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 9, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (125 - 14) |
| April 9, 2010 | NE | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| April 7, 2010 | ME | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 7, 2010 | ME | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Passed - House (100 - 48) |
| April 7, 2010 | MD | HB 825 | Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 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 | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
| April 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| April 1, 2010 | KY | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| April 1, 2010 | GA | HB 307 | Hospital Medicaid Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| April 1, 2010 | AL | SB 233 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| April 1, 2010 | CO | HB 1387 | Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| March 31, 2010 | CO | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 12) |
| March 31, 2010 | CO | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| March 31, 2010 | AZ | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| March 31, 2010 | AZ | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 30, 2010 | GA | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| March 30, 2010 | NE | LB 1102 | Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13) |
| March 30, 2010 | AL | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 29, 2010 | SD | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Failed - House (33 - 34) |
| March 29, 2010 | SD | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 29, 2010 | SD | HB 1060 | Wind Energy Facility Tax Refunds | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| March 29, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| March 29, 2010 | ID | SJM 106 | Requesting Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Individual Health Care Mandate | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 26) |
| March 29, 2010 | CO | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 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 | KY | HB 368 | Telephone and Online Gambling Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | SB 407 | Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| March 26, 2010 | ME | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| March 26, 2010 | IA | S 5340 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31) |
| March 26, 2010 | ID | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| 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 | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| March 25, 2010 | National | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 25, 2010 | CO | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 25, 2010 | KY | SB 178 | Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| March 25, 2010 | MI | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| March 25, 2010 | ME | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - House (62 - 83) |
| March 25, 2010 | FL | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 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 | MD | SB 1035 | Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| March 24, 2010 | FL | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 24, 2010 | MI | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| March 24, 2010 | NH | SB 392 | Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/09 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| 4/09 | SB 321 | Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - House (125 - 14) |
| 4/09 | LB 780 | PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| 4/07 | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/07 | LD 1826 | Bond Authorization | Bill Passed - House (100 - 48) |
| 4/07 | HB 825 | Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 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 | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| 4/01 | HB 415 | Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10) |
| 4/01 | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| 4/01 | HB 109 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 18) |
| 4/01 | HB 307 | Hospital Medicaid Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| 4/01 | SB 233 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 4/01 | HB 1387 | Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| 3/31 | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 12) |
| 3/31 | HB 1365 | Utility Emission Reduction Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 3/31 | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
| 3/31 | SB 1001 | Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/30 | SB 67 | English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 3/30 | LB 1102 | Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 3/30 | SB 380 | Authorization, Regulation, and Taxation of Bingo | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/29 | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Failed - House (33 - 34) |
| 3/29 | SB 121 | Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Education Promotion Programs | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 3/29 | HB 1060 | Wind Energy Facility Tax Refunds | Veto Override Passed - House (49 - 19) |
| 3/29 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 3/29 | SJM 106 | Requesting Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Individual Health Care Mandate | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 26) |
| 3/29 | HB 1180 | Performance-Based Incentive for Film Production Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 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 | HB 368 | Telephone and Online Gambling Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/26 | SB 407 | Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 3/26 | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 3/26 | S 5340 | Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 31) |
| 3/26 | H 729 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| 3/26 | HB 5109 | Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office | Bill Passed - House (85 - 23) |
| 3/26 | SB 399 | General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 207) |
| 3/25 | HR 4872 | Health Care Reconciliation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| 3/25 | HB 1288 | Authorizing Real Estate Brokers to File Liens for Unpaid Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/25 | SB 178 | Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 29) |
| 3/25 | HB 4394 | Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 3/25 | LD 1706 | Requiring Cell Phone Radiation Warning Label | Bill Failed - House (62 - 83) |
| 3/25 | SJR 2 | Classroom Size Limitation Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 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 1035 | Authorizes Card Games at a Specific Facility | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| 3/24 | SB 6 | Education Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/24 | SB 1163 | 2010-2011 Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
| 3/24 | SB 392 | Annual Public Hearing on Health Care Costs | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |