| May 4, 2009 | VT | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
| May 4, 2009 | OR | HB 2821 | Employee Vacation Use Amendments | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| May 4, 2009 | OR | HB 2821 | Employee Vacation Use Amendments | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| May 4, 2009 | CO | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 2, 2009 | ND | SB 2162 | Child Care Background Checks | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 20) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/28 | SB 703 | Restrictions on the State Treasurer Regarding the State Pension Fund | Bill Passed - House (64 - 50) |
| 5/28 | SB 296 | Retirement Debt Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 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 | HB 6385 | Probate Court System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 5/27 | S 659 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 5/27 | HB 2599 | Expanding School Bullying Law | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 2) |
| 5/26 | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 5/26 | SB 219 | Extending Whistle-Blower Protection to UC Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/21 | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| 5/21 | HB 705 | Equal Pay for Women | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| 5/21 | A 3372 | Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects | Bill Passed - House (54 - 22) |
| 5/21 | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 5/20 | S 1290 | Anti-Shackling Bill | Bill Passed - House (119 - 21) |
| 5/20 | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 5/20 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Bill Passed - House (107 - 35) |
| 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 | SF 971 | School Anti-Bullying Policy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (95 - 39) |
| 5/15 | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| 5/15 | HB 2962 | Childrens' Health Care | Bill Passed - House (87 - 55) |
| 5/15 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 5/14 | HB 1657 | Contractor Worker's Compensation | Bill Passed - House (73 - 71) |
| 5/14 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 5/12 | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| 5/12 | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| 5/12 | H 5143 | E-Verify Bill | Bill Passed - House (38 - 33) |
| 5/12 | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
| 5/12 | A 7732 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (89 - 52) |
| 5/11 | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/06 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/06 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 5/06 | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/06 | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/06 | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/06 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 5/05 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Bill Passed - House (89 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 1170 | Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 5/05 | HB 1170 | Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 5/04 | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
| 5/04 | HB 2821 | Employee Vacation Use Amendments | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 5/04 | HB 2821 | Employee Vacation Use Amendments | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 5/04 | HB 1057 | Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 26) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/02 | SB 2162 | Child Care Background Checks | Conference Report Adopted - House (71 - 20) |
| 5/01 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 5/01 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |