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. 31, 2006 IN SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
March 23, 2006 ID H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
Feb. 22, 2006 SC H 3381 Outdoor Advertising Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 21, 2006 KS SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
April 6, 2006 MD SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
May 1, 2006 LA SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Feb. 8, 2006 ID S 1276 Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
April 20, 2006 MI SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Jan. 30, 2006 IN SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 30, 2006 IL HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
May 4, 2006 CA AB 140 Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
April 19, 2006 OK HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
Feb. 15, 2006 LA SB 49 Louisiana Housing and Land Trust Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
May 9, 2006 TX CSHB 2 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
March 29, 2006 AL SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
May 4, 2006 CA SB 1689 Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
March 1, 2006 ID SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
July 18, 2006 NC HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
May 30, 2006 CA SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 29, 2006 CA AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
May 31, 2006 SC H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
July 14, 2006 IA HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
May 24, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 185 Mortgage Lending Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3)
May 2, 2006 PA HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
Oct. 8, 1998 National HR 4194 FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 1)
Oct. 13, 1999 National HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
Dec. 6, 1995 National HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
Nov. 8, 2001 National HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
Oct. 15, 1999 National HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
Feb. 5, 2007 NJ A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 10, 2005 National S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
April 6, 2007 ND HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
Jan. 17, 2008 GA HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
April 12, 2007 NH SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
April 25, 2007 IA SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 11, 2007 IN HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
May 1, 2007 CO SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
April 30, 2007 TX CSSB 987 Complex Loan Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
May 31, 2007 CT Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
May 16, 2007 NE LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
June 14, 2007 FL SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 21, 2007 ME LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
June 21, 2007 NJ S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 25, 2007 LA HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Oct. 12, 2007 IL HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
Nov. 29, 2007 WA HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2008 National HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
Jan. 22, 2008 IN SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
Jan. 30, 2008 CA SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
Feb. 6, 2008 WA SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
Feb. 10, 2008 NM HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
Feb. 25, 2008 VA HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
March 14, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
Feb. 26, 2008 IN HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 14, 2008 IN SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
March 27, 2008 CO HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
March 5, 2008 WY HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
March 3, 2008 ID S 1400 Real Estate Sales Price Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 6, 2008 GA SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
March 31, 2008 GA HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
March 28, 2008 GA HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
April 10, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 12)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 17, 2008 IL SB 2063 South Suburban Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
April 22, 2008 MI SB 1078 Township Annexation Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20)
April 28, 2008 CA SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
May 5, 2008 CO SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 7, 2008 National S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
May 28, 2008 LA SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
June 4, 2008 NY S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 25, 2008 National S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
July 10, 2008 NC HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
June 27, 2007 OH SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
May 31, 2007 OH SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
July 26, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
Sept. 17, 1996 National S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
July 14, 2000 National HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
July 13, 2000 National S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2194 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (54 - 43)
Oct. 26, 2005 National S Amdt 2253 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
Oct. 20, 2005 National HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/31 SB 145 Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16)
3/23 H 421 Property Tax-Homestead Exemption Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
2/22 H 3381 Outdoor Advertising Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13)
5/30 SB 1796 Overhaul Flood and Levee Board Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/21 SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/24 SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
4/06 SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
5/01 SB 693 Insurance Rate Increases Approval Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
2/08 S 1276 Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
4/20 SB 1111 Industrial Development Districts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
1/30 SB 354 Forestry Classifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/30 HB 5284 Carbon Monoxide Detector Act Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
5/04 AB 140 Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1)
4/19 HCS HB 2807 Semipublic Community Act Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 21)
2/15 SB 49 Louisiana Housing and Land Trust Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
5/09 CSHB 2 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10)
3/29 SB 446 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
5/04 SB 1689 Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
3/01 SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
7/18 HB 2873 Drinking Water From Private Wells Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
5/30 SB 1576 Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/29 AB 1953 Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
5/31 H 4449 Sales and Property Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11)
7/14 HF 2351 Eminent Domain Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
5/24 Am Sub SB 185 Mortgage Lending Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3)
5/02 HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 9)
10/08 HR 4194 FY 1999 VA-HUD Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (96 - 1)
10/13 HR 1906 FY 2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 26)
12/06 HR 660 Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3)
11/08 HR 2620 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (87 - 7)
10/15 HR 2684 Veterans Affairs and HUD Appropriations bill, FY 2000 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 5)
2/05 A 1 Property Tax Relief and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/10 S 256 Bankruptcy Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
4/06 HB 1051 Property Tax Relief Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
1/17 HB 89 Concealed Weapons in Motor Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 15)
4/12 SB 176 Children's Lead Poisoning Level Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
4/25 SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/11 HB 1478 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5)
5/01 SB 199 Education Funding and Property Tax Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
4/30 CSSB 987 Complex Loan Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5)
5/31 Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
5/16 LB 367 Tax Credits and Reductions Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 2)
6/04 HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
6/14 SJR 4B Property Tax Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/21 LD 1925 Tax Cuts Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (7 - 28)
6/21 S 3000 2007-2008 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/25 HB 678 Insurance Funds Program Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
10/12 HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption Veto Override Passed - Senate (55 - 1)
11/29 Sub SB 6178 Property Tax Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
11/29 HB 2416 Adjusting the Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
2/07 HR 5140 Economic Stimulus Plan Bill Passed - Senate (81 - 16)
1/29 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
1/22 SB 18 Allowing Referendum on Public Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/06 SB 6452 Yield Spread Premium Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
1/30 SB 926 Mortgage Lender Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (26 - 14)
2/06 SB 6381 Good Faith Duties of Mortgage Brokers Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
2/10 HB 661 Affordable Housing Tax Relief Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
2/12 SR 686 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (53 - 3)
2/12 SR 796 Property Tax Assessment Cap Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 7)
2/25 HB 11 Property Tax Exemptions Motion Agreed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
3/14 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 6)
2/26 HB 1001 Property Tax Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/14 SJR 1 Constitutional Property Tax Cap Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 7)
2/25 Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
3/27 HB 1280 Extending Water Rights Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
3/05 HB 137 Deadly Force in Self Defense Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1)
3/03 S 1400 Real Estate Sales Price Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
2/25 Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
1/29 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
3/24 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/06 SB 449 Limiting Agritourism Liability Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 14)
3/31 HB 1158 Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
3/28 HR 1246 Property Tax Assessment Freeze Resolution Passed - Senate (46 - 7)
4/10 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 12)
3/31 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/17 SB 2063 South Suburban Airport Authority Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 7)
4/22 SB 1078 Township Annexation Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20)
4/28 SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
5/05 SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/07 S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
5/28 SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
6/04 S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/25 S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
7/10 HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
6/27 SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
5/31 SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
7/17 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
7/26 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
9/17 S Amdt 5353 Federal Land Grazing Fee Amendment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (50 - 50)
7/14 HR 8 Estate Tax Elimination Act of 2000 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 39)
7/13 S Amdt 3821 Estate Tax Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
8/08 S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
8/19 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
10/26 S Amdt 2194 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment Motion Rejected - Senate (54 - 43)
10/26 S Amdt 2253 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53)
10/20 HR 3058 Transportation, Treasury, HUD and Judiciary Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (93 - 1)

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