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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | PA | HB 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| July 31, 2009 | AZ | HB 2010 | Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) | Bill Passed - House (31 - 15) |
| July 31, 2009 | AZ | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - House (35 - 11) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| July 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1618 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines | Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39) |
| July 20, 2009 | NC | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| July 15, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| July 14, 2009 | PA | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44) |
| July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
| July 13, 2009 | CA | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| July 8, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1399 | Requiring Completion of Reinforced Border Fencing | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| July 6, 2009 | NC | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 30, 2009 | RI | S 286 | Relating to Video Lottery Terminals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| June 29, 2009 | DE | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 29, 2009 | PA | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| June 29, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Bill Passed - House (35 - 19) |
| June 27, 2009 | OR | HB 3508 | Implementing Measure 57 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| June 26, 2009 | RI | S 286 | Relating to Video Lottery Terminals | Bill Passed - House (63 - 9) |
| June 26, 2009 | NJ | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 26, 2009 | OR | HB 3508 | Implementing Measure 57 | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | S 1175 | Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | S 1880 | Establishing Criminal Sentencing Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 26) |
| June 25, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| June 24, 2009 | NC | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| June 24, 2009 | MI | HB 4476 | Health Insurance for Autism | Bill Passed - House (83 - 25) |
| June 24, 2009 | MI | HB 4183 | Health Insurance for Autism | Bill Passed - House (84 - 25) |
| June 24, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| June 23, 2009 | OR | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 23, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| June 23, 2009 | NC | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| June 22, 2009 | OR | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| June 19, 2009 | OR | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/06 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 8/05 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 8/05 | SB 138 | Banning Salvia Divinorum | Bill Passed - House (96 - 15) |
| 8/05 | HB 1663 | Appropriations from State Gaming Fund | Bill Passed - House (110 - 87) |
| 7/31 | HB 2010 | Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) | Bill Passed - House (31 - 15) |
| 7/31 | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - House (35 - 11) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 33) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 7/22 | S Amdt 1618 | Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines | Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39) |
| 7/20 | HB 1289 | Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites | Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | HB 1185 | Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29) |
| 7/15 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - House (61 - 54) |
| 7/14 | HB 264 | Expungement of Criminal Records and Juvenile Records | Bill Passed - House (104 - 91) |
| 7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 44) |
| 7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 7/13 | SB 670 | Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 7/08 | S Amdt 1399 | Requiring Completion of Reinforced Border Fencing | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 44) |
| 7/06 | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/30 | S 286 | Relating to Video Lottery Terminals | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 6/29 | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/29 | HB 746 | Children's Health Care Insurance | Bill Passed - House (106 - 94) |
| 6/29 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Bill Passed - House (35 - 19) |
| 6/27 | HB 3508 | Implementing Measure 57 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 6/26 | S 286 | Relating to Video Lottery Terminals | Bill Passed - House (63 - 9) |
| 6/26 | A 339 | Handgun Purchasing Limitations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 6/26 | HB 3508 | Implementing Measure 57 | Bill Passed - House (40 - 19) |
| 6/25 | S 1175 | Requiring an After School Activity Plan for School Districts with At-Risk Pupils | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| 6/25 | A2653 | Fur Labeling | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| 6/25 | S 1880 | Establishing Criminal Sentencing Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 26) |
| 6/25 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 27) |
| 6/24 | HB 442 | Regulating the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 6/24 | HB 4476 | Health Insurance for Autism | Bill Passed - House (83 - 25) |
| 6/24 | HB 4183 | Health Insurance for Autism | Bill Passed - House (84 - 25) |
| 6/24 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 6/23 | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/23 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| 6/23 | SB 526 | Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools | Bill Passed - House (58 - 57) |
| 6/22 | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 6/22 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 6/22 | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| 6/22 | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
| 6/22 | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
| 6/19 | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |