Key Votes

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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
Feb. 25, 2009 NM HB 28 Increasing Penalties for Intimidation of Judges Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
Feb. 25, 2009 GA SB 23 Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
Feb. 24, 2009 IN HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
Feb. 24, 2009 NV IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - House (35 - 7)
Feb. 24, 2009 VA HB 1671 "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
Feb. 24, 2009 IN HB 1215 Increasing Traffic Fines to Fund Trauma Centers Bill Passed - House (53 - 42)
Feb. 24, 2009 GA SB 120 Repeal of Certain MARTA Financial Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Feb. 24, 2009 IA SF 218 Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Feb. 24, 2009 ID H 173 Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (59 - 11)
Feb. 24, 2009 IN SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 24, 2009 IN SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Feb. 24, 2009 CO HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
Feb. 23, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 23, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 23, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 20, 2009 VT Ainsworth Amdt Legislative Pay Cut Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 88)
Feb. 20, 2009 VT Ainsworth Amdt Legislative Pay Cut Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 88)
Feb. 20, 2009 MT SB 394 Expanding Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 20, 2009 NE LB 85 Bond Revenue to Fund Streets and Bridges Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
Feb. 19, 2009 NC SB 15 Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA SBx3 1 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA ABx3 3 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 19, 2009 ND HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 19, 2009 GA SB 42 Transfer of Authority Over State's Public Defender System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
Feb. 18, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Feb. 18, 2009 OK HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 18, 2009 WY HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2009 UT HB 122 Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
Feb. 18, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2009 WI SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
Feb. 18, 2009 WI SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1572 Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life Bill Passed - House (51 - 41)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1279 Income Tax Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
Feb. 17, 2009 OK HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1324 Income Tax Rebates and Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
Feb. 17, 2009 SD SB 106 School Funding Formula Revision Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 17, 2009 SD HB 1278 Ban on Local Firearm Restrictions Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
Feb. 16, 2009 ND HB 1431 Increasing Fines for Certain Traffic Violations Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
Feb. 13, 2009 ND SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
Feb. 13, 2009 KY HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2009 OR HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2009 OR HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
Feb. 12, 2009 KS SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
Feb. 12, 2009 AR HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2009 GA HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Bill Passed - House (110 - 63)
Feb. 11, 2009 WY HB 32 Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments Bill Failed - House (7 - 52)
Feb. 11, 2009 WY HB 32 Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments Bill Failed - House (7 - 52)
Feb. 11, 2009 OK HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 11, 2009 OK HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 11, 2009 MS HB 1533 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 44)
Feb. 11, 2009 KY HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (66 - 34)
Feb. 10, 2009 MT SB 243 Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
Feb. 10, 2009 OH SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law (21 - 11)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
Feb. 9, 2009 SD SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2009 SD SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Feb. 9, 2009 WY HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 9, 2009 ND HB 1576 Election Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2009 ND SB 2238 Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22)
Feb. 9, 2009 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
Feb. 6, 2009 MT SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 6, 2009 MT SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 6, 2009 ND HB 1508 State-Sponsored Children's Savings Accounts Bill Failed - House (28 - 64)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/25 HB 28 Increasing Penalties for Intimidation of Judges Bill Passed - House (43 - 21)
2/25 SB 23 Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
2/24 HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 41)
2/24 IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - House (35 - 7)
2/24 HB 1671 "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
2/24 HB 1215 Increasing Traffic Fines to Fund Trauma Centers Bill Passed - House (53 - 42)
2/24 SB 120 Repeal of Certain MARTA Financial Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
2/24 SF 218 Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
2/24 H 173 Restricting Eligibility for State Retiree Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (59 - 11)
2/24 SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/24 SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
2/24 HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
2/23 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/23 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/23 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/20 Ainsworth Amdt Legislative Pay Cut Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 88)
2/20 Ainsworth Amdt Legislative Pay Cut Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 88)
2/20 SB 394 Expanding Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/20 LB 85 Bond Revenue to Fund Streets and Bridges Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
2/19 SB 15 Limiting Per Diem Payments to Legislators Motion Agreed - Senate (37 - 11)
2/19 SBx3 1 2009-2010 Budget Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/19 ABx3 3 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/19 HB 1400 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 16)
2/19 SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/19 SB 42 Transfer of Authority Over State's Public Defender System Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21)
2/18 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
2/18 HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/18 HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/18 HB 122 Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records Bill Passed - House (43 - 27)
2/18 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
2/18 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
2/18 SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (51 - 48)
2/18 SB 62 2008-2009 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/17 HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
2/17 HB 1572 Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life Bill Passed - House (51 - 41)
2/17 HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/17 HB 1279 Income Tax Rate Reduction Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
2/17 HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/17 HB 1324 Income Tax Rebates and Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (53 - 40)
2/17 SB 106 School Funding Formula Revision Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/17 HB 1278 Ban on Local Firearm Restrictions Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
2/16 HB 1431 Increasing Fines for Certain Traffic Violations Bill Failed - House (35 - 57)
2/13 SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
2/13 HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
2/12 HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/12 HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/12 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 51)
2/12 SB 23 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2010-2011Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
2/12 HB 1204 Tobacco Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
2/12 HB 233 Two-Year Property Tax Assessment Freeze Bill Passed - House (110 - 63)
2/11 HB 32 Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments Bill Failed - House (7 - 52)
2/11 HB 32 Gray Wolf Management Plan Amendments Bill Failed - House (7 - 52)
2/11 HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/11 HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/11 HB 1533 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 44)
2/11 HB 144 Alcohol and Tobacco Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (66 - 34)
2/10 SB 243 Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
2/10 SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law (21 - 11)
2/10 HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
2/10 HB 1723 2009-2010 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/10 HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
2/10 HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
2/09 HB 170 State Lottery for Scholarship Funding Bill Failed - House (25 - 35)
2/09 SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/09 SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/09 HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
2/09 HB 240 Pay Raise for Certain Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
2/09 SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/09 HB 1576 Election Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
2/09 SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19)
2/09 SB 2238 Higher Education Tuition Increase Limits Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 22)
2/09 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
2/06 SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/06 SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/06 HB 1508 State-Sponsored Children's Savings Accounts Bill Failed - House (28 - 64)

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