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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 1, 2010 CT SB 1 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (89 - 49)
Feb. 16, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
Feb. 1, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
April 30, 2010 CT SB 1 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
June 2, 2010 LA SB 1 Deposits and Transfers Regarding the Budget Stabilization Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
March 3, 2010 NM SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (38 - 28)
March 2, 2010 NM SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2010 NM SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
Feb. 15, 2010 CO SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 31, 2010 AZ SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
March 31, 2010 AZ SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 15, 2010 MO SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 102 Starting Biennial Budgets in Odd-Numbered Years Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
July 3, 2010 PA SB 1042 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
July 3, 2010 PA SB 1042 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
Feb. 10, 2010 UT SB 11 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 17)
Feb. 3, 2010 UT SB 11 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
Sept. 15, 2010 MI SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49)
Sept. 21, 2010 MI SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39)
Sept. 21, 2010 MI SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
Sept. 29, 2010 PA SB 1155 Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill Passed - House (104 - 94)
March 3, 2010 FL SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 24, 2010 MI SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Feb. 1, 2010 OK SB 1685 Regarding Gun Rights (28 - 16)
May 5, 2010 OK SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
April 23, 2010 CO SB 190 Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 30, 2010 SD SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
March 30, 2010 SD SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
May 11, 2010 CO SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
May 11, 2010 CO SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Feb. 16, 2010 NM SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - House (40 - 21)
Feb. 11, 2010 NM SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
Feb. 24, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 1, 2010 AL SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
March 5, 2010 MD SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
Jan. 28, 2010 WI SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Feb. 18, 2010 MS SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
Feb. 11, 2010 MS SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Bill Passed - House (106 - 14)
March 23, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
Feb. 12, 2010 VA SB 283 Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
Feb. 1, 2010 VA SB 283 Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
May 25, 2010 LA SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 312 Regionalization of State Emergency Telecommunications Bill Passed - House (119 - 29)
Feb. 17, 2010 TN SB 3498 Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
March 24, 2010 OH SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
Feb. 2, 2010 UT SB 36 Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - House (65 - 51)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
May 27, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
May 7, 2010 IL SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program Bill Passed - House (87 - 26)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
March 17, 2010 GA SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 26, 2010 GA SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
May 11, 2010 LA SB 407 Removing Record Check Fee for Class D and E Drivers Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
June 8, 2010 LA SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
May 12, 2010 NH SB 450 General Fund Reductions and Tax and Revenue Changes Bill Passed - House (182 - 173)
April 21, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (212 - 158)
March 24, 2010 NH SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 26, 2010 CT SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 494 Adjustments to State Expenditures Bill Passed - House (93 - 57)
May 5, 2010 CT SB 494 Adjustments to State Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Jan. 13, 2010 KY SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Jan. 13, 2010 KY SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 2, 2010 KY SB 53 Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
June 18, 2010 LA SB 584 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority Bill Passed - House (75 - 23)
June 3, 2010 LA SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
Feb. 10, 2010 VA SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
Feb. 22, 2010 WA SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
Feb. 17, 2010 WA SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
April 12, 2010 WA SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
April 10, 2010 WA SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
March 10, 2010 WA SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
May 6, 2010 IL SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/01 SB 1 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - House (89 - 49)
2/16 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
2/01 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
4/30 SB 1 Tax Code Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
6/02 SB 1 Deposits and Transfers Regarding the Budget Stabilization Fund Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
3/03 SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (38 - 28)
3/02 SB 10 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/13 SB 10 Limiting Food Tax Deduction to Staple Foods Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 19)
2/15 SB 100 Multi-County Local Improvement Districts Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/31 SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - House (34 - 24)
3/31 SB 1001 Authorizing Governor to Challenge Federal Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/15 SB 1014 Limiting Prison Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
2/10 SB 102 Starting Biennial Budgets in Odd-Numbered Years Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
7/03 SB 1042 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
7/03 SB 1042 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (109 - 86)
2/10 SB 11 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - House (56 - 17)
2/03 SB 11 Federal Arms Regulation Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
2/18 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
2/12 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 5)
9/15 SB 1151 Community College Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 49)
9/21 SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 39)
9/21 SB 1152 2010-2011 Department of Community Health Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 10)
9/29 SB 1155 Establishing a Natural Gas Severance Tax Bill Passed - House (104 - 94)
3/03 SB 1158 Prohibiting Gun Licensing Trust Fund to Budget Stabilization Fund Transfers Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/24 SB 1163 2010-2011 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
3/24 SB 150 County Sheriff Assistance with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
2/01 SB 1685 Regarding Gun Rights (28 - 16)
5/05 SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
4/23 SB 190 Suspension of Tax Exemption for Seniors Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/30 SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
3/30 SB 196 2010-2011 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
5/11 SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
5/11 SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
2/16 SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - House (40 - 21)
2/11 SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
2/24 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/01 SB 233 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
3/05 SB 248 Increasing Civil Court Case Surcharges Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
1/28 SB 263 Expanding Access to Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
2/18 SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
2/11 SB 2688 Restoring 2009-2010 Budget Cuts Bill Passed - House (106 - 14)
3/23 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
4/09 SB 279 Prohibits False Claims Against State Health Plans and Programs Bill Passed - House (105 - 33)
2/12 SB 283 Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
2/01 SB 283 Prohibiting Federal Individual Health Insurance Mandate Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
5/25 SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/05 SB 312 Regionalization of State Emergency Telecommunications Bill Passed - House (119 - 29)
2/17 SB 3498 Requiring Legal Challenge to Federal Health Insurance Mandates Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 1)
3/24 SB 35 State Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/25 SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
2/02 SB 36 Requesting Removal of Wolves From Endangered Species List Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
5/27 SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
5/06 SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday Bill Passed - House (65 - 51)
5/27 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
5/27 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 23)
5/25 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
5/25 SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011 Bill Passed - House (67 - 50)
5/05 SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
5/07 SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program Bill Passed - House (87 - 26)
3/26 SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/26 SB 399 General Assembly Authorization Requirements for Implementation of Federal Health Care Legislation Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
3/17 SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/26 SB 407 Allowing the Purchasing of Health Insurance Policies Approved in Other States Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
5/11 SB 407 Removing Record Check Fee for Class D and E Drivers Licenses Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
2/26 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
6/08 SB 432 Oil and Gas Processing Tax Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (6 - 31)
5/12 SB 450 General Fund Reductions and Tax and Revenue Changes Bill Passed - House (182 - 173)
4/21 SB 489 Gambling Expansion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (212 - 158)
3/24 SB 489 Gambling Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/26 SB 492 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/05 SB 494 Adjustments to State Expenditures Bill Passed - House (93 - 57)
5/05 SB 494 Adjustments to State Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
1/13 SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
1/13 SB 51 Legislator Pension Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/02 SB 53 Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
2/08 SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
2/08 SB 531 Legislative Finance Committee Review of Confidential Information Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 8)
6/18 SB 584 Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority Bill Passed - House (75 - 23)
6/03 SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
2/10 SB 601 Allocating Offshore Drilling Royalties Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 18)
2/22 SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
2/17 SB 6130 Initiative 960 (Tax Increase Restrictions) Suspension Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
4/12 SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 21)
4/10 SB 6143 Tax Law Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
2/26 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
3/10 SB 6364 2009 - 2011 Biennium Capital Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
2/09 SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 11)
5/06 SB 642 Public University Borrowing Bill Passed - House (87 - 28)

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