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 31, 2011 | IL | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 744 | Authorizes Gambling | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 27) |
| May 31, 2011 | IL | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
| May 30, 2011 | NV | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 26, 2011 | IL | HB 1600 | Limits Artificial Trans Fats | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40) |
| May 26, 2011 | IL | HB 1490 | Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8) |
| May 25, 2011 | TX | S Amdt 3 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 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 20, 2011 | IL | HB 1091 | Public-Private Transportation Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| May 18, 2011 | MN | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| May 18, 2011 | NC | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| May 18, 2011 | NV | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| May 17, 2011 | NE | LB 421 | Park Entry Permit Fees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
| May 6, 2011 | UT | SB 229 | Transportation Funding Revisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| May 6, 2011 | FL | HB 7107 | Medicaid Managed Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 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 5, 2011 | VT | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| May 5, 2011 | CO | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| May 4, 2011 | FL | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| April 28, 2011 | FL | SB 408 | Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| April 25, 2011 | CA | SB 28 | Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| April 25, 2011 | NV | SB 368 | Prohibits Discrimination in Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| April 25, 2011 | OR | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 20, 2011 | MT | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| April 20, 2011 | IA | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | WA | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| April 20, 2011 | IA | SF 525 | Revises the Iowa Mental Health System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 19, 2011 | AZ | SB 1402 | Special License Plates | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 14, 2011 | NC | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 14, 2011 | GA | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| April 14, 2011 | CA | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| April 12, 2011 | GA | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| April 11, 2011 | MD | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
| April 9, 2011 | WA | HB 1382 | Express Toll Lanes in the Eastside Corridor | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| April 7, 2011 | OR | SB 695 | Standards for Infant Formula Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| April 5, 2011 | MT | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| April 5, 2011 | National | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| April 5, 2011 | ID | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 5, 2011 | RI | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 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 31, 2011 | CA | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| March 30, 2011 | NY | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| March 29, 2011 | ID | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 29, 2011 | WA | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/31 | SB 145 | Nursing Home Infection Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 24) |
| 5/31 | SB 744 | Authorizes Gambling | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 27) |
| 5/31 | SB 1652 | Smart Grid Technology | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 24) |
| 5/30 | AB 136 | Governing Credits for Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/26 | HB 1600 | Limits Artificial Trans Fats | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 40) |
| 5/26 | HB 1490 | Regulates Full-Contact Martial Arts Events | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 8) |
| 5/25 | S Amdt 3 | Prohibits Texting While Driving | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 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) |
| 5/20 | HB 1091 | Public-Private Transportation Partnership | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12) |
| 5/18 | SF 760 | 2011-2012 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 28) |
| 5/18 | HB 578 | State Health Plan Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 16) |
| 5/18 | SB 75 | Investment in Private Equity Firms | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 5/17 | LB 421 | Park Entry Permit Fees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (42 - 5) |
| 5/06 | SB 229 | Transportation Funding Revisions | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 5/06 | HB 7107 | Medicaid Managed Care Program | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 5/05 | H 436 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 10) |
| 5/05 | SB 200 | Establishing a Health Benefit Exchange | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 5/04 | HJR 381 | Homestead and Property Assessment | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 4/28 | SB 408 | Property and Casualty Insurance Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 4/25 | SB 28 | Penalties for Using Mobile Device When Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 4/25 | SB 368 | Prohibits Discrimination in Housing | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8) |
| 4/25 | SB 99 | Establishes the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 4/20 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 4/20 | HB 198 | Eminent Domain Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 4/20 | SF 526 | Requires a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Authorizing Online Poker in Iowa | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 12) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SB 5622 | Recreation Access on State Lands | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SF 525 | Revises the Iowa Mental Health System | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/19 | SB 1402 | Special License Plates | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 4/14 | SB 265 | Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/14 | HB 461 | Interstate Health Care Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 18) |
| 4/14 | SB 48 | Requires Teaching Gay History | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 4/12 | HB 234 | Reduces Sales Taxes for Tourism Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 10) |
| 4/11 | SB 690 | Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 20) |
| 4/09 | HB 1382 | Express Toll Lanes in the Eastside Corridor | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 4/07 | SB 695 | Standards for Infant Formula Containers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 4/05 | SB 125 | Prohibits State from Requiring Individuals to Purchase Health Insurance | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 23) |
| 4/05 | HR 4 | Repeals the Form 1099 Provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12) |
| 4/05 | H 298 | Response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/05 | S 87 | Establishing the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6) |
| 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) |
| 3/31 | SB 104 | Labor Representatives | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 3/30 | S 2808 | Implementing the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 13) |
| 3/29 | H 187 | Freedom of Conscience for Health Care Professionals | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/29 | SB 5251 | Electric Vehicle Registration Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |