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. 10, 2009 NJ S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Nov. 18, 2009 WV SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
Oct. 6, 2009 National S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
Sept. 22, 2009 WI AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Sept. 12, 2009 CA SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Sept. 9, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 524 Privacy Law Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Sept. 8, 2009 CA AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Sept. 1, 2009 CA AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 7, 2009 NC SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
July 20, 2009 CT HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
July 20, 2009 NC HB 1289 Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23)
July 15, 2009 NC HB 1595 Malt Beverage Special Permit Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
July 13, 2009 CA SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
June 30, 2009 DE HB 211 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
June 30, 2009 DE HB 210 Liquor License Fee Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
June 26, 2009 OR HB 2472 Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2)
June 25, 2009 NJ A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
June 24, 2009 NC SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
June 23, 2009 LA SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
June 23, 2009 OR HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
June 22, 2009 OR SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 22, 2009 LA HB 877 Bluebonnet-Perkins Conference Hotel Taxing District Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 17)
June 19, 2009 OR SB 676 Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
June 16, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
June 16, 2009 LA HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
June 16, 2009 AZ SB 1113 Handguns in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
June 15, 2009 OR HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 12, 2009 OR HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
June 11, 2009 ME LD 1259 Menu Labeling Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
June 11, 2009 LA SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 11, 2009 OR HB 3405 Corporate Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 9, 2009 WI SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
June 4, 2009 TN HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
June 3, 2009 OR HB 2067 Expiration Dates for Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 3, 2009 NY S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
June 3, 2009 PA SB 81 Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
June 2, 2009 CA SB 484 Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 1, 2009 OR HB 2726 Nutrition Labeling on Menus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
May 30, 2009 IL HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
May 30, 2009 CT HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
May 30, 2009 CT HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 29, 2009 OR HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
May 28, 2009 LA SB 186 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 27, 2009 RI S 659 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
May 27, 2009 MI SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
May 26, 2009 CT SB 953 Hedge Funds Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
May 26, 2009 OR SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
May 20, 2009 ME LD 290 Out-of-State Health Insurance "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
May 15, 2009 MO HB 191 Law Changes Regarding Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
May 14, 2009 AL HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
May 14, 2009 AL HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
May 13, 2009 WI SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
May 11, 2009 NC HB 2 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
May 8, 2009 HI SB 1111 Transient Accommodations Tax Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
May 6, 2009 NY S 1363 Tenants' Protection In Foreclosure Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24)
May 6, 2009 CO HB 1366 Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 5, 2009 CO SB 244 Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
May 5, 2009 VT H 446 Renewable Energy Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
May 5, 2009 OR SB 786 Workplace Religious Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
May 4, 2009 MN SF 2081 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 903 Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 1, 2009 FL HB 1495 Property Insurance Law Modifications Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
May 1, 2009 FL SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
May 1, 2009 VT H 436 Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
April 30, 2009 FL Amdt 626368 Liability Insurance Related to SunRail Commuter Line Motion Rejected - Senate (17 - 23)
April 28, 2009 WI SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 28, 2009 CO HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
April 27, 2009 CO SB 244 Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 27, 2009 CO HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
April 22, 2009 OK HB 1332 Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
April 22, 2009 OK HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 23)
April 22, 2009 WA HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
April 21, 2009 AL HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
April 20, 2009 MN Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41)
April 17, 2009 NV SB 372 Smoking Ban Exceptions Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
April 17, 2009 MN SF 2083 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23)
April 17, 2009 NE LB 355 Exempting Cigar Bars from the Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
April 16, 2009 TN HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
April 16, 2009 CA SB 242 Prohibiting Language Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
April 16, 2009 ID S 1166 Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
April 15, 2009 TX SB 1049 Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
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)
April 14, 2009 HI HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
April 13, 2009 MD SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
April 13, 2009 TN SB 1954 Basic Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
April 13, 2009 CO SB 281 Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
April 9, 2009 AL SB 373 Deregulation of Landline Phone Service Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
April 6, 2009 MN SF 10 Sharing Services For Schools Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
April 3, 2009 GA HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 2, 2009 MI HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
April 1, 2009 MD SB 844 Public Service Commission Regulation of New Electric Generation Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
March 31, 2009 WV SB 419 Calorie Information Posting Requirement for Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/10 S 2905 Requiring Chain Restaurants to Post Nutrition Information Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
11/18 SB 4004 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 2)
10/06 S Amdt 2588 Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30)
9/22 AB 119 Requiring Kindergarten for First Grade Enrollment Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
9/12 SB 14 Renewable Energy Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
9/09 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
9/08 AB 524 Privacy Law Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
9/08 AB 2 Health Care Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
9/01 AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/07 SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18)
7/24 ABX4 23 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Oil Drilling Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/20 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
7/20 HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12)
7/20 HB 1289 Lottery Sales Ban at Check Cashing Sites Motion Rejected - Senate (20 - 23)
7/15 HB 1595 Malt Beverage Special Permit Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
7/13 SB 670 Ban on Suction and Dredge Mining Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
6/30 HB 211 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6)
6/30 HB 210 Liquor License Fee Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 3)
6/26 HB 2472 Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 2)
6/25 A 3372 Wages in Board of Public Utilities Construction Projects Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
6/24 SB 943 Expanding Production Company Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
6/23 SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
6/23 HB 3300 Promoting Green Jobs Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
6/22 SB 76 Klamath River Dams Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/22 HB 877 Bluebonnet-Perkins Conference Hotel Taxing District Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 17)
6/19 SB 676 Legalizing the Production of Industrial Hemp Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
6/16 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
6/16 HB 782 Wireless Phone Card Fees Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
6/16 SB 1113 Handguns in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
6/15 HB 2672 Increasing Moist Snuff Tobacco Tax and Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/12 HB 3298 Creating a Water Management Plan Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
6/11 LD 1259 Menu Labeling Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
6/11 SB 136 Allowing Alcohol and Live Entertainment in Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/11 HB 3405 Corporate Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/09 SB 107 Electronics Sale and Disposal Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
6/04 HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/03 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
6/03 HB 2067 Expiration Dates for Tax Credits Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/03 S 2020 SUNY Buffalo Education Bill Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 17)
6/03 SB 81 Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
6/02 SB 484 Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine Prescription Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/01 HB 2726 Nutrition Labeling on Menus Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
5/30 HB 174 Income Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 27)
5/30 HB 6600 SustiNet Health Insurance Plan Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
5/30 HB 6582 Healthcare Partnership Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/29 HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
5/28 SB 186 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
5/27 SB 587 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/27 S 659 Minimum Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 6)
5/27 SB 585 Cobo Convention Center Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
5/26 SB 953 Hedge Funds Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
5/26 SB 284 Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
5/20 LD 290 Out-of-State Health Insurance "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
5/15 HB 191 Law Changes Regarding Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
5/14 HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Veto Override Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
5/14 HB 373 Higher Alcohol Content Limit for Beer Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
5/13 SB 181 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
5/11 HB 2 Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
5/08 SB 1111 Transient Accommodations Tax Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (19 - 6)
5/06 S 1363 Tenants' Protection In Foreclosure Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24)
5/06 HB 1366 Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/05 SB 244 Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
5/05 H 446 Renewable Energy Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
5/05 SB 786 Workplace Religious Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
5/04 SF 2081 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28)
5/01 HB 903 Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/01 HB 1495 Property Insurance Law Modifications Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 6)
5/01 SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
5/01 H 436 Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Fund Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 4)
4/30 Amdt 626368 Liability Insurance Related to SunRail Commuter Line Motion Rejected - Senate (17 - 23)
4/28 SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/28 HB 1170 Allowing Locked-Out Employees to Collect Unemployment Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
4/27 SB 244 Requiring Health Insurance Plans to Cover Autism Treatments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/27 HB 1057 Mandatory Unpaid Parental Work Leave for Education Activities Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 13)
4/22 HB 1332 Increased Regulation of Pet Breeders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
4/22 HB 1602 Attorney Fee Limits Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 23)
4/22 HB 1709 Payday Lending Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 23)
4/21 HB 175 Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 9)
4/20 Permitting Slot Machines at Race Tracks Amendment Rejected - Senate (25 - 41)
4/17 SB 372 Smoking Ban Exceptions Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
4/17 SF 2083 2009-2011 Biennium Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 23)
4/17 LB 355 Exempting Cigar Bars from the Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
4/16 HB 962 Authorizing Guns in Restaurants that Serve Alcohol Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
4/16 SB 242 Prohibiting Language Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
4/16 S 1166 Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
4/15 SB 1049 Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5)
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)
4/14 HB 952 Amending Unionization Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4)
4/13 SB 278 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
4/13 SB 1954 Basic Phone Service Deregulation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7)
4/13 SB 281 Clarifying Pinnacol Assurance as a Subdivision of the State Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
4/09 SB 373 Deregulation of Landline Phone Service Rates Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8)
4/06 SF 10 Sharing Services For Schools Districts Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 33)
4/03 HB 2 Citizenship Status Verification of Government Assistance Recipients Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 16)
4/02 HB 4454 Written Foreclosure Notice Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
4/02 HB 4455 Mortgage Payment Modifications Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/02 HB 4453 Holds in Foreclosure Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
4/01 SB 844 Public Service Commission Regulation of New Electric Generation Facilities Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
3/31 SB 419 Calorie Information Posting Requirement for Restaurants Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)

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