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 17, 2010 | MN | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| May 12, 2010 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 10, 2010 | MN | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| May 5, 2010 | MN | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| March 29, 2010 | MN | HF 1671 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23) |
| March 11, 2010 | MN | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| Feb. 25, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| Feb. 11, 2010 | MN | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| Feb. 9, 2010 | MN | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| May 11, 2009 | MN | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 18) |
| May 11, 2009 | MN | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| May 8, 2009 | MN | HF 885 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 20) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| April 27, 2009 | MN | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| April 20, 2009 | MN | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
| April 20, 2009 | MN | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| April 20, 2009 | MN | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| April 17, 2009 | MN | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| April 7, 2009 | MN | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
| May 15, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | HF 3807 | Real ID Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| April 30, 2008 | MN | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| April 21, 2008 | MN | HF 1351 | Transportation Policy Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11) |
| April 14, 2008 | MN | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 15) |
| April 3, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| April 3, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| April 2, 2008 | MN | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
| April 2, 2008 | MN | Marty Amnd. | Removing Funding for Stadium Study | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| March 18, 2008 | MN | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| March 6, 2008 | MN | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9) |
| Feb. 28, 2008 | MN | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| Feb. 25, 2008 | MN | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| Feb. 21, 2008 | MN | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | MN | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17) |
| May 14, 2007 | MN | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17) |
| May 11, 2007 | MN | SF 893 | Earlier Precinct Caucus Date | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9) |
| May 8, 2007 | MN | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21) |
| May 7, 2007 | MN | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
| May 4, 2007 | MN | SF 1997 | 2008-2009 State Government Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 23) |
| April 27, 2007 | MN | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26) |
| March 31, 2007 | MN | SF 1611 | Income Tax Increase and Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| March 29, 2007 | MN | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23) |
| March 26, 2007 | MN | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24) |
| March 24, 2007 | MN | SF 1997 | 2008-2009 State Government Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20) |
| March 23, 2007 | MN | SF 1986 | Transportation Taxes and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24) |
| March 22, 2007 | MN | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/17 | HF 1 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 5/12 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/10 | HF 2037 | 2010-2011 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33) |
| 5/05 | HF 2614 | Health and Human Services Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 19) |
| 3/29 | HF 1671 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 23) |
| 3/11 | HF 2700 | Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17) |
| 2/25 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21) |
| 2/11 | SF 2168 | General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications | Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 2/09 | SF 2360 | Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14) |
| 5/11 | HF 1362 | Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 18) |
| 5/11 | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| 5/08 | HF 885 | Tax Law Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 20) |
| 5/04 | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 4/27 | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| 4/20 | Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41) | |
| 4/20 | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| 4/20 | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
| 4/17 | SF 2083 | 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23) |
| 4/07 | SF 1328 | 2009-2011 Biennium Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 29) |
| 5/15 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 5/13 | HF 6 | 2008 Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10) |
| 5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 5/13 | HF 3807 | Real ID Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16) |
| 5/12 | HF 3391 | Health Care Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13) |
| 4/30 | HF 3195 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap and Trade Program Report | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 21) |
| 4/21 | HF 1351 | Transportation Policy Reform | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11) |
| 4/14 | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 15) |
| 4/03 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 4/03 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 4/02 | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
| 4/02 | Marty Amnd. | Removing Funding for Stadium Study | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 3/18 | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| 3/06 | HF 380 | Capital Improvements Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9) |
| 2/28 | GN Molnau | Confirmation of Carol Molnau as Department of Transportation Commissioner | Nomination Rejected - Senate (22 - 44) |
| 2/25 | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Veto Override Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| 2/21 | HF 2800 | 2009-2010 Transportation Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 20) |
| 2/14 | HF 2285 | Funding for Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 17) |
| 5/14 | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17) |
| 5/11 | SF 893 | Earlier Precinct Caucus Date | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9) |
| 5/08 | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (44 - 21) |
| 5/07 | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
| 5/04 | SF 1997 | 2008-2009 State Government Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (42 - 23) |
| 4/27 | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 26) |
| 3/31 | SF 1611 | Income Tax Increase and Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 3/29 | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23) |
| 3/26 | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24) |
| 3/24 | SF 1997 | 2008-2009 State Government Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20) |
| 3/23 | SF 1986 | Transportation Taxes and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24) |
| 3/22 | SF 1989 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2) |