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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2009 | VT | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (94 - 52) |
| April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
| April 2, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| April 1, 2009 | NC | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| April 1, 2009 | ND | SB 2070 | Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers | Bill Failed - House (31 - 58) |
| April 1, 2009 | IL | HB | Text Messaging while Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| April 1, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| April 1, 2009 | IL | HB 71 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| March 27, 2009 | WV | HB 2621 | Prohibiting the Use of Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 18) |
| March 26, 2009 | NH | HB 436 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (186 - 179) |
| March 25, 2009 | KS | HB 2275 | Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients | Bill Passed - House (99 - 26) |
| March 24, 2009 | NH | HB 34 | Banning Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (222 - 137) |
| March 18, 2009 | IL | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| March 18, 2009 | IA | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| March 12, 2009 | UT | HB 290 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| March 12, 2009 | GA | HB 23 | Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving | Bill Passed - House (138 - 34) |
| March 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| March 11, 2009 | OK | HJR 1042 | English as Official State Language | Joint Resolution Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| March 9, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23) |
| March 3, 2009 | SC | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | SB 78 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 31) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | MT | HB 531 | Red Light Camera Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | MT | HB 394 | Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing | Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | ND | HB 1213 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | NH | HB 383 | Mandating Seat Belt Usage | Bill Passed - House (197 - 155) |
| Feb. 18, 2009 | UT | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | IN | HB 1213 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| Feb. 16, 2009 | ND | HB 1197 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Failed - House (34 - 58) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | ND | HB 1453 | Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses | Bill Failed - House (19 - 72) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | HI | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (33 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | MS | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | ND | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | WY | HJ 17 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (25 - 35) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | UT | SB 16 | Prohibiting "Gang Loitering" | Bill Passed - House (56 - 17) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | HB 2314 | Allowing Police Chaplains to Conduct Sectarian Prayer | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| Feb. 3, 2009 | WY | HB 31 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | Amdt 2001 to HB 31 | Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25) |
| Jan. 30, 2009 | WY | Amdt 2002 to HB 31 | Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | ND | HB 1182 | Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | AR | HB 1013 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| Jan. 28, 2009 | AR | HB 1119 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups | Bill Passed - House (62 - 27) |
| Jan. 27, 2009 | AR | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
| Jan. 26, 2009 | CO | HB 1042 | Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| Jan. 20, 2009 | MT | HB 62 | Mandatory Trapper Education Course | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/03 | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (94 - 52) |
| 4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
| 4/02 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (72 - 45) |
| 4/01 | Amdt 2 to HB 2 | Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46) |
| 4/01 | SB 2070 | Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers | Bill Failed - House (31 - 58) |
| 4/01 | HB | Text Messaging while Driving Ban | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| 4/01 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 4/01 | HB 71 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (89 - 27) |
| 3/27 | HB 2621 | Prohibiting the Use of Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - House (80 - 18) |
| 3/26 | HB 436 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - House (186 - 179) |
| 3/25 | HB 2275 | Drug Testing for Cash Assistance Recipients | Bill Passed - House (99 - 26) |
| 3/24 | HB 34 | Banning Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (222 - 137) |
| 3/18 | HB 442 | Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 47) |
| 3/18 | HF 243 | Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 3/12 | HB 290 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 3/12 | HB 23 | Age-Specific Ban on Wireless Communication While Driving | Bill Passed - House (138 - 34) |
| 3/11 | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 3/11 | HJR 1042 | English as Official State Language | Joint Resolution Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| 3/09 | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23) |
| 3/03 | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| 2/25 | SB 78 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - House (60 - 31) |
| 2/24 | HB 531 | Red Light Camera Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (65 - 35) |
| 2/23 | HB 394 | Prohibits the Use of Individual Prescription Information for Marketing | Motion Rejected - House (50 - 50) |
| 2/23 | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 2/19 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39) |
| 2/19 | HB 1213 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels | Bill Failed - House (33 - 59) |
| 2/18 | HB 383 | Mandating Seat Belt Usage | Bill Passed - House (197 - 155) |
| 2/18 | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 2/17 | HB 1213 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (70 - 26) |
| 2/16 | HB 1197 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Failed - House (34 - 58) |
| 2/12 | HB 1453 | Wheelchair Accessibility in Businesses | Bill Failed - House (19 - 72) |
| 2/12 | HB 444 | Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - House (33 - 17) |
| 2/11 | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| 2/09 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 2/09 | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
| 2/06 | HJ 17 | Constitutional Amendment to Define Marriage | Joint Resolution Failed - House (25 - 35) |
| 2/05 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| 2/05 | SB 16 | Prohibiting "Gang Loitering" | Bill Passed - House (56 - 17) |
| 2/04 | HB 2314 | Allowing Police Chaplains to Conduct Sectarian Prayer | Bill Passed - House (66 - 30) |
| 2/03 | HB 31 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| 1/30 | Amdt 2001 to HB 31 | Exempting 21+ Establishments from Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (34 - 25) |
| 1/30 | Amdt 2002 to HB 31 | Allowing Counties and Municipalities to Opt Out of Smoking Ban | Amendment Adopted - House (41 - 18) |
| 1/29 | HB 1182 | Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
| 1/29 | HB 1013 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (78 - 12) |
| 1/28 | HB 1119 | Prohibiting Cell Phone Use While Driving for Specific Age Groups | Bill Passed - House (62 - 27) |
| 1/27 | HB 1050 | Freedom of Information Act Exemption Specifications | Bill Passed - House (57 - 31) |
| 1/26 | HB 1042 | Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| 1/20 | HB 62 | Mandatory Trapper Education Course | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |