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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 17, 2014 | MD | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| April 8, 2013 | MD | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 40) |
| April 8, 2013 | MD | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| April 6, 2013 | MD | HB 1107 | Amends Prince George's County School System Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47) |
| March 25, 2013 | MD | HB 228 | Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| March 15, 2013 | MD | HB 100 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (101 - 36) |
| March 11, 2013 | MD | SB 279 | Amends Early Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| April 9, 2012 | MD | SB 236 | Septic System Installation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 6, 2012 | MD | SB 236 | Septic System Installation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (93 - 45) |
| March 27, 2012 | MD | SB 892 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Oct. 20, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| Oct. 18, 2011 | MD | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| April 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 65) |
| April 5, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| March 9, 2011 | MD | Amendment 223923 | Civil Marriage Protection Act | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72) |
| March 8, 2011 | MD | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| April 9, 2010 | MD | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - House (105 - 33) |
| March 23, 2010 | MD | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8) |
| March 5, 2010 | MD | SB 248 | Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 785 | Inheritance Tax Exemption for Domestic Partners | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 13, 2009 | MD | SB 785 | Inheritance Tax Exemption for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (94 - 38) |
| April 10, 2009 | MD | HB 310 | Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
| March 26, 2009 | MD | HB 310 | Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees | Bill Passed - House (94 - 43) |
| March 5, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Passed - House (113 - 25) |
| April 5, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31) |
| April 5, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 7) |
| April 5, 2008 | MD | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
| April 4, 2008 | MD | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| April 3, 2008 | MD | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 1, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| March 28, 2008 | MD | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| March 28, 2008 | MD | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| March 26, 2008 | MD | SB 373 | Tax Credit for Educational Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 24, 2008 | MD | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| March 20, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 34) |
| March 14, 2008 | MD | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| March 12, 2008 | MD | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 4, 2008 | MD | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| March 4, 2008 | MD | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 52) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| Nov. 19, 2007 | MD | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Nov. 13, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| Nov. 13, 2007 | MD | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| Nov. 11, 2007 | MD | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (80 - 56) |
| Nov. 11, 2007 | MD | HB 2 | Tax Reform Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (82 - 55) |
| April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 148 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 6, 2007 | MD | SB 634 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| April 6, 2007 | MD | SB 1 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (107 - 32) |
| April 2, 2007 | MD | HB 148 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (85 - 54) |
| March 28, 2007 | MD | SB 634 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
| March 26, 2007 | MD | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
| March 24, 2007 | MD | HB 1220 | Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund | Bill Passed - House (96 - 41) |
| March 23, 2007 | MD | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| March 21, 2007 | MD | Amendment 993627/1 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 33) |
| March 16, 2007 | MD | HB 754 | Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 37) |
| March 14, 2007 | MD | Amendment 643129/1 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (29 - 110) |
| Feb. 27, 2007 | MD | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | MD | SB 1 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| Feb. 16, 2007 | MD | HB 201 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| June 14, 2006 | MD | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 42) |
| June 14, 2006 | MD | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 8, 2006 | MD | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/17 | HB 727 | Expands Prevailing Wage Requirements for Certain School Projects | Bill Passed - House (90 - 46) |
| 4/08 | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 40) |
| 4/08 | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| 4/06 | HB 1107 | Amends Prince George's County School System Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 47) |
| 3/25 | HB 228 | Amends the State Health Benefits Exchange and Medicaid Program | Bill Passed - House (93 - 43) |
| 3/15 | HB 100 | 2013-2014 Budget | Bill Passed - House (101 - 36) |
| 3/11 | SB 279 | Amends Early Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 12) |
| 4/09 | SB 236 | Septic System Installation Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 4/06 | SB 236 | Septic System Installation Requirements | Bill Passed - House (93 - 45) |
| 3/27 | SB 892 | Expands Gambling | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11) |
| 10/20 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 10/20 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 10/18 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| 10/18 | SB 1 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (91 - 46) |
| 4/08 | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 65) |
| 4/05 | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 15) |
| 3/09 | Amendment 223923 | Civil Marriage Protection Act | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 72) |
| 3/08 | HB 302 | Parole Approval | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 4/09 | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - House (105 - 33) |
| 3/23 | SB 279 | Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8) |
| 3/05 | SB 248 | Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| 4/13 | SB 785 | Inheritance Tax Exemption for Domestic Partners | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/13 | SB 785 | Inheritance Tax Exemption for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (94 - 38) |
| 4/10 | HB 310 | Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 3/26 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
| 3/26 | HB 310 | Extending Unemployment Benefits to Part-Time Employees | Bill Passed - House (94 - 43) |
| 3/05 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| 4/07 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 4/07 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Passed - House (113 - 25) |
| 4/05 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31) |
| 4/05 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 7) |
| 4/05 | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
| 4/04 | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| 4/03 | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/01 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 3/28 | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| 3/28 | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14) |
| 3/26 | SB 373 | Tax Credit for Educational Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/24 | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 3/20 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - House (105 - 34) |
| 3/14 | SB 90 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7) |
| 3/12 | SB 42 | Temporary Confiscation of Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| 3/04 | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| 3/04 | HB 362 | Department of Information Technology | Bill Passed - House (105 - 31) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (100 - 33) |
| 11/19 | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 52) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 11/19 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 13) |
| 11/19 | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 11/13 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| 11/13 | HB 1 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (103 - 36) |
| 11/11 | HB 5 | Sales Tax Increase | Bill Passed - House (80 - 56) |
| 11/11 | HB 2 | Tax Reform Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (82 - 55) |
| 4/09 | HB 148 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| 4/09 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 4/06 | SB 634 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (84 - 54) |
| 4/06 | SB 1 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (107 - 32) |
| 4/02 | HB 148 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (85 - 54) |
| 3/28 | SB 634 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17) |
| 3/26 | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - House (78 - 60) |
| 3/26 | HB 992 | Parole for Drug Offenders | Bill Passed - House (71 - 66) |
| 3/24 | HB 1220 | Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund | Bill Passed - House (96 - 41) |
| 3/23 | SB 488 | Felon Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19) |
| 3/21 | Amendment 993627/1 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 33) |
| 3/16 | HB 754 | Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Care | Bill Passed - House (102 - 37) |
| 3/14 | Amendment 643129/1 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (29 - 110) |
| 2/27 | SB 61 | Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/20 | SB 1 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 2/16 | HB 201 | Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| 6/14 | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 42) |
| 6/14 | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| 4/10 | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/10 | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 4/08 | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45) |