Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Jan. 3, 2006 RI H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
Jan. 3, 2006 RI H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
Sept. 7, 2006 National S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
Sept. 22, 1993 National S Amdt 910 Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
Aug. 10, 1995 National S Amdt 2401 Space-Based Laser Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41)
May 27, 2009 LA Amdt B-200 Cell Phone Secondary Offense Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40)
Feb. 5, 2007 VA Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
July 23, 1998 National S Amdt 3266 Internet Gambling Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 10)
March 27, 2008 KS Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
June 6, 1995 National S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
April 11, 2006 VA Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
July 25, 1996 National H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
May 21, 2007 LA Amdt B-138: Cellular Phone Use While Driving Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 23)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
June 4, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
Oct. 15, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Oct. 14, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
Nov. 9, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
Oct. 19, 1993 National HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
June 29, 2009 OR SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
April 28, 2005 National H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
April 15, 2008 KY HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
May 12, 1998 National S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
June 12, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
Nov. 16, 2005 National HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
Oct. 10, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48)
April 10, 2003 National S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
April 2, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
June 27, 2009 OR SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)
Feb. 1, 1996 National S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
May 11, 2006 NH SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
Nov. 18, 2010 National HR 1722 Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152)
June 23, 2009 LA HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 16)
April 12, 2006 AZ HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
Aug. 21, 2008 CA SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
March 12, 2009 UT HB 290 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29)
Aug. 31, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
March 12, 2009 UT SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
March 14, 2008 National HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
May 19, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 16, 1994 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
March 16, 1994 National HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
June 21, 2007 National HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
Aug. 27, 2007 CA SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
March 11, 2009 UT SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Jan. 23, 2008 MA H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
June 23, 2009 OR HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
June 21, 2009 LA HB 866 Publishing Legal Records Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Aug. 11, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
June 16, 2009 LA HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 8, 2008 CO HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
March 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 18, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
Oct. 8, 1998 National S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
March 6, 2008 MN HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
Feb. 22, 2007 IA SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
May 18, 1998 National S 1723 Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
Nov. 22, 2003 National S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
March 24, 2008 KY HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Sept. 22, 1993 National HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
Oct. 16, 2007 National HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
March 31, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
March 19, 2008 MS SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
April 11, 2007 WA Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
April 27, 2009 TN SB 393 Prohibiting Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (67 - 24)
April 29, 2008 RI H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
April 29, 2008 RI H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
June 10, 2008 LA SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
May 19, 1999 National HR 1654 NASA Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (259 - 168)
March 14, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
April 20, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
April 18, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
May 18, 2006 NJ S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 8, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Feb. 22, 2006 MS HB 1638 Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems Bill Passed - House (80 - 42)
Feb. 1, 2006 MS HB 1416 Notification of Public Funds Used in the Media Bill Passed - House (89 - 30)
March 1, 2006 VA HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
Jan. 26, 2006 VA HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
March 2, 2006 OK HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/03 H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13)
1/03 H 6052 Sub. A Medical Marijuana Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
9/07 S Amdt 4909 Media in the Middle East Amendment Bill Tabled - Senate (51 - 44)
9/22 S Amdt 910 Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (53 - 47)
8/10 S Amdt 2401 Space-Based Laser Program Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (57 - 41)
5/27 Amdt B-200 Cell Phone Secondary Offense Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40)
2/05 Amendment Stem Cell Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (58 - 38)
7/23 S Amdt 3266 Internet Gambling Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (90 - 10)
3/27 Carlson Amnd. Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36)
2/19 S Amnd. 1 Virtual Charter School Enrollment Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
6/06 S Amdt 1215 Anti-terrorism Wiretaps Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (77 - 19)
4/11 Amdt Item 4-0.01 Stem Cell Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (64 - 30)
7/25 H Amdt 1360 Renewable Energy Research Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (279 - 135)
5/21 Amdt B-138: Cellular Phone Use While Driving Amendment Adopted - House (72 - 23)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3)
6/04 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - House (364 - 50)
10/15 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
10/14 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - House (406 - 18)
11/09 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19)
10/19 HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Conference Report Adopted - House (341 - 89)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (414 - 16)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - House (214 - 211)
6/29 SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
4/28 H Con Res 95 Budget FY2006 Appropriations Resolution Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
10/16 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - House (51 - 42)
4/15 HB 683 DNA Collection, Parole Board, and Felony Review Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 1)
5/12 S 1150 Agricultural Research bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 8)
6/12 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
11/16 HR 2862 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5)
10/10 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48)
4/10 S 151 Enhance AMBER Alert bill Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
4/02 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 21)
6/27 SB 767 Virtual Charter Schools Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 14)
2/01 S 652 Telecommunications Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 5)
5/11 SCR 6 Stem Cell Research Resolution Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (13 - 10)
11/18 HR 1722 Telework Policies and Regulations for Federal Agencies Concurrence Vote Passed - House (254 - 152)
6/23 HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Concurrence Vote Passed - House (83 - 16)
4/12 HB 2142 Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21)
5/05 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 17)
8/13 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
8/21 SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
8/30 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
3/12 HB 290 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29)
8/31 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/18 SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
3/12 SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
3/14 HR 3773 Electronic Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Review Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (213 - 197)
6/04 HB 2203 Expanding Payday and Title Loan Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
8/29 SB 1613 Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (50 - 28)
5/19 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/16 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
3/16 HR 820 National Competitiveness Act of 1993 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40)
6/21 HR 6 Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
8/27 SB 33 Underage Driver Cellphone Ban Bill Passed - House (67 - 7)
3/11 SB 208 Posting Public Notices Online Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
1/23 H 4477 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (107 - 47)
6/23 HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
8/13 SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
6/21 HB 866 Publishing Legal Records Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
8/11 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
6/16 HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/08 HB 1001 Expanding Bioscience Research Funding Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/18 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - House (52 - 12)
10/08 S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
3/06 HF 380 Capital Improvements Budget Bill Passed - Senate (57 - 9)
2/22 SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
5/18 S 1723 Non-Immigrant Specialty Workers bill Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 20)
11/22 S 877 Reduction of SPAM bill Bill Passed - House (392 - 5)
3/24 HB 406 2008-2010 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
9/22 HR 2491 Veterans Administration and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Fiscal Year 1994 Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 9)
10/16 HR 3093 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (75 - 19)
3/31 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
3/19 SB 2264 Authorizing Wire-tapping Out of State Bill Passed - House (97 - 21)
4/11 Sub SB 5037 Cell Phone Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
4/27 SB 393 Prohibiting Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (67 - 24)
4/29 H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
4/29 H 7107 Employment Verification Program Bill Passed - House (52 - 17)
5/02 HB 1385 Health Insurance Website Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
3/20 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
6/10 SB 807 Cable Deregulation Bill Bill Passed - House (94 - 9)
6/11 SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
5/19 HR 1654 NASA Authorization bill Bill Passed - House (259 - 168)
3/14 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
4/20 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - House (34 - 23)
4/18 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - House (31 - 26)
5/18 S 1471 Cigarette Tax Securitization Proceeds Fund; Stem Cell and Biomedical Research Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/08 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
2/22 HB 1638 Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems Bill Passed - House (80 - 42)
2/01 HB 1416 Notification of Public Funds Used in the Media Bill Passed - House (89 - 30)
3/01 HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
1/26 HB 568 Flat Tax on Communication Services Bill Passed - House (62 - 35)
3/02 HB 2107 Science Instruction Bill Passed - House (77 - 10)

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