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 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
Oct. 1, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
Sept. 19, 2008 CA SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
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 - Senate (25 - 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 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
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 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 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 25, 2008 CA AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 22, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 22, 2008 CA AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
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. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
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. 8, 2008 NY A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
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 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 10, 2008 NC HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
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 25, 2008 National S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
June 25, 2008 VA SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
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 - Senate (25 - 9)
June 23, 2008 AZ HB 2156 Reviews for Potential Railroad Sites Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6)
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 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 11, 2008 DE SB 263 Greenhouse Gas Caps Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
June 10, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
June 4, 2008 NH SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (12 - 11)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
June 4, 2008 NY S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1499 Foil Balloon Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 27, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 22, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
May 15, 2008 NH HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
May 15, 2008 NH HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 15, 2008 MI SB 860 Great Lakes Water Management Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 14, 2008 SC H 3032 Immigration Reform Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
May 14, 2008 OH HB 545 Short Term Loans Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
May 13, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 8, 2008 MN SF 875 Minimum Wage Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 18)
May 8, 2008 NH HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
May 8, 2008 MI HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 7, 2008 SC S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
May 7, 2008 KS SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3)
May 7, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
May 6, 2008 SC S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2412 Coal Plant Incentives Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
May 6, 2008 CO SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
May 6, 2008 MA H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 6, 2008 CT HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 5, 2008 CO SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1389 Health Insurance Rates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 5, 2008 CT HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 2, 2008 CO HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
May 1, 2008 HI SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11)
May 1, 2008 MI HB 5283 Health Insurance Package Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 1, 2008 MO HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
May 1, 2008 MI Sub HB 5282 Independent Health Benefit Plans Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 1, 2008 CT SB 217 Mandatory Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
April 30, 2008 KS SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
April 30, 2008 LA SB 160 Homeowners' Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
April 28, 2008 AZ HB 2745 Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
April 28, 2008 CA SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 24, 2008 MO SB 817 Physicians' Billing Practices Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
April 23, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 22, 2008 MI SB 1198 Changes to Michigan Business Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
April 22, 2008 CO SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
April 21, 2008 AZ HB 2395 Driving and Boating Under the Influence Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
April 16, 2008 MO SA 1 to HB 2007 Mega-Project Fund Appropriation Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 22)
April 16, 2008 FL SB 2860 Property Insurance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
April 15, 2008 MS SB 2793 Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 4)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/18 ABx1 2 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
11/24 A 3294 Capital Investment and Employment Grants Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7)
10/01 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
9/19 SBx1 28 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
9/18 SB 213 Renewable Electricity Standards Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 10)
9/18 HB 5524 Energy Utility Regulations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 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 Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
8/31 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/31 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
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 2321 Metro Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
8/27 AB 2386 Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/25 AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/22 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/22 AB 3025 Polystyrene Packaging Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
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)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
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)
8/08 A 11258 Mandatory Cigarette Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 4)
8/07 AB 1946 Expanding Enforcement of Water Pollution Laws Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
8/07 AB 2270 Water Softener Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
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)
7/17 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)
7/10 HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
7/02 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
7/01 HB 518 Alcohol Tax Increase Bill Failed - Senate (7 - 14)
6/25 S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
6/25 SB 6009 Transportation Taxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
6/24 S 8638 Internet Sales Tax Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 18)
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)
6/18 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 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/11 SB 263 Greenhouse Gas Caps Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
6/10 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
6/04 SB 321 Cigarette Tax Increase and Wine Discount Reduction Conference Report Adopted - Senate (12 - 11)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
6/04 S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
5/29 SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/29 SB 1499 Foil Balloon Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/27 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/22 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Veto Override Passed - Senate (82 - 13)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
5/15 HR 2419 Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill) Conference Report Adopted - Senate (81 - 15)
5/15 HB 1509 Allocation of Gambling/Gaming Profits Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
5/15 HB 1434 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8)
5/15 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/15 SB 860 Great Lakes Water Management Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/14 H 3032 Immigration Reform Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
5/14 HB 545 Short Term Loans Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
5/13 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
5/12 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/08 SF 875 Minimum Wage Increase Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 18)
5/08 HB 1436 Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11)
5/08 HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/07 S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
5/07 SB 586 Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 3)
5/07 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
5/06 S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
5/06 HB 2412 Coal Plant Incentives Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 10)
5/06 SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
5/06 H 4645 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/06 HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/05 SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/05 HB 1389 Health Insurance Rates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/05 HB 5105 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
5/02 HB 1325 Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/02 HB 1161 Mining Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 2)
5/01 SB 2423 Turtle Bay Acquisition Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 11)
5/01 HB 5283 Health Insurance Package Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/01 HB 2393 Mega-Project Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
5/01 Sub HB 5282 Independent Health Benefit Plans Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/01 SB 217 Mandatory Sick Leave Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
4/30 SB 148 Electricity Generation and Conservation Veto Override Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
4/30 SB 160 Homeowners' Insurance Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
4/28 HB 2745 Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
4/28 SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/24 SB 817 Physicians' Billing Practices Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
4/23 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/22 SB 1198 Changes to Michigan Business Tax Laws Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
4/22 SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
4/21 HB 2395 Driving and Boating Under the Influence Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6)
4/16 SA 1 to HB 2007 Mega-Project Fund Appropriation Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 22)
4/16 SB 2860 Property Insurance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
4/15 SB 2793 Utility Rate Increases During Planning or Construction of Plants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 4)

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