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
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 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 6644 Prohibiting Retail Delivery of Alcohol Bill Passed - House (97 - 9)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
Oct. 27, 2008 NJ A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
Oct. 3, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
Oct. 1, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
Sept. 29, 2008 National HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
Sept. 23, 2008 National HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
Sept. 23, 2008 National HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
Sept. 19, 2008 CA SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Sept. 19, 2008 CA SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 10)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 29)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11)
Sept. 18, 2008 MI SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 24)
Sept. 18, 2008 National HR 6604 Commodity Markets Speculation Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 133)
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)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2008 CA AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
Aug. 28, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Aug. 25, 2008 CA AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 22, 2008 CA AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
Aug. 22, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 17, 2008 CA AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
Aug. 17, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
Aug. 14, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 14, 2008 CA AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Aug. 5, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Aug. 5, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Aug. 1, 2008 AK HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
July 31, 2008 National HR 4040 Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 3)
July 30, 2008 National HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
July 22, 2008 AK HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - House (24 - 16)
July 18, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
July 16, 2008 NC SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
July 15, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
July 15, 2008 NC SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Bill Passed - House (101 - 10)
July 15, 2008 CA SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
July 15, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
July 10, 2008 NC HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
July 9, 2008 VA SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Failed - House (39 - 59)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
July 2, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
July 1, 2008 DE HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 14)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
June 26, 2008 National HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
June 26, 2008 DE HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
June 25, 2008 National S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
June 25, 2008 AZ HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
June 25, 2008 VA SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
June 24, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
June 24, 2008 National HR 6346 Price Gouging Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (276 - 146)
June 24, 2008 NY S 8638 Internet Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
June 23, 2008 CT HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39)
June 23, 2008 CT HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
June 23, 2008 AZ HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
June 19, 2008 National HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
June 18, 2008 DE SB 280 Minimum Wage Increase for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
June 16, 2008 AZ HB 2485 Public Sale of Animals Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12)
June 16, 2008 PA SB 1387 Business Property Tax Deduction Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
June 16, 2008 PA SB 1388 Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
June 16, 2008 PA SB 1385 Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
June 12, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
June 11, 2008 MA H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/18 ABx1 12 Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
12/18 ABx1 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
12/04 HB 6644 Prohibiting Retail Delivery of Alcohol Bill Passed - House (97 - 9)
11/24 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
11/17 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - House (56 - 22)
10/27 A 2550 Renewable Energy Facilities Within Industrial Districts Bill Passed - House (60 - 15)
10/03 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
10/01 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
9/29 HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
9/23 HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
9/23 HR 5244 Credit Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (312 - 112)
9/19 SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
9/19 SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
9/18 SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 10)
9/18 HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (78 - 29)
9/18 HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 11)
9/18 SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 24)
9/18 HR 6604 Commodity Markets Speculation Bill Bill Passed - House (283 - 133)
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)
8/31 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
8/31 AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 30)
8/31 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
8/31 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/30 AB 1860 Prohibiting Resale of Recalled Products Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/29 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - Senate (24 - 15)
8/29 AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31)
8/29 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18)
8/29 AB 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/29 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
8/28 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
8/27 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
8/27 AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/27 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
8/25 AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/22 AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
8/22 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/20 AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/19 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
8/19 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
8/19 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
8/18 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
8/18 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/17 AB 1781 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Rejected - House (45 - 30)
8/17 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
8/14 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/14 AB 1107 Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
8/13 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
8/12 AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (53 - 19)
8/12 AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (48 - 29)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
8/07 AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
8/07 AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
8/05 SB 974 Shipping Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
8/05 SB 974 Shipping Fee Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
8/01 HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
7/31 HR 4040 Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (89 - 3)
7/30 HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
7/22 HB 3001 Natural Gas Pipeline to Canada Bill Passed - House (24 - 16)
7/18 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
7/17 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
7/17 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
7/16 SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
7/15 SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
7/15 SB 1695 Tractor Trailer Length Bill Passed - House (101 - 10)
7/15 SB 974 Shipping Fee Bill Passed - House (46 - 24)
7/15 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
7/14 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
7/14 AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
7/10 HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
7/09 SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Failed - House (39 - 59)
7/08 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
7/02 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
7/01 HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 14)
6/30 SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
6/30 SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
6/26 HR 6377 Energy Futures Trading Bill Passed - House (402 - 19)
6/26 HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
6/25 S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
6/25 HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 12)
6/25 SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/24 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - House (141 - 3)
6/24 HR 6346 Price Gouging Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (276 - 146)
6/24 S 8638 Internet Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
6/23 HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39)
6/23 HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9)
6/23 HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
6/19 HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
6/18 SB 280 Minimum Wage Increase for Tipped Employees Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
6/16 HB 2485 Public Sale of Animals Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 12)
6/16 SB 1387 Business Property Tax Deduction Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 15)
6/16 SB 1388 Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
6/16 SB 1385 Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
6/12 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 7)
6/11 H 4554 Life-Science Bill Conference Report Adopted - House (142 - 15)

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