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
April 14, 2009 HI SB 1111 Transient Accommodation Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (37 - 11)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 1605 Allowing Counties to Impose Retail Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 1744 Allowing a County Surcharge on the Transient Accommodations Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
April 13, 2009 MD SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
April 13, 2009 MD SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Bill Passed - House (107 - 30)
April 13, 2009 TN SB 1954 Basic Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 13, 2009 CO SB 281 Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 11, 2009 WV SB 246 Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
April 9, 2009 AL SB 373 Deregulation of Landline Phone Service Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
April 6, 2009 OK SB 553 Health Insurance Coverage Amendments Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
April 6, 2009 MN SF 10 Sharing Services For Schools Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
April 6, 2009 TN HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (121 - 47)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
April 2, 2009 NC HB 2 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (72 - 45)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 2, 2009 DE HB 107 Manufactured Housing Rental Regulations Bill Passed - House (22 - 16)
April 1, 2009 NC Amdt 2 to HB 2 Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46)
April 1, 2009 VT H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
April 1, 2009 MD SB 844 Public Service Commission Regulation of New Electric Generation Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
March 31, 2009 WV SB 419 Calorie Information Posting Requirement for Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
March 31, 2009 FL HB 903 Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (84 - 35)
March 27, 2009 VT H 436 Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
March 26, 2009 FL Amdt 677495 Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69)
March 26, 2009 MI HB 4317 Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
March 26, 2009 ID S 1148 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 25, 2009 KS SB 160 Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (104 - 21)
March 24, 2009 IN HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 23, 2009 CO HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
March 20, 2009 MT HB 418 Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
March 20, 2009 KS HB 2295 Dairy Labeling Requirements Bill Passed - House (75 - 44)
March 19, 2009 ID H 246 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (27 - 43)
March 17, 2009 NM SB 263 Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 16, 2009 NJ A 3569 Stop-Work Orders and Workers' Compensation Requirements Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
March 12, 2009 WA SB 6035 Retrospective Ratings Program Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
March 12, 2009 WA SB 2252 Shifting Local Tax Revenue Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
March 12, 2009 TN SB 83 "Living" Wage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 12, 2009 MI SB 69 Alternative Business Tax Eligibility Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 11, 2009 UT SB 187 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (65 - 5)
March 11, 2009 MI HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - House (75 - 33)
March 11, 2009 WA SB 5895 Housing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
March 11, 2009 WV HB 2719 Increase in Maximum Alcohol Level for Beer Bill Passed - House (79 - 17)
March 11, 2009 NH SB 115 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Program Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
March 11, 2009 MI HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - House (74 - 34)
March 11, 2009 MI HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - House (73 - 34)
March 10, 2009 NV IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
March 10, 2009 HI HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - House (37 - 9)
March 9, 2009 SD HB 1240 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23)
March 9, 2009 WA HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 10)
March 6, 2009 UT HJR 8 Mandating Secret Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 5, 2009 KS HB 2014 Allowing Coal Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 5, 2009 ID S 1119 Allowing Public Utility Assistance Programs Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 4, 2009 SD HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
March 4, 2009 OK HB 1332 Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
March 4, 2009 NH HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
March 4, 2009 WA HB 1329 Child Care Center Unionization Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
March 4, 2009 UT HJR 8 Mandating Secret Ballots Bill Passed - House (53 - 22)
March 4, 2009 UT SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
March 4, 2009 OK SB 318 Repeal of the Grocery Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
March 3, 2009 OH SB 9 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 3, 2009 OH HB 6 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - House (83 - 14)
March 3, 2009 UT SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
March 3, 2009 AL HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - House (49 - 37)
March 2, 2009 MD SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
Feb. 27, 2009 UT HB 89 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Prosthetic Devices Bill Passed - House (46 - 27)
Feb. 27, 2009 KS HB 2014 Allowing Coal Power Plants Bill Passed - House (79 - 44)
Feb. 26, 2009 GA SB 31 Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (107 - 66)
Feb. 25, 2009 VA SB 1035 Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Feb. 25, 2009 MT HB 418 Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
Feb. 25, 2009 IN HB 1207 Required Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Feb. 25, 2009 AR HB 1464 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
Feb. 25, 2009 CO HB 1001 Tax Credit for Job Creation Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
Feb. 24, 2009 SC Amdt 5 Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60)
Feb. 24, 2009 VA SB 1035 Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
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 CO HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
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. 21, 2009 MT SB 387 Restrictions on Appeals for Energy Project Permits Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 19, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
Feb. 19, 2009 VA SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2009 ND HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
Feb. 19, 2009 IA HF 333 Wage Standards for Public Project Workers Bill Failed - House (49 - 49)
Feb. 19, 2009 KS SB 160 Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Feb. 18, 2009 OK HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
Feb. 18, 2009 NH HB 103 Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame Bill Passed - House (194 - 164)
Feb. 18, 2009 IA HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
Feb. 18, 2009 WY HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
Feb. 17, 2009 OK HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
Feb. 17, 2009 KS SB 25 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
Feb. 17, 2009 IN HB 1213 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
Feb. 16, 2009 IA SF 137 Wage Discrimination Policy and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/14 SB 1111 Transient Accommodation Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (37 - 11)
4/14 HB 1605 Allowing Counties to Impose Retail Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
4/14 HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
4/14 HB 1744 Allowing a County Surcharge on the Transient Accommodations Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
4/13 SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
4/13 SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Bill Passed - House (107 - 30)
4/13 SB 1954 Basic Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/13 SB 281 Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/11 SB 246 Temporary Unemployment Compensation Tax Increase for Employers Bill Passed - House (71 - 29)
4/09 SB 373 Deregulation of Landline Phone Service Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
4/06 SB 553 Health Insurance Coverage Amendments Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
4/06 SF 10 Sharing Services For Schools Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
4/06 HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
4/03 HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
4/03 HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - House (121 - 47)
4/02 HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
4/02 HB 2 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (72 - 45)
4/02 HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
4/02 HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/02 HB 107 Manufactured Housing Rental Regulations Bill Passed - House (22 - 16)
4/01 Amdt 2 to HB 2 Exempting 18+ Establishments from Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - House (70 - 46)
4/01 H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
4/01 SB 844 Public Service Commission Regulation of New Electric Generation Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
3/31 SB 419 Calorie Information Posting Requirement for Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
3/31 HB 903 Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (84 - 35)
3/27 H 436 Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
3/26 Amdt 677495 Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69)
3/26 HB 4317 Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability Bill Passed - House (56 - 53)
3/26 S 1148 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/25 SB 160 Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - House (104 - 21)
3/24 HB 1379 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/23 HB 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
3/20 HB 418 Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
3/20 HB 2295 Dairy Labeling Requirements Bill Passed - House (75 - 44)
3/19 H 246 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Failed - House (27 - 43)
3/17 SB 263 Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/16 A 3569 Stop-Work Orders and Workers' Compensation Requirements Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
3/16 S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
3/16 S 2577 Age-Restricted Housing Exemptions Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
3/12 SB 6035 Retrospective Ratings Program Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
3/12 SB 2252 Shifting Local Tax Revenue Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
3/12 SB 83 "Living" Wage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/12 SB 69 Alternative Business Tax Eligibility Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/11 SB 187 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (65 - 5)
3/11 HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - House (75 - 33)
3/11 SB 5895 Housing Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 24)
3/11 HB 2719 Increase in Maximum Alcohol Level for Beer Bill Passed - House (79 - 17)
3/11 SB 115 Expanding Subsidized Health Care Program Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 4)
3/11 HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - House (74 - 34)
3/11 HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - House (73 - 34)
3/10 IP 1 Lodging Tax Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
3/10 HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - House (37 - 9)
3/09 HB 1240 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23)
3/09 HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (84 - 10)
3/06 HJR 8 Mandating Secret Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/05 HB 2014 Allowing Coal Power Plants Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/05 S 1119 Allowing Public Utility Assistance Programs Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/04 HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
3/04 HB 1332 Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders Bill Passed - House (74 - 26)
3/04 HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
3/04 HB 1329 Child Care Center Unionization Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
3/04 HJR 8 Mandating Secret Ballots Bill Passed - House (53 - 22)
3/04 SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - House (60 - 11)
3/04 SB 318 Repeal of the Grocery Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
3/03 SB 9 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/03 HB 6 Transferable Tax Credit for Film Production Bill Passed - House (83 - 14)
3/03 SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
3/03 HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - House (49 - 37)
3/02 SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
2/27 HB 89 Requiring Insurance Coverage of Prosthetic Devices Bill Passed - House (46 - 27)
2/27 HB 2014 Allowing Coal Power Plants Bill Passed - House (79 - 44)
2/26 SB 31 Energy Rate Increases to Finance Nuclear Power Plant Construction Bill Passed - House (107 - 66)
2/25 SB 1035 Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
2/25 HB 418 Amendments Regarding Horse Slaughterhouses Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
2/25 HB 1207 Required Nutritional Information on Restaurant Menus Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
2/25 HB 1464 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (67 - 27)
2/25 HB 1001 Tax Credit for Job Creation Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
2/24 Amdt 5 Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60)
2/24 SB 1035 Allowing Guns in Alcohol-Serving Establishments Bill Passed - House (66 - 33)
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 1260 Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults Bill Passed - House (41 - 24)
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)
2/21 SB 387 Restrictions on Appeals for Energy Project Permits Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/19 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - House (60 - 39)
2/19 SB 1105 Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13)
2/19 HB 1213 Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Hotels Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
2/19 HF 333 Wage Standards for Public Project Workers Bill Failed - House (49 - 49)
2/19 SB 160 Increasing Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
2/18 HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Passed - House (54 - 46)
2/18 HB 103 Laid Off Employees Payment Time-Frame Bill Passed - House (194 - 164)
2/18 HF 311 Health Insurance Coverage for Prosthetics Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
2/18 HB 67 Taxing Moist Snuff Tobacco Based on Weight Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
2/17 HB 1255 Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Bill Passed - House (57 - 36)
2/17 HB 1268 Sales Tax Exemption on Clothing Purchases Bill Passed - House (66 - 26)
2/17 HB 1410 State Purchasing Authority Amendments Bill Passed - House (61 - 37)
2/17 SB 25 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
2/17 HB 1213 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (70 - 26)
2/16 SF 137 Wage Discrimination Policy and Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)

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