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 19, 2009 | CT | SB 2001 | Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| June 18, 2009 | NJ | S 1880 | Establishing Criminal Sentencing Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| June 18, 2009 | LA | HB 340 | Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (53 - 26) |
| June 18, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| June 18, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18) |
| June 17, 2009 | LA | HB 499 | Seat Belt Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 12) |
| June 16, 2009 | LA | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| June 16, 2009 | AZ | SB 1113 | Handguns in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| June 16, 2009 | LA | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| June 16, 2009 | LA | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| June 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2672 | Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| June 12, 2009 | OR | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| June 11, 2009 | National | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| June 9, 2009 | WI | SB 167 | Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| June 9, 2009 | WI | SB 167 | Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| June 8, 2009 | OR | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 4, 2009 | TN | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| June 4, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| June 4, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| June 4, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
| June 4, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 55) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| June 3, 2009 | TN | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| June 3, 2009 | MA | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| June 3, 2009 | NH | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (198 - 176) |
| June 3, 2009 | NH | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (198 - 176) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| June 2, 2009 | LA | HB 639 | Motorcycle Helmets | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| June 2, 2009 | WV | HB 102 | Racetrack Table Games | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| June 2, 2009 | CA | SB 250 | Requiring Spaying and Neutering of Dogs and Cats | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| June 2, 2009 | CA | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| June 1, 2009 | NV | SB 52 | New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| June 1, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| June 1, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| June 1, 2009 | TN | HJR 369 | Opposing the Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child | Bill Passed - House (70 - 20) |
| May 31, 2009 | TX | HB 537 | Increase Required Age for Seatbelts | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 34) |
| May 31, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| May 31, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| May 30, 2009 | IL | SB 744 | New Casino Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28) |
| May 30, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| May 30, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| May 29, 2009 | OR | SB 786 | Workplace Religious Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| May 28, 2009 | LA | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/19 | SB 2001 | Employment and Training Funds for Disadvantaged Workers | Bill Passed - House (97 - 32) |
| 6/18 | S 1880 | Establishing Criminal Sentencing Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 6/18 | HB 340 | Religious Freedom Constitutional Amendment | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (53 - 26) |
| 6/18 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| 6/18 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - House (32 - 18) |
| 6/17 | HB 499 | Seat Belt Law | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 12) |
| 6/16 | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| 6/16 | SB 1113 | Handguns in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| 6/16 | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| 6/16 | HB 11 | Designating Driver's Licenses for Drug Dealers | Bill Failed - House (68 - 23) |
| 6/15 | HB 2672 | Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 6/12 | SB 76 | Klamath River Dams | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| 6/11 | HR 1256 | FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 17) |
| 6/09 | SB 167 | Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 6/09 | SB 167 | Decreasing the Minimum Hunting Age | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 6/08 | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/04 | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 6/04 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| 6/04 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17) |
| 6/04 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
| 6/04 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
| 6/03 | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - House (90 - 55) |
| 6/03 | LD 1329 | Resort Casino in Oxford County | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
| 6/03 | HB 962 | Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - House (69 - 27) |
| 6/03 | H Amendment 2 | Eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day | Amendment Rejected - House (78 - 78) |
| 6/03 | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (198 - 176) |
| 6/03 | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Conference Report Adopted - House (198 - 176) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 6/02 | HB 639 | Motorcycle Helmets | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
| 6/02 | HB 102 | Racetrack Table Games | Bill Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 6/02 | SB 250 | Requiring Spaying and Neutering of Dogs and Cats | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 6/02 | SB 484 | Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 6/01 | SB 52 | New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 6/01 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| 6/01 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - House (81 - 56) |
| 6/01 | HJR 369 | Opposing the Adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child | Bill Passed - House (70 - 20) |
| 5/31 | HB 537 | Increase Required Age for Seatbelts | Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 34) |
| 5/31 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| 5/31 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - House (28 - 14) |
| 5/30 | SB 744 | New Casino Authorization | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 28) |
| 5/30 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| 5/30 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| 5/29 | SB 786 | Workplace Religious Discrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 5/28 | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 5/28 | HB 834 | Education Requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |