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:
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.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 8, 2008 | MN | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 18) |
May 8, 2008 | MN | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 45) |
May 1, 2008 | MN | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (82 - 45) |
June 4, 2008 | PA | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
Jan. 15, 2008 | WI | SB 130 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
Jan. 24, 2008 | VA | HB 852 | Collective Bargaining for Governmental Employees | Motion Rejected - House (43 - 55) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | KY | SB 112 | Restricting Public Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
Jan. 30, 2008 | CO | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (53 - 12) |
Jan. 29, 2008 | IN | SB 335 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
Feb. 1, 2008 | MS | SB 2037 | Requirements for Public Works Laborers | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5) |
Feb. 19, 2008 | WA | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
March 5, 2008 | WA | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
March 4, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
March 3, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
Feb. 21, 2008 | UT | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
Feb. 25, 2008 | WV | HB 4132 | Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
March 28, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
March 17, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (37 - 26) |
Feb. 27, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
March 18, 2008 | CO | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
Feb. 26, 2008 | CO | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
Feb. 29, 2008 | KS | HB 2870 | Employment Incentive for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (59 - 63) |
March 12, 2008 | IA | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
March 5, 2008 | MS | SB 2988 | Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (112 - 8) |
March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1645 | State Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (259 - 60) |
March 18, 2008 | ID | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
Feb. 29, 2008 | ID | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
March 24, 2008 | IA | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
March 19, 2008 | IA | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
April 1, 2008 | AZ | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
April 28, 2008 | AZ | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4) |
March 19, 2008 | ID | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
March 27, 2008 | KS | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
March 26, 2008 | KS | Huelskamp Amnd. 1 | Employment Verification | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27) |
March 26, 2008 | KS | Brownlee Amnd. | Prohibits Union from collecting dues from Undocumented Workers | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18) |
March 26, 2008 | KS | Bartlett Amnd. | Bartlett Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 27) |
March 20, 2008 | KS | SB 461 | Electronic Wage Reports and Reimbursement Payments | Motion Agreed - House (63 - 58) |
April 10, 2008 | NE | LB 1082 | Expanding Workers' Compensation Benefits | Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 18) |
April 10, 2008 | MN | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
March 19, 2008 | CO | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
April 16, 2008 | NH | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (219 - 113) |
March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
April 16, 2008 | IA | HF 2686 | Employee Identification Verification | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
May 5, 2008 | CT | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
April 22, 2008 | CT | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (106 - 45) |
April 24, 2008 | MO | HB 2059 | Establishes the Professional Relationships Between Teachers and School Districts Act. | Bill Passed - House (83 - 67) |
April 24, 2008 | MO | HB 1851 | Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay Changes | Bill Failed - House (68 - 82) |
April 29, 2008 | RI | H 7107 | Employment Verification Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
May 1, 2008 | CT | SB 217 | Mandatory Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
April 22, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
May 14, 2008 | SC | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
May 15, 2008 | CA | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
May 22, 2008 | MS | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3) |
May 28, 2008 | MS | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (87 - 33) |
Aug. 20, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
May 28, 2008 | CA | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
June 18, 2008 | DE | SB 280 | Minimum Wage Increase for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
June 23, 2008 | NJ | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
June 23, 2008 | CT | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
June 23, 2008 | CT | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39) |
May 21, 2008 | NH | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (186 - 128) |
May 8, 2008 | NH | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - House (180 - 126) |
May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2076 | Prohibiting E-verify | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
Aug. 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2001 | Whistleblower Hotline | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
Aug. 27, 2008 | CA | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
Aug. 14, 2008 | CA | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
5/08 | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 18) |
5/08 | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 45) |
5/01 | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (82 - 45) |
6/04 | SB 246 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31) |
1/15 | SB 130 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13) |
1/24 | HB 852 | Collective Bargaining for Governmental Employees | Motion Rejected - House (43 - 55) |
1/30 | SB 112 | Restricting Public Employee Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
1/30 | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (53 - 12) |
1/29 | SB 335 | Immigration Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
2/01 | SB 2037 | Requirements for Public Works Laborers | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5) |
2/19 | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - House (64 - 31) |
3/05 | HB 2815 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
3/04 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
3/03 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - House (56 - 15) |
2/21 | SB 81 | Expanding Immigration Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
2/25 | HB 4132 | Prohibiting Mandatory Employee Participation in Political Events | Bill Passed - House (64 - 33) |
3/28 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
3/17 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (37 - 26) |
2/27 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
3/18 | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
2/26 | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
2/29 | HB 2870 | Employment Incentive for Teachers | Bill Failed - House (59 - 63) |
3/12 | SF 2355 | Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
3/05 | SB 2988 | Prohibiting Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (112 - 8) |
3/18 | HB 1645 | State Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (259 - 60) |
3/18 | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
2/29 | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
3/24 | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
3/19 | HF 2645 | Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
4/01 | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
4/28 | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4) |
3/19 | S 1447 | Capping Medical Benefits for State Government Retirees | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
3/27 | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
3/26 | Huelskamp Amnd. 1 | Employment Verification | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27) |
3/26 | Brownlee Amnd. | Prohibits Union from collecting dues from Undocumented Workers | Amendment Adopted - Senate (19 - 18) |
3/26 | Bartlett Amnd. | Bartlett Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 27) |
3/20 | SB 461 | Electronic Wage Reports and Reimbursement Payments | Motion Agreed - House (63 - 58) |
4/10 | LB 1082 | Expanding Workers' Compensation Benefits | Motion Rejected - Senate (22 - 18) |
4/10 | HF 3569 | Workers' Lung Health Study | Bill Passed - House (88 - 45) |
3/19 | HB 1189 | State Employee Strike Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 2) |
4/16 | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (219 - 113) |
3/20 | SB 502 | Expanding Unemployment Compensation Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
4/16 | HF 2686 | Employee Identification Verification | Bill Passed - House (84 - 16) |
5/05 | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
4/22 | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (106 - 45) |
4/24 | HB 2059 | Establishes the Professional Relationships Between Teachers and School Districts Act. | Bill Passed - House (83 - 67) |
4/24 | HB 1851 | Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay Changes | Bill Failed - House (68 - 82) |
4/29 | H 7107 | Employment Verification Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
5/01 | SB 217 | Mandatory Sick Leave | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
5/05 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
5/02 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
5/05 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
5/02 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
4/22 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
5/14 | H 3032 | Immigration Reform | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
5/15 | SB 1322 | Communist Party Membership | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
5/28 | AB 2716 | Paid Sick Leave | Bill Passed - House (45 - 33) |
5/22 | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 3) |
5/28 | SB 2011 | Increasing Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (87 - 33) |
8/20 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
5/28 | AB 2279 | Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients | Bill Passed - House (41 - 35) |
6/18 | SB 280 | Minimum Wage Increase for Tipped Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
6/23 | S 1962 | State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits | Bill Passed - House (52 - 13) |
6/23 | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
6/23 | HB 5105 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - House (102 - 39) |
5/21 | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (186 - 128) |
5/08 | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
3/18 | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - House (180 - 126) |
5/29 | AB 2076 | Prohibiting E-verify | Bill Passed - House (43 - 31) |
5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
8/05 | AB 2001 | Whistleblower Hotline | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
8/29 | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 31) |
8/27 | AB 2386 | Agricultural Union Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
8/29 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 18) |
8/14 | AB 1107 | Drought-Related Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
3/20 | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |