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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 21, 2009 | CT | HB 7101 | Delaying the Estate and Gift Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| Dec. 21, 2009 | CT | SB 2101 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Dec. 17, 2009 | OH | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Dec. 16, 2009 | PA | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40022 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3) |
| Nov. 18, 2009 | WV | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| Nov. 4, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Nov. 3, 2009 | CA | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Nov. 2, 2009 | CA | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| Oct. 23, 2009 | NM | HB 17 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Oct. 21, 2009 | NM | HB 3 | Fund Transfers and 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 5) |
| Oct. 13, 2009 | MI | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Oct. 9, 2009 | PA | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MI | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Sept. 30, 2009 | MI | HB 4437 | 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 29, 2009 | MI | SB 245 | 2009-2010 Executive and Legislative Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Sept. 24, 2009 | CT | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 2, 2009 | CA | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Aug. 31, 2009 | CT | HB 6802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Aug. 26, 2009 | PA | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| Aug. 20, 2009 | CA | ABx3 14 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Aug. 14, 2009 | AL | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| Aug. 12, 2009 | AZ | HB 2010 | Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8) |
| Aug. 12, 2009 | AZ | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| Aug. 10, 2009 | AK | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | HB 836 | Modifying Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 202 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 30 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 2 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| July 23, 2009 | CA | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 21, 2009 | National | S Amdt 1469 | Repealing Funding for F-22 Aircraft Procurement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| July 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| July 20, 2009 | CT | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| July 20, 2009 | PA | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| July 15, 2009 | IL | SB 1292 | Issuing of Bonds for Revenue | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12) |
| July 15, 2009 | IL | SB 1216 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
| July 13, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
| July 1, 2009 | DE | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21 | HB 7101 | Delaying the Estate and Gift Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 12/21 | SB 2101 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 12/17 | HB 318 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 12/16 | SB 711 | Legalizing Table Games | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 12/02 | A 40022 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 3) |
| 11/18 | SB 4004 | Gasoline Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 8 | Water Diversion Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| 11/04 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 11/03 | SBx5 1 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 8 | Water Management Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 11/02 | SBx7 2 | Water Investment Bond Measure | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 10/23 | HB 17 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 10/21 | HB 3 | Fund Transfers and 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 5) |
| 10/13 | SB 884 | Tax Amnesty Period | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 10/09 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 10/09 | HB 1614 | Fiscal Code Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 10/08 | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 10/06 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 9/30 | HB 4437 | 2009-2010 Department of Corrections Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 9/29 | SB 245 | 2009-2010 Executive and Legislative Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 9/24 | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 9/11 | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 9/11 | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 9/02 | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 8/31 | HB 6802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 8/26 | HB 1828 | Municipal Pension System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 8/20 | ABx3 14 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 8/14 | HB 13 | Authorizes an Occupational Tax for Jefferson County | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
| 8/12 | HB 2010 | Budget Reconciliation (Criminal Justice) | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 8) |
| 8/12 | HB 2013 | Budget Reconciliation (Health and Welfare) | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 8/10 | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 8/07 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 8/07 | HB 836 | Modifying Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 8/05 | SB 202 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 30 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 23 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 2 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Education Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| 7/23 | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 7/21 | S Amdt 1469 | Repealing Funding for F-22 Aircraft Procurement | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 40) |
| 7/20 | HB 6582 | Healthcare Partnership | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 7/20 | HB 6600 | SustiNet Health Insurance Plan | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 7/20 | HB 1416 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 7/15 | SB 1292 | Issuing of Bonds for Revenue | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 12) |
| 7/15 | SB 1216 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (45 - 10) |
| 7/13 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 7/01 | HB 290 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |