Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
March 25, 2010 KY SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
March 25, 2010 IL SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 24, 2010 MD SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 24, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
March 24, 2010 IL SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 23, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
March 23, 2010 KY HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 40)
March 22, 2010 WA HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
March 22, 2010 NJ S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
March 22, 2010 IL HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
March 22, 2010 AZ SB 1309 Expanding Parental Consent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
March 18, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
March 18, 2010 IL HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
March 18, 2010 IL SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
March 17, 2010 GA HB 982 Amending Wage Garnishment Procedures for Late Taxpayers Bill Passed - House (95 - 68)
March 17, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
March 17, 2010 KS SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
March 16, 2010 AZ HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
March 16, 2010 CO SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 16, 2010 NY A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
March 11, 2010 IA SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
March 11, 2010 UT SB 251 Requiring Businesses Utilize Federal E-Verify Program Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
March 11, 2010 AZ HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
March 10, 2010 IA SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Bill Passed - House (73 - 25)
March 10, 2010 National HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
March 10, 2010 IA Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
March 9, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
March 9, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
March 9, 2010 OK SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
March 8, 2010 SD SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
March 8, 2010 UT SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
March 8, 2010 UT SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
March 5, 2010 MD SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
March 4, 2010 SD Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 3, 2010 National S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
March 3, 2010 CO HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
March 3, 2010 IL HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (80 - 36)
March 2, 2010 WY HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
March 2, 2010 NY A 5710 Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/25 SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
3/25 SB 2494 Funding for School Vouchers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/24 SB 778 Prohibits Public Schools from Sending Vocational Test Scores to Military Recruiters Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
3/24 SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/24 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/24 SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
3/24 SB 3267 Elder Financial Exploitation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/23 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
3/23 HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 40)
3/22 HB 2782 Limiting Disability Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 16)
3/22 S 799 Adopted Individuals' Access to Birth Certificates Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
3/22 HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week Bill Passed - House (81 - 21)
3/22 SB 1309 Expanding Parental Consent Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
3/18 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
3/18 HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees Bill Passed - House (74 - 39)
3/18 SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 16)
3/17 HB 982 Amending Wage Garnishment Procedures for Late Taxpayers Bill Passed - House (95 - 68)
3/17 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
3/17 SB 447 Home Child Care Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13)
3/16 HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
3/16 SB 87 Increasing Lobbyist Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/16 A 7575 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Possessing Firearms Bill Passed - House (89 - 53)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
3/11 SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 12)
3/11 SB 251 Requiring Businesses Utilize Federal E-Verify Program Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
3/11 HCR 2001 Repealing Early Childhood Development and Health Program Joint Resolution Passed - House (31 - 28)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
3/10 SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators Bill Passed - House (73 - 25)
3/10 HR 4213 Extending Unemployment Benefits and Certain Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
3/10 Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
3/09 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
3/09 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
3/09 SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
3/08 SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
3/08 SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
3/08 SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
3/05 SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
3/04 Cooper Nomination John L. Cooper, Game, Fish and Parks Commission Nomination Confirmed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/03 S Amdt 3353 Payment to Social Security Recipients Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 50)
3/03 SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
3/03 SF 61 Establishing Health Care Demonstration Project Bill Passed - House (42 - 16)
3/03 HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
3/03 HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program Bill Passed - House (80 - 36)
3/02 HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
3/02 A 5710 Prohibiting Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - House (100 - 43)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)

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