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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2011 | MI | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 25, 2011 | National | H Con Res 34 | 2011-2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| May 25, 2011 | National | S Con Res 21 | 2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| May 23, 2011 | NY | S 1707 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 18) |
| May 23, 2011 | NJ | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 18, 2011 | TN | SJR 221 | Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit State Income Tax | Amendment Adopted - Senate (26 - 4) |
| May 18, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 17, 2011 | National | S 940 | Amending Oil Company Tax Laws | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48) |
| May 12, 2011 | KS | HB 2014 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4361 | Income Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4484 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4481 | Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4483 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Public Library Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 12, 2011 | MI | HB 4480 | Tax Exemption and Pension Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| May 10, 2011 | NV | AB 568 | 2011-2013 Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 6, 2011 | UT | SB 229 | Transportation Funding Revisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 5305 | Eliminating the Correctional Medical Authority | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | SB 2000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
| May 6, 2011 | CO | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| May 5, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 4, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 4, 2011 | FL | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 2, 2011 | CT | SB 1239 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| April 28, 2011 | MT | HB 2 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| April 14, 2011 | NC | HB 383 | Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 14, 2011 | National | HR 1473 | 2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| April 12, 2011 | MT | HB 2 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (25 - 25) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| April 11, 2011 | MT | HB 439 | Authorizing New Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| April 7, 2011 | AL | SB 133 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 5, 2011 | AZ | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| April 4, 2011 | ID | S 1202 | Appropriations to Secretary of State | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1618 | 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| April 1, 2011 | AZ | SB 1619 | Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| March 30, 2011 | NY | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| March 27, 2011 | MS | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| March 24, 2011 | ID | S 1182 | 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 17, 2011 | National | H J Res 48 | Additional Continuing Appropriations | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (87 - 13) |
| March 16, 2011 | NM | HB 2 | General Appropriation Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| March 16, 2011 | AZ | SB 1613 | Budget Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 10, 2011 | AZ | SCR 1019 | State Appropriations | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 9, 2011 | WI | AB 11 | Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 1) |
| March 9, 2011 | MI | SB 158 | Collective Bargaining Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| March 9, 2011 | NC | SB 13 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| March 9, 2011 | National | HR 1 | Continuing Appropriations | Bill Failed - Senate (44 - 56) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/26 | HB 4526 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 5/25 | H Con Res 34 | 2011-2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (40 - 57) |
| 5/25 | S Con Res 21 | 2012 Budget | Motion Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 5/23 | S 1707 | Authorizes Mixed Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 18) |
| 5/23 | S 2899 | Medicaid Coverage for Family Planning Services | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 5/18 | SJR 221 | Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit State Income Tax | Amendment Adopted - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 5/18 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/18 | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/17 | S 940 | Amending Oil Company Tax Laws | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 48) |
| 5/12 | HB 2014 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/12 | HB 4361 | Income Tax Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/12 | HB 4362 | Business Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 5/12 | HB 4479 | Interstate Compact and Business Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9) |
| 5/12 | HB 4484 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Judges and State Officials | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/12 | HB 4481 | Public School Employees' Pension and Tax Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/12 | HB 4483 | State Tax on Retirement Distributions for Public Library Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/12 | HB 4480 | Tax Exemption and Pension Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 5/10 | AB 568 | 2011-2013 Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/06 | SB 229 | Transportation Funding Revisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 5/06 | HB 5305 | Eliminating the Correctional Medical Authority | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 13) |
| 5/06 | SB 2000 | 2011-2012 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 5/06 | HB 1005 | Repeals Taxes on Agricultural Products | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 5/05 | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| 5/04 | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 5/04 | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 5/02 | SB 1239 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 4/28 | HB 2 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/25 | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 4/14 | HB 383 | Relating to Unemployment Insurance Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/14 | HR 1473 | 2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 19) |
| 4/12 | HB 2 | 2011-2013 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (25 - 25) |
| 4/12 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| 4/11 | HB 439 | Authorizing New Bonds | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 4/07 | SB 133 | 2011-2012 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 4/05 | HB 2619 | Unemployment Security Special Assessment | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 4/04 | S 1202 | Appropriations to Secretary of State | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 4/01 | SB 1618 | 2011-2012 Budget Reconciliation for Higher Education | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 4/01 | SB 1617 | K-12 Education Budget for 2011-2012 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 4/01 | SB 1619 | Provisions to Health and Health Care for 2011-2012 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 3/30 | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| 3/27 | SB 3100 | Issuance of State Bonds for Improvements in Higher Learning Institutions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 3/24 | S 1182 | 2012-2013 State Liquor Division Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/17 | H J Res 48 | Additional Continuing Appropriations | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (87 - 13) |
| 3/16 | HB 2 | General Appropriation Act of 2011 | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 14) |
| 3/16 | SB 1613 | Budget Proposal | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/10 | SCR 1019 | State Appropriations | Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/09 | AB 11 | Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Employees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 1) |
| 3/09 | SB 158 | Collective Bargaining Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
| 3/09 | SB 13 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 3/09 | HR 1 | Continuing Appropriations | Bill Failed - Senate (44 - 56) |