Key Votes

Chamber

Keyword Search

Search string must be longer than 3 characters.

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
June 4, 2010 TN SB 3012 Guns in Bars Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 30)
June 3, 2010 LA SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
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 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 SB 1113 Income Tax Appeal Modifications Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
June 3, 2010 CA AB 1810 Expanded Firearm Registration Bill Passed - House (42 - 29)
June 2, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
June 2, 2010 CA SB 1399 Expanding Medical Parole Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
June 1, 2010 CA SB 1168 Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 1, 2010 CA SB 1168 Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
June 1, 2010 CA AB 1934 Amendments to the Penal Code Regarding Firearms Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
May 27, 2010 National S Amdt 4214 National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46)
May 27, 2010 TN SB 3012 Guns in Bars Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
May 27, 2010 OH SB 239 Allowing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
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 OK HJR 1056 Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 2)
May 21, 2010 OK HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16)
May 18, 2010 OK HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24)
May 18, 2010 OK HJR 1056 Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10)
May 13, 2010 LA HB 554 Prohibiting Release on Own Recognizance for Domestic Abuse Suspects Bill Passed - House (63 - 20)
May 13, 2010 CA AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1360 Parole Violation Punishment Reduction Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 18)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1360 Parole Violation Punishment Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 12, 2010 LA SB 348 Smoking in Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 29)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5)
May 10, 2010 TN SB 63 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
May 10, 2010 CO HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
May 10, 2010 CO HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
May 10, 2010 CO HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
May 10, 2010 TN HB 270 Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
May 8, 2010 KS HB 2130 Amending Seat Belt Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
May 6, 2010 CO HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
May 6, 2010 LA HB 68 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Places of Worship Bill Failed - House (45 - 39)
May 6, 2010 LA HB 863 Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving Bill Failed - House (49 - 41)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
May 5, 2010 OK SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
May 4, 2010 OK HB 3354 Concealed and Unconcealed Weapons Guidelines Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
May 3, 2010 CT SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
April 29, 2010 HI HB 444 Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 20)
April 28, 2010 LA HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
April 28, 2010 CT SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
April 28, 2010 LA SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
April 27, 2010 DE HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/04 SB 3012 Guns in Bars Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 30)
6/03 SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
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 2479 Penalties for Violations Committed with the Intent to Capture Images or Recordings of a Person Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
6/03 SB 1113 Income Tax Appeal Modifications Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 20)
6/03 AB 1810 Expanded Firearm Registration Bill Passed - House (42 - 29)
6/02 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
6/02 SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/02 SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal Life Without Parole Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
6/02 SB 1399 Expanding Medical Parole Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
6/01 SB 1168 Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/01 SB 1168 Grand Juries for Misdemeanors in the County of Los Angeles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
6/01 AB 1934 Amendments to the Penal Code Regarding Firearms Bill Passed - House (46 - 30)
5/27 S Amdt 4214 National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46)
5/27 SB 3012 Guns in Bars Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
5/27 SB 239 Allowing Concealed Firearms in Establishments that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
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 1056 Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 2)
5/21 HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16)
5/18 HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Passed - House (72 - 24)
5/18 HJR 1056 Prohibits Use of International and Sharia Law in State Courts Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 10)
5/13 HB 554 Prohibiting Release on Own Recognizance for Domestic Abuse Suspects Bill Passed - House (63 - 20)
5/13 AB 1756 Food Stamps for Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (44 - 31)
5/12 HB 1360 Parole Violation Punishment Reduction Concurrence Vote Passed - House (43 - 18)
5/12 HB 1360 Parole Violation Punishment Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/12 SB 348 Smoking in Public Places Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/11 HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 19)
5/11 HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 29)
5/11 HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5)
5/11 HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 5)
5/10 SB 63 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
5/10 HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/10 HB 1352 Concerning Charges to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
5/10 HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
5/10 HB 270 Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
5/08 HB 2130 Amending Seat Belt Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
5/06 HB 1284 Increasing Medical Marijuana Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
5/06 HB 68 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Places of Worship Bill Failed - House (45 - 39)
5/06 HB 863 Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving Bill Failed - House (49 - 41)
5/05 SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
5/05 SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
5/04 HB 3354 Concealed and Unconcealed Weapons Guidelines Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37)
5/03 SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
4/29 HB 444 Legalizing Same-Sex Civil Unions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (31 - 20)
4/28 HB 617 Expanding Drug Testing Requirements for Welfare Recipients Bill Passed - House (61 - 27)
4/28 SB 168 Workers Compensation Benefits for Police Officers Facing Injury From Interaction with Mammal Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
4/28 SB 38 Criminalization of Participation in Cockfighting Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
4/27 HB 347 Raising the Reporting Age for Misdemeanors by Students Bill Passed - House (22 - 9)

arrow_upward