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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Oct. 28, 2009 | NH | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| Oct. 22, 2009 | National | HR 2647 | 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29) |
| Oct. 20, 2009 | National | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
| Oct. 15, 2009 | National | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (307 - 114) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | National | HR 2647 | 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 146) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MI | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MI | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| Oct. 8, 2009 | MA | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 96) |
| Oct. 7, 2009 | National | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| Oct. 6, 2009 | MI | HB 5386 | Physician Services Tax | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| Oct. 2, 2009 | PA | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| Oct. 1, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2575 | U.S. Military Commanders to Testify Before Congress | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| Sept. 24, 2009 | CT | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Sept. 24, 2009 | CT | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - House (106 - 34) |
| Sept. 22, 2009 | WI | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| Sept. 16, 2009 | WI | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| Sept. 16, 2009 | WI | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Sept. 12, 2009 | CA | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Bill Passed - House (53 - 20) |
| Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | AB 119 | Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| Sept. 2, 2009 | CA | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Sept. 1, 2009 | CA | AB 119 | Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Aug. 18, 2009 | AZ | SB 1025 | Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) | Bill Passed - House (32 - 15) |
| Aug. 18, 2009 | AZ | SB 1025 | Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) | Bill Passed - House (32 - 15) |
| 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 - House (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 10, 2009 | AK | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| Aug. 10, 2009 | NC | HB 148 | Local Transportation Reforms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 40) |
| Aug. 7, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NC | HB 1305 | Beach Plan Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NC | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | National | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | NY | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8) |
| Aug. 6, 2009 | National | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 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 | National | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 10/28 | HB 648 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Veto Override Passed - House (240 - 115) |
| 10/22 | HR 2647 | 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (68 - 29) |
| 10/20 | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (79 - 19) |
| 10/15 | HR 2892 | 2009-2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Authorizations | Conference Report Adopted - House (307 - 114) |
| 10/08 | HR 2647 | 2009-2010 Defense Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (281 - 146) |
| 10/08 | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 10/08 | HB 4447 | 2009-2010 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 42) |
| 10/08 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 10/08 | SB 2028 | Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Plan | Bill Passed - House (114 - 36) |
| 10/07 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 96) |
| 10/07 | HR 2997 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Fiscal Year 2009-2010 | Conference Report Adopted - House (263 - 162) |
| 10/06 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14) |
| 10/06 | HB 5386 | Physician Services Tax | Bill Passed - House (56 - 52) |
| 10/02 | HB 1531 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 98) |
| 10/01 | S Amdt 2575 | U.S. Military Commanders to Testify Before Congress | Amendment Rejected - Senate (40 - 59) |
| 9/24 | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 9/24 | HB 7002 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing | Bill Passed - House (106 - 34) |
| 9/22 | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15) |
| 9/16 | SB 185 | State Regulation of Wind Energy Systems | Bill Passed - House (65 - 31) |
| 9/16 | AB 119 | Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment | Bill Passed - House (53 - 44) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 9/12 | SB 14 | Renewable Energy Requirements | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| 9/11 | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| 9/11 | SB 19 | Eliminating Prohibition on Utilizing CALTIDES Data to Evaluate Teachers | Bill Passed - House (53 - 20) |
| 9/10 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27) |
| 9/10 | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| 9/09 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 9/08 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 9/08 | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 9/03 | AB 119 | Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| 9/03 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - House (46 - 28) |
| 9/02 | AB 1422 | Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Program Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 9/01 | AB 119 | Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 8/18 | SB 1025 | Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) | Bill Passed - House (32 - 15) |
| 8/18 | SB 1025 | Tax Law Amendments (Budget Reconciliation) | Bill Passed - House (32 - 15) |
| 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 - House (30 - 9) |
| 8/10 | HB 199 | Federal Funds Appropriations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 5) |
| 8/10 | HB 148 | Local Transportation Reforms | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 40) |
| 8/07 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
| 8/06 | HB 1305 | Beach Plan Changes | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 19) |
| 8/06 | SB 943 | Expanding Production Company Tax Credit | Bill Passed - House (78 - 26) |
| 8/06 | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 8/06 | A 8903-A | Extending City Board Jurisdiction Over New York City Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 8) |
| 8/06 | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37) |
| 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 | HR 3435 | Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program | Bill Passed - House (316 - 109) |