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. 28, 2010 MA H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
Feb. 4, 2010 NM SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Feb. 4, 2010 NM SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
Feb. 11, 2010 NM SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2010 NM HB 10 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
May 27, 2010 National S Amdt 4214 National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46)
June 3, 2010 LA SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
May 21, 2010 OK HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16)
Sept. 20, 2010 NJ S 2139 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 17)
Aug. 24, 2010 CA SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole Bill Failed - House (34 - 38)
May 5, 2010 OK SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Failed - House (17 - 41)
May 7, 2010 KS HB 2180 Expansion of Gambling Operations Industry Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
Feb. 17, 2010 NH HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
Feb. 17, 2010 NH HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
Dec. 8, 2010 National S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
March 30, 2010 NE LB 1102 Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13)
March 10, 2010 IA Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
March 10, 2010 IA Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
March 27, 2010 IA Amdt 5371 Authorizing Qualified Individuals to Conceal Weapons Without a Permit Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
Feb. 9, 2010 IA HJR 6 Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
April 21, 2010 VA Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
March 31, 2010 MO HB 1601 St. Louis Police Department Governance Modifications Motion Rejected - House (66 - 86)
Feb. 17, 2010 IA Amdt 8140 Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
Feb. 9, 2010 IA HJR 6 Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54)
March 10, 2010 IA Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
Feb. 17, 2010 IA Amdt 8145 Animal Facility Regulations Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53)
July 1, 2010 PA HB 67 Driving Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126)
April 19, 2010 LA HB 224 Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees Bill Failed - House (42 - 56)
Jan. 7, 2010 NJ S 1967 Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
Jan. 7, 2010 NJ S 1967 Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
Feb. 17, 2010 UT HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
March 8, 2010 UT SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM HB 178 Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM HB 178 Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
Feb. 17, 2010 SD HB 1178 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
May 6, 2010 LA HB 68 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Places of Worship Bill Failed - House (45 - 39)
Feb. 10, 2010 WY HB 68 Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Failed - House (36 - 22)
Jan. 25, 2010 KY SB 3 Omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0)
March 8, 2010 UT SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
May 6, 2010 LA HB 863 Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving Bill Failed - House (49 - 41)
Jan. 25, 2010 KY SB 3 Omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0)
May 10, 2010 LA HB 219 Illegal Dog Restraining Bill Failed - House (46 - 40)
Feb. 1, 2010 OK SB 1685 Regarding Gun Rights (28 - 16)
Jan. 12, 2010 CA SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors
Date No. Title Outcome
1/28 H 4441 School Nutrition Standards Bill Passed - House (152 - 4)
2/04 SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
2/04 SB 26 Establishing the Domestic Violence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
2/08 HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
2/11 SB 216 Repeal "Guilty but Mentally Ill" Plea Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 19)
2/09 HB 10 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
5/27 S Amdt 4214 National Guard Deployment on Southern U.S. Land Border Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 46)
6/03 SB 593 Governor's Office Records Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 24)
5/21 HJR 1054 Prohibiting Federal Health Care Mandates Veto Override Failed - Senate (29 - 16)
9/20 S 2139 2010-2011 Supplemental Health Services Budget Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 17)
8/24 SB 399 Authorizing Youth Offenders to Appeal a Sentence of Life Without Parole Bill Failed - House (34 - 38)
5/05 SB 1685 Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 16)
3/03 SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Failed - House (17 - 41)
5/07 HB 2180 Expansion of Gambling Operations Industry Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 20)
2/17 HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
2/17 HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
12/08 S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
3/30 LB 1102 Legalizing "Horse Racing Machines" Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (30 - 13)
3/10 Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
3/10 Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
3/27 Amdt 5371 Authorizing Qualified Individuals to Conceal Weapons Without a Permit Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 28)
2/09 HJR 6 Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54)
4/22 Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
4/21 Amdt 28 Reducing Funding for Comprehensive Services for At Risk Youth and Families Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 69)
3/31 HB 1601 St. Louis Police Department Governance Modifications Motion Rejected - House (66 - 86)
2/17 Amdt 8140 Animal Abuse and Neglect Penalties Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 52)
4/22 Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
2/09 HJR 6 Constitutionally Defining Marriage as Between One Man and One Woman Motion Rejected - House (45 - 54)
3/10 Amdt 8381 Free Self Defense Courses for Domestic Violence Victims Amendment Rejected - House (44 - 53)
4/22 Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
2/17 Amdt 8145 Animal Facility Regulations Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 53)
7/01 HB 67 Driving Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Failed - House (71 - 126)
4/19 HB 224 Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees Bill Failed - House (42 - 56)
1/07 S 1967 Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
1/07 S 1967 Legalizing Same Sex Marriage Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20)
2/17 HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
3/08 SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
2/12 HB 178 Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
2/12 HB 178 Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act Bill Failed - House (33 - 37)
2/17 HB 1178 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
5/06 HB 68 Authorizing Concealed Handguns in Places of Worship Bill Failed - House (45 - 39)
2/10 HB 68 Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Failed - House (36 - 22)
1/25 SB 3 Omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0)
3/08 SB 44 Extending CHIP and Medicaid Coverage to Children of Documented Immigrants Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 14)
5/06 HB 863 Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving Bill Failed - House (49 - 41)
1/25 SB 3 Omnibus Constitutional Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0)
5/10 HB 219 Illegal Dog Restraining Bill Failed - House (46 - 40)
2/01 SB 1685 Regarding Gun Rights (28 - 16)
1/12 SB 880 Requiring Snow Sport Helmets for Minors

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