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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2010 | CO | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 4, 2010 | SD | Cooper Nomination | John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 4, 2010 | SD | Cooper Nomination | John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 3, 2010 | AZ | HB 2337 | Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| March 1, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| March 1, 2010 | OK | HB 2745 | Pet Sales Licensing Process | Bill Passed - House (63 - 30) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | WY | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | IN | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | IN | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | VT | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| Feb. 24, 2010 | VT | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | WY | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | SD | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | CA | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| Feb. 17, 2010 | IA | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | Holguin Nomination | Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board | (17 - 25) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | CO | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 15, 2010 | CO | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | AZ | SB 1125 | Statewide Prohibition of Roadside Animal Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | VA | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | NM | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | VA | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| Feb. 3, 2010 | CO | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | UT | SB 36 | Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Feb. 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| Jan. 27, 2010 | VT | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | WA | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | KY | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | KY | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/05 | HB 1001 | Increases Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/04 | Cooper Nomination | John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/04 | Cooper Nomination | John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/03 | HB 2337 | Incandescent Light Bulb Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (33 - 27) |
| 3/01 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33) |
| 3/01 | HB 2745 | Pet Sales Licensing Process | Bill Passed - House (63 - 30) |
| 2/26 | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 2/25 | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/25 | SB 313 | Allowing Renewable Energy Generation Credits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 31) |
| 2/24 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/24 | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| 2/24 | S 289 | Authorizing Nuclear Power Plant Operation Until 2032 | Bill Failed - Senate (4 - 26) |
| 2/22 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/22 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 2/18 | HB 101 | Wind-Generated Electricity Tax | Bill Passed - House (40 - 18) |
| 2/17 | HCR 1009 | Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum | Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30) |
| 2/17 | AB 1998 | Ban of Single-Use Carryout Bags in Certain Stores | |
| 2/17 | Amdt 8140 | Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties | Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52) |
| 2/17 | Amdt 8145 | Animal Facility Regulations | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53) |
| 2/16 | Holguin Nomination | Neri Holguin, Environmental Improvement Board | (17 - 25) |
| 2/16 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/16 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 2/15 | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 2/15 | SB 100 | Multi-County Local Improvement Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 2/11 | SB 1125 | Statewide Prohibition of Roadside Animal Sales | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 2/10 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/10 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | SB 601 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/10 | HB 276 | New Mexico Air Quality Act Amendments | Bill Failed - House (32 - 33) |
| 2/10 | HB 1060 | Agriculture and Business Facility Tax Refund Reductions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 19) |
| 2/08 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/08 | HB 756 | Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties | Bill Passed - House (71 - 26) |
| 2/03 | HB 1190 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (35 - 30) |
| 2/02 | SB 36 | Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 2/01 | HB 1195 | Suspending Sales Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 1/27 | H 485 | Property Tax and Land Use Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (104 - 34) |
| 1/20 | HB 2561 | Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds | Bill Passed - House (57 - 41) |
| 1/20 | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 1/20 | SB 26 | Allowing Nuclear Power Facility Construction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |