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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 24, 2009 | CA | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| July 23, 2009 | CA | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 23) |
| July 23, 2009 | CA | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 74 | Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 64 | Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| June 30, 2009 | CA | SB 80 | Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| June 29, 2009 | CA | SBX3 17 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| June 29, 2009 | CA | SBx3 16 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| June 28, 2009 | CA | SBx3 16 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| June 28, 2009 | CA | SBX3 17 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Bill Passed - House (42 - 31) |
| June 28, 2009 | CA | ABx3 39 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| June 3, 2009 | CA | AB 155 | Local Government Bankruptcy Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | CA | SBx3 1 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | CA | ABx3 3 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2009 | CA | SBx3 7 | Transportation Financing Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 9, 2008 | CA | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
| Sept. 8, 2008 | CA | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 17, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30) |
| Aug. 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/24 | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 26 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Shifting Redevelopment Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 15 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 19 | Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: In-Home Supportive Services Fraud | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 7/24 | ABX4 14 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 7/23 | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 23) |
| 7/23 | ABX4 1 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 6/30 | SB 74 | Deferring Education Funding (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 6/30 | SB 64 | Education Spending Reductions (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 6/30 | SB 80 | Shifting Redevelopment Agency Funds (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 6/29 | SBX3 17 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 6/29 | SBx3 16 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 6/28 | SBx3 16 | 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 6/28 | SBX3 17 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Bill Passed - House (42 - 31) |
| 6/28 | ABx3 39 | Tax Law Amendments (2009-2010 Budget Financing) | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| 6/03 | AB 155 | Local Government Bankruptcy Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (47 - 25) |
| 2/19 | SBx3 1 | 2009-2010 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 2/19 | ABx3 3 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 2/19 | SBx3 7 | Transportation Financing Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| 9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
| 9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| 9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| 9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 9/09 | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
| 9/08 | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 8/31 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| 8/31 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 8/31 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| 8/30 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| 8/30 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| 8/29 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 8/29 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
| 8/29 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 8/29 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/29 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 8/29 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/17 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30) |
| 8/14 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |