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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2010 | WI | Amdt 1 | Expelling Representative Jeffery Wood | Amendment Tabled - House (49 - 48) |
| April 20, 2010 | WI | Amdt 6 | Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood | Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24) |
| April 20, 2010 | MO | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| April 20, 2010 | MO | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| April 19, 2010 | AZ | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| April 19, 2010 | FL | HB 7223 | HMO Plans for Medicaid Coverage | Bill Passed - House (80 - 34) |
| April 19, 2010 | LA | HB 224 | Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees | Bill Failed - House (42 - 56) |
| April 18, 2010 | AK | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| April 17, 2010 | AK | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 8) |
| April 15, 2010 | National | HR 4851 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (289 - 112) |
| April 15, 2010 | National | HR 4851 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38) |
| April 15, 2010 | WI | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| April 15, 2010 | FL | SB 622 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| April 14, 2010 | GA | HB 1055 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63) |
| April 14, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| April 14, 2010 | MI | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| April 14, 2010 | LA | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| April 13, 2010 | AZ | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (35 - 21) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | HB 465 | Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | HB 465 | Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| April 12, 2010 | MD | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - House (94 - 45) |
| April 10, 2010 | MD | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - House (95 - 42) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - House (105 - 33) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Bill Passed - House (103 - 35) |
| April 9, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| April 9, 2010 | NE | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| April 8, 2010 | NE | LB 842 | Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| April 6, 2010 | NE | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| April 5, 2010 | CO | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| April 5, 2010 | CO | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| April 2, 2010 | WA | SB 6503 | State Employee Furlough Plan | Bill Passed - House (50 - 38) |
| April 1, 2010 | MD | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| March 31, 2010 | AK | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| March 30, 2010 | KS | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 36) |
| March 30, 2010 | GA | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| March 30, 2010 | KS | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| March 30, 2010 | AZ | HCR 2038 | Limiting Governor's Line Item Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| March 29, 2010 | IA | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| March 27, 2010 | MS | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 31) |
| March 27, 2010 | MS | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| March 26, 2010 | IL | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | HB 236 | Review Process for the Operations of State Entities | Bill Failed - House (77 - 81) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 26, 2010 | NE | LR 284 CA | Abolishing Office of State Treasurer | Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/20 | Amdt 1 | Expelling Representative Jeffery Wood | Amendment Tabled - House (49 - 48) |
| 4/20 | Amdt 6 | Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood | Amendment Adopted - House (73 - 24) |
| 4/20 | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| 4/20 | SB 714 | State Employee Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5) |
| 4/19 | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 4/19 | HB 7223 | HMO Plans for Medicaid Coverage | Bill Passed - House (80 - 34) |
| 4/19 | HB 224 | Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees | Bill Failed - House (42 - 56) |
| 4/18 | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4) |
| 4/17 | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 8) |
| 4/15 | HR 4851 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (289 - 112) |
| 4/15 | HR 4851 | Unemployment Benefits Extension | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 38) |
| 4/15 | AB 106 | Authorizing Sale of Alcohol to 18-20 Year-Olds Under Parental or Spousal Supervision | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
| 4/15 | SB 622 | Gaming Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 4/14 | HB 1055 | Tax Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (107 - 63) |
| 4/14 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 4/14 | SB 1226 | State Retirement Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 4/14 | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| 4/13 | SB 1070 | Expanding Undocumented Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (35 - 21) |
| 4/12 | HB 465 | Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18) |
| 4/12 | HB 465 | Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers | Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39) |
| 4/12 | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 4/12 | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - House (94 - 45) |
| 4/10 | SB 778 | Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters | Bill Passed - House (95 - 42) |
| 4/09 | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - House (105 - 33) |
| 4/09 | SB 590 | Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board | Bill Passed - House (103 - 35) |
| 4/09 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| 4/09 | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| 4/08 | LB 842 | Repealing Special Prosecutor Requirement for In-Custody Deaths | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 4) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2454 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27) |
| 4/06 | Amdt 2455 | Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30) |
| 4/05 | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 4/05 | SB 133 | Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17) |
| 4/02 | SB 6503 | State Employee Furlough Plan | Bill Passed - House (50 - 38) |
| 4/01 | SB 789 | Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 3/31 | SJR 21 | State Legislature Expansion | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
| 3/30 | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 36) |
| 3/30 | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 3/30 | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 3/30 | HCR 2038 | Limiting Governor's Line Item Veto Authority | Joint Resolution Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| 3/29 | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 3/29 | SF 2389 | Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 3/27 | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - House (85 - 31) |
| 3/27 | SB 2293 | Allowing "Under-Performing" Schools to Become Charter Schools | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 3/26 | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68) |
| 3/26 | LD 1552 | Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
| 3/26 | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| 3/26 | HB 236 | Review Process for the Operations of State Entities | Bill Failed - House (77 - 81) |
| 3/26 | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/26 | LR 284 CA | Abolishing Office of State Treasurer | Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |