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. 22, 2010 | National | HR 847 | 9/11 Health and Compensation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 60) |
| Dec. 17, 2010 | National | HR 5510 | Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act | Bill Failed - House (210 - 145) |
| Dec. 16, 2010 | National | H Amdt 786 | Amending the Estate Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| Dec. 13, 2010 | NJ | S 1 | Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (43 - 32) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 6495 | Mine Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (214 - 193) |
| Dec. 8, 2010 | National | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| Nov. 22, 2010 | NJ | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| Nov. 18, 2010 | National | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| Nov. 15, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| Sept. 30, 2010 | NJ | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| Sept. 21, 2010 | MI | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39) |
| Sept. 16, 2010 | National | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| Sept. 15, 2010 | MI | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| Aug. 31, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 26, 2010 | CA | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | MI | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| Aug. 24, 2010 | CA | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
| July 28, 2010 | National | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| July 21, 2010 | National | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
| July 15, 2010 | National | HR 5114 | Flood Insurance Program Extension | Bill Passed - House (329 - 90) |
| July 12, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| July 8, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| July 7, 2010 | NC | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| July 6, 2010 | NC | SB 1015 | Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| June 30, 2010 | National | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| June 30, 2010 | PA | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| June 29, 2010 | NC | SB 1216 | Extending the Emergency Foreclosure Program | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| June 29, 2010 | NJ | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| June 29, 2010 | NY | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| June 28, 2010 | NJ | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| June 28, 2010 | NC | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| June 23, 2010 | PA | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5207 | Criminal Background Checks for State Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19) |
| June 21, 2010 | CT | HB 5248 | Establishing a Sentencing Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 9) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1171 | Standards for Colleges and Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | SB 584 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority | Bill Passed - House (75 - 23) |
| June 18, 2010 | LA | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Bill Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| June 18, 2010 | NY | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |
| June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| June 16, 2010 | LA | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| June 16, 2010 | PA | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - House (192 - 6) |
| June 16, 2010 | NY | A 11410 | Emergency Housing Rent Control Extension | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
| June 10, 2010 | National | H Amdt 686 | Limiting Federal Housing Administration Mortgage Issuance | Amendment Rejected - House (106 - 316) |
| June 10, 2010 | National | H Amdt 688 | Limiting Principal Obligation Amounts of Federal Housing Administration Mortgages | Amendment Rejected - House (121 - 301) |
| June 10, 2010 | National | H Amdt 684 | Increasing Minimum Down Payment for Federal Housing Administration Mortgages | Amendment Rejected - House (131 - 289) |
| June 10, 2010 | RI | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 10) |
| June 9, 2010 | TN | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 30) |
| June 9, 2010 | TN | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 30) |
| June 8, 2010 | PA | HB 1502 | Verification of Employee Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (188 - 6) |
| June 7, 2010 | NY | S 8089 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - House (90 - 44) |
| June 7, 2010 | NY | S 8088 | Requiring Prior Approval of Health Insurance Premium Rates | Bill Passed - House (117 - 17) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
| June 3, 2010 | CA | AB 2047 | Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28) |
| June 2, 2010 | OH | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| June 2, 2010 | OH | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| June 2, 2010 | CA | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1602 | Health Care Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| June 1, 2010 | CA | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| May 28, 2010 | NY | A 11310 | Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 42) |
| May 27, 2010 | LA | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23) |
| May 26, 2010 | NC | SB 704 | School Change Models | Bill Passed - House (70 - 43) |
| May 26, 2010 | LA | SB 38 | Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting | Bill Passed - House (73 - 13) |
| May 26, 2010 | MA | H 4703 | Sentencing Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| May 26, 2010 | OH | HB 473 | Prohibits Inappropriate Pictures of Minors | Bill Passed - House (86 - 12) |
| May 24, 2010 | TN | HJR 1253 | Resolution Recognizing Arizona Statehood and New Immigration Policy | Joint Resolution Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| May 20, 2010 | LA | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| May 20, 2010 | NJ | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/22 | HR 847 | 9/11 Health and Compensation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (206 - 60) |
| 12/17 | HR 5510 | Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act | Bill Failed - House (210 - 145) |
| 12/16 | H Amdt 786 | Amending the Estate Tax | Amendment Rejected - House (194 - 233) |
| 12/13 | S 1 | Low-Income Housing Amendments and Abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing | Bill Passed - House (43 - 32) |
| 12/08 | HR 6495 | Mine Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (214 - 193) |
| 12/08 | HR 5281 | DREAM Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (216 - 198) |
| 11/22 | ACR 151 | Concerning Legislative Review of the NJ Medical Marijuana Program | Resolution Passed - House (48 - 22) |
| 11/18 | HR 1722 | Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152) |
| 11/15 | HB 101 | Education Law Amendments | Veto Override Passed - House (171 - 24) |
| 11/15 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31) |
| 9/30 | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Veto Override Failed - House (42 - 32) |
| 9/21 | SB 1152 | 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39) |
| 9/16 | HR 4785 | Authorizing Loans for Energy Efficiency Purposes | Bill Passed - House (240 - 172) |
| 9/15 | SB 1151 | Community College Appropriations | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49) |
| 8/31 | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 18) |
| 8/31 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 21) |
| 8/26 | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 28) |
| 8/26 | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/26 | SB 1413 | Requiring Free Drinking Water in Public School Cafeterias | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
| 8/25 | HB 6086 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| 8/24 | SB 399 | Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole | Bill Failed - House (34 - 38) |
| 7/28 | HR 5827 | Exempting Guns from an Estate for Bankruptcy Purposes | Bill Passed - House (307 - 113) |
| 7/21 | HR 725 | Tribal Law Enforcement Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (326 - 92) |
| 7/15 | HR 5114 | Flood Insurance Program Extension | Bill Passed - House (329 - 90) |
| 7/12 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 4) |
| 7/10 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 21) |
| 7/08 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 8) |
| 7/07 | HB 1403 | Collecting DNA Sample Upon Arrest | Bill Passed - House (93 - 20) |
| 7/06 | SB 1015 | Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| 6/30 | HR 4173 | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (237 - 192) |
| 6/30 | HB 2572 | Establishing the Special Juvenile Victim Compensation Fund | Bill Passed - House (125 - 76) |
| 6/29 | SB 1216 | Extending the Emergency Foreclosure Program | Bill Passed - House (89 - 26) |
| 6/29 | S 29 | Reducing the property tax levy cap | Bill Passed - House (44 - 33) |
| 6/29 | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| 6/29 | S 5620 | Reducing Drug Penalties for Offenders with Hypodermic Syringes | Bill Passed - House (93 - 52) |
| 6/28 | S 2094 | Limiting State Alternate Benefit Program for Higher Education Faculty | Bill Passed - House (41 - 36) |
| 6/28 | HB 1726 | Child Care Nutrition and Activity Standards | Bill Passed - House (67 - 46) |
| 6/23 | HB 704 | Special Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (173 - 25) |
| 6/21 | HB 5207 | Criminal Background Checks for State Employees | Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19) |
| 6/21 | HB 5248 | Establishing a Sentencing Commission | Veto Override Passed - House (130 - 9) |
| 6/20 | HB 519 | Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19) |
| 6/20 | HB 1171 | Standards for Colleges and Universities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 23) |
| 6/18 | SB 584 | Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority | Bill Passed - House (75 - 23) |
| 6/18 | SB 381 | Establishing "Crime Against Nature by Solicitation" | Bill Passed - House (80 - 10) |
| 6/18 | A 9709 | Omnibus Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (79 - 52) |
| 6/17 | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| 6/16 | HB 303 | Authorizing Home School Student Athletic Participation | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| 6/16 | HB 2497 | Amends State Employee Pension System | Bill Passed - House (192 - 6) |
| 6/16 | A 11410 | Emergency Housing Rent Control Extension | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
| 6/10 | H Amdt 686 | Limiting Federal Housing Administration Mortgage Issuance | Amendment Rejected - House (106 - 316) |
| 6/10 | H Amdt 688 | Limiting Principal Obligation Amounts of Federal Housing Administration Mortgages | Amendment Rejected - House (121 - 301) |
| 6/10 | H Amdt 684 | Increasing Minimum Down Payment for Federal Housing Administration Mortgages | Amendment Rejected - House (131 - 289) |
| 6/10 | H 8094 | Education Funding Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 10) |
| 6/09 | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 30) |
| 6/09 | HB 670 | Requiring Correctional Facilities to Determine Immigration Status of Inmates | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 30) |
| 6/08 | HB 1502 | Verification of Employee Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (188 - 6) |
| 6/07 | S 8089 | Emergency Appropriation Extension | Bill Passed - House (90 - 44) |
| 6/07 | S 8088 | Requiring Prior Approval of Health Insurance Premium Rates | Bill Passed - House (117 - 17) |
| 6/03 | AB 2479 | Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person | Bill Passed - House (56 - 16) |
| 6/03 | AB 2047 | Expanding Authorized University Admission Considerations | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 28) |
| 6/02 | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| 6/02 | SB 210 | Establishing Health and Nutrition Standards in Schools | Bill Passed - House (77 - 21) |
| 6/02 | AB 1825 | Requiring Inclusion of Maternity Services in Health Coverage | Bill Passed - House (48 - 25) |
| 6/02 | AB 2470 | Individual Health Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (46 - 27) |
| 6/01 | AB 1602 | Health Care Coverage Amendments | Bill Passed - House (49 - 26) |
| 6/01 | AB 1600 | Requiring Insurers to Cover Mental Health Services | Bill Passed - House (50 - 27) |
| 5/28 | A 11310 | Education Law Amendments Concerning Charter Schools | Bill Passed - House (93 - 42) |
| 5/27 | HB 1033 | Evaluation and Assessment Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23) |
| 5/26 | SB 704 | School Change Models | Bill Passed - House (70 - 43) |
| 5/26 | SB 38 | Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting | Bill Passed - House (73 - 13) |
| 5/26 | H 4703 | Sentencing Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| 5/26 | HB 473 | Prohibits Inappropriate Pictures of Minors | Bill Passed - House (86 - 12) |
| 5/24 | HJR 1253 | Resolution Recognizing Arizona Statehood and New Immigration Policy | Joint Resolution Passed - House (67 - 27) |
| 5/20 | HB 1443 | Establishing Requirements for Contracts entered into by the Department of Health and Hospitals | Bill Passed - House (64 - 27) |
| 5/20 | A 1678 | Establishing a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |