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
Nov. 2, 1999 National HR 3064 DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
Sept. 21, 1994 National HR 4649 District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27)
Aug. 2, 1996 National S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
May 5, 1998 National HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7)
June 26, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
June 25, 2007 PA A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
June 10, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
July 16, 2007 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
Feb. 5, 2008 VA SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
Feb. 7, 2008 MA H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Feb. 14, 2008 NE AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
Feb. 20, 2008 GA SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 4)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 16 Change in Township Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Feb. 15, 2008 LA Amnd. 423 to SB 1 Persons Restricted from Doing Business with the State Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2008 WV SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
April 1, 2008 GA HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
Feb. 25, 2008 IN Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
March 6, 2008 WI SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
April 23, 2008 AZ HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
April 7, 2008 NE LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
April 4, 2008 GA SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Rejected - Senate (35 - 18)
March 26, 2008 KS Journey Amnd. 1 Journey Amendment 1 Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
March 12, 2008 MI SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
April 22, 2008 IA HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
April 21, 2008 MN HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
April 22, 2008 IA S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 30)
April 23, 2008 AZ HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 29, 2008 TN SB 3042 Open Container Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
May 1, 2008 RI H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
April 29, 2008 AZ HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
April 3, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
May 28, 2008 MI Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
May 6, 2008 AZ HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 7, 2007 CA SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
May 31, 2007 OH SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1764 Certification of Local Fire Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
April 1, 1998 National S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
March 4, 1998 National S Amdt 1682 Blood Alcohol Content Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
June 11, 2002 National S 625 Hate Crimes Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 43)
May 23, 1997 National S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
April 11, 2002 National S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
June 20, 2000 National S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
Oct. 8, 1998 National S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
Sept. 10, 1996 National HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
May 22, 1998 National HR 2400 Transportation Reauthorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 5)
Dec. 22, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
Sept. 19, 1995 National HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
June 21, 1995 National S Amdt 1446 Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
July 21, 1994 National HR 4649 District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32)
July 14, 2004 National S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
July 27, 1994 National S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
July 27, 1993 National HR 2492 District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 29)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SJ 7 Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Jan. 27, 2009 IA SF 44 Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
Feb. 12, 2009 OR HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2009 National S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Feb. 18, 2009 SD HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 8, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 23, 2009 OR SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 27, 2009 VT S 34 Presidential Election by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2009 IN SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
March 3, 2009 UT SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
March 16, 2009 NJ S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
March 9, 2009 UT SB 241 Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17)
March 12, 2009 TN SB 83 "Living" Wage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 26, 2009 ID S 1148 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 29, 2009 OK SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
March 10, 2009 OK SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
April 15, 2009 IN HB 1604 Authorizing Local Tax Increases to Fund Sports and Convention Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 14, 2009 TX SB 855 Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 1605 Allowing Counties to Impose Retail Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 1744 Allowing a County Surcharge on the Transient Accommodations Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
May 14, 2009 AL HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
April 21, 2009 AL HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 22, 2009 NV SB 311 Washoe County Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
June 3, 2009 NY A 8501 Government Consolidation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
June 1, 2009 NV SB 52 New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 31, 2009 NV AB 543 Property Tax Reappropriation Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 15, 2009 LA HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
June 4, 2009 ME LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19)
July 22, 2009 National S Amdt 1618 Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 15 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 14 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/02 HR 3064 DC/Labor/HHS/Education FY 2000 Appropriations bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
9/21 HR 4649 District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (71 - 27)
8/02 S 1316 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1995 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (98 - 0)
5/05 HR 1385 Training Programs bill Bill Passed - Senate (91 - 7)
6/26 SB 246 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
6/25 A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Adopted - Senate (29 - 21)
6/10 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
7/16 SB 246 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (13 - 36)
7/26 S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
2/05 SB 202 Local Regulation of Smoking in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
2/07 SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
2/07 H 4488 Education Reorganization Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
2/14 AM 1736 Eliminating Opt-Out Provision of Smoking Ban Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 13)
2/12 SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
2/20 SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 4)
1/29 SB 16 Change in Township Assessment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
2/15 Amnd. 423 to SB 1 Persons Restricted from Doing Business with the State Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
2/27 SB 248 Non-Participation in the Real ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
2/25 Amnd. 17 Elimination of Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 23)
2/27 SB 128 Eliminating Sales and Use Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
4/01 HB 1281 Restricting Local Outdoor Water Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
2/25 Amnd. 19 Referendum on Township Assessors Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 20)
3/06 SB 523 Great Lakes Water Resources Compact Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6)
4/23 HB 2711 State Control of Mismanaged Schools Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 3)
4/07 LB 1157 Uniform School Testing Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
4/04 SR 845 Regional Transportation Sales Tax Conference Report Rejected - Senate (35 - 18)
3/26 Journey Amnd. 1 Journey Amendment 1 Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 24)
3/12 SB 120 Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
4/22 HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
3/31 HB 1270 Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
4/21 HF 1351 Transportation Policy Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (51 - 11)
4/22 S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 30)
4/23 HB 2359 County Sheriff and Border Patrol Collaboration Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/29 SB 3042 Open Container Law Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
5/01 H 7204 2007-2008 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 16)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
4/29 HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
4/03 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22)
5/28 Anderson Amendment: Increase Revenue Sharing Grants Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 18)
5/06 HB 2677 Real ID Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/07 SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
5/31 SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
7/17 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
5/29 SB 1764 Certification of Local Fire Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
4/01 S Amdt 2175 School Modernization Amendment Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 46)
3/04 S Amdt 1682 Blood Alcohol Content Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 32)
10/16 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
6/11 S 625 Hate Crimes Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 43)
5/23 S Amdt 357 Violent Crime Victims Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
4/11 S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
6/20 S Amdt 3473 Hate Crimes Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 42)
10/08 S 442 Internet Tax Freedom bill Bill Passed - Senate (96 - 2)
9/10 HR 3396 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) Bill Passed - Senate (85 - 14)
5/22 HR 2400 Transportation Reauthorization bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (88 - 5)
12/22 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (52 - 47)
9/19 HR 4 Welfare Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (87 - 12)
6/21 S Amdt 1446 Drinking and Driving Minors Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 36)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
7/21 HR 4649 District of Columbia FY95 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 32)
7/14 S J Res 40 Federal Marriage Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50)
7/27 S Amdt 2416 Voluntary Prayer Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
7/27 HR 2492 District of Columbia Fiscal Year 1994 Appropriations Bill Bill Passed - Senate (70 - 29)
2/02 SJ 7 Statement of Opposition to Expansion of EPA Jurisdiction (H.R. 2421) Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
1/27 SF 44 Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
2/12 HB 2157 Severing the Federal and State Income Tax Connection Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/26 S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
2/18 HB 1171 Exemptions from School District Minimum Size Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/08 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/23 SB 311 Changes in Liability Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/27 S 34 Presidential Election by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10)
2/24 SB 512 Eliminating Township Boards in Counties Without a Consolidated City Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
3/03 SB 29 Authorizing Corporate Water Systems to Refuse Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
3/16 S 21 Local Government PERS/PFRS Contribution Deferral Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
3/09 SB 241 Instructional Spending Requirements for School Districts Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 17)
3/12 SB 83 "Living" Wage Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/26 S 1148 Alcohol Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/29 SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
3/10 SB 834 Increased Local School Board Control Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
4/03 HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
4/15 HB 1604 Authorizing Local Tax Increases to Fund Sports and Convention Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/14 SB 855 Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/14 HB 1605 Allowing Counties to Impose Retail Sales Tax Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
4/14 HB 1744 Allowing a County Surcharge on the Transient Accommodations Tax Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
5/14 HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
4/21 HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
5/27 SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/27 SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/22 SB 311 Washoe County Fluoridation Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9)
6/03 A 8501 Government Consolidation Bill Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 16)
6/01 SB 52 New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/31 AB 543 Property Tax Reappropriation Veto Override Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/15 HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
6/04 LD 977 Repealing School District Consolidation "Ought Not to Pass" Report Rejected - Senate (16 - 19)
7/22 S Amdt 1618 Authorizing Concealed Firearms Across State Lines Amendment Rejected - Senate (58 - 39)
7/24 ABX4 15 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Implementing Prop 1A Suspension Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
7/24 ABX4 14 2009-2010 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
7/24 ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)

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