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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aug. 6, 2009 | National | PN 506 | Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31) |
May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
July 6, 2009 | NC | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
Oct. 6, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2588 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30) |
April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
March 12, 2009 | UT | SB 208 | Posting Public Notices Online | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
April 8, 2009 | OR | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
April 22, 2009 | OK | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
March 11, 2009 | UT | SB 208 | Posting Public Notices Online | Bill Passed - House (38 - 32) |
June 21, 2009 | LA | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
April 6, 2009 | OR | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - House (50 - 8) |
March 5, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
March 9, 2009 | UT | HB 379 | Environmental Lawsuit Delay Bond | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 79 | Elevating Standard of Proof for Specific Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 18) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
March 10, 2009 | UT | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
March 16, 2009 | NJ | S 2091 | Formalizing Palimony Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
March 26, 2009 | MI | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
March 26, 2009 | MD | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
March 31, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
April 3, 2009 | NE | LB 260 | Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | VA | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
Feb. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | UT | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | OK | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
Feb. 23, 2009 | OR | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | VA | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
March 3, 2009 | OR | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
March 4, 2009 | OK | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 39) |
March 4, 2009 | KS | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
March 5, 2009 | OR | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
March 5, 2009 | OR | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
April 7, 2009 | ID | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
April 8, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
April 20, 2009 | NV | AB 495 | Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
May 12, 2009 | LA | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
May 26, 2009 | OR | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
May 27, 2009 | CT | HB 6385 | Probate Court System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
June 9, 2009 | LA | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
June 12, 2009 | OR | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
July 23, 2009 | NC | HB 524 | Changing Local Annexation Laws | Bill Passed - House (83 - 31) |
Nov. 19, 2009 | National | PN 187 | David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39) |
Sept. 11, 2009 | CA | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
Sept. 10, 2009 | CA | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26) |
Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
Aug. 31, 2009 | CA | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
Sept. 3, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
March 23, 2009 | CO | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
Jan. 27, 2009 | VA | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | GA | SB 42 | Transfer of Authority Over State's Public Defender System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | NM | HB 28 | Increasing Penalties for Intimidation of Judges | Bill Passed - House (43 - 21) |
April 20, 2009 | MN | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | CO | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | GA | SB 23 | Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12) |
Nov. 7, 2009 | National | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
March 26, 2009 | FL | Amdt 677495 | Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69) |
May 4, 2009 | VT | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
April 22, 2009 | OK | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 23) |
March 3, 2009 | UT | HB 187 | Restricting Access to Public Waters on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (34 - 41) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | NM | SB 12 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 25) |
March 20, 2009 | ID | H 214 | Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages | Bill Failed - House (31 - 32) |
April 3, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
8/06 | PN 506 | Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 31) |
5/01 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
7/06 | SB 870 | Making General Statutes Gender Neutral | Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33) |
10/06 | S Amdt 2588 | Prohibiting Federal Funding of Mandatory Arbitration Contracts | Amendment Adopted - Senate (68 - 30) |
4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
3/12 | SB 208 | Posting Public Notices Online | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 10) |
4/08 | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
4/22 | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
5/11 | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
3/11 | SB 208 | Posting Public Notices Online | Bill Passed - House (38 - 32) |
6/21 | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
4/06 | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - House (50 - 8) |
3/05 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
3/09 | HB 379 | Environmental Lawsuit Delay Bond | Bill Passed - House (52 - 22) |
3/10 | SB 79 | Elevating Standard of Proof for Specific Medical Malpractice Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (53 - 18) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (42 - 30) |
3/10 | SB 53 | Prohibiting the Awarding of Legal Fees to Plaintiffs in Public Interest Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 6) |
3/16 | S 2091 | Formalizing Palimony Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
3/26 | HB 4317 | Extending Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Liability | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
3/26 | SB 279 | Capital Punishment Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 52) |
3/31 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Bill Passed - House (84 - 35) |
4/03 | LB 260 | Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9) |
3/03 | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
2/04 | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - House (80 - 17) |
2/11 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
2/17 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
2/18 | HB 122 | Restricting Access to Government Litigation Records | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
2/18 | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
2/23 | SB 311 | Changes in Liability Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
2/24 | HB 1671 | "Derelict Building" Plan Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
3/03 | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
3/04 | HB 1603 | Tort Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 39) |
3/04 | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
3/05 | SB 581 | 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
3/05 | SB 5552 | 2007-2009 Biennium Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (37 - 22) |
4/07 | H 138 | Allowing Lawsuits for Nonnative Species Attacks | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
4/08 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
4/20 | AB 495 | Removing Medical Malpractice Award Cap | Bill Passed - House (26 - 15) |
5/12 | HB 60 | Birth Certificates for Adoption | Bill Passed - House (78 - 17) |
5/26 | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
5/27 | HB 6385 | Probate Court System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
6/09 | HB 866 | Publishing Legal Records | Bill Passed - House (53 - 40) |
6/12 | SB 284 | Extension of Statute of Ultimate Repose | Bill Passed - House (34 - 24) |
7/23 | HB 524 | Changing Local Annexation Laws | Bill Passed - House (83 - 31) |
11/19 | PN 187 | David F. Hamilton, Seventh Circuit Judge | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 39) |
9/11 | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
9/10 | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26) |
9/09 | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
2/25 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - House (74 - 26) |
8/31 | SBx3 18 | Correctional Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (41 - 37) |
9/03 | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - House (47 - 29) |
3/23 | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
9/08 | AB 2 | Health Care Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
1/27 | SB 961 | Expanding Death Penalty Eligibility to Accomplices | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/04 | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
2/19 | SB 42 | Transfer of Authority Over State's Public Defender System | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 21) |
2/25 | HB 28 | Increasing Penalties for Intimidation of Judges | Bill Passed - House (43 - 21) |
4/20 | SF 802 | 2009-2011 Biennium Public Safety and Corrections Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 31) |
2/24 | HB 1260 | Designated Beneficiary Agreements Between Unmarried Adults | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
2/25 | SB 23 | Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12) |
11/07 | H Amdt 510 | Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments | Amendment Rejected - House (176 - 258) |
3/26 | Amdt 677495 | Amendments to Attorney Fee Cap in Workers Compensation Lawsuits | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 69) |
5/04 | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
4/22 | HB 1602 | Attorney Fee Limits | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 23) |
3/03 | HB 187 | Restricting Access to Public Waters on Private Property | Bill Failed - House (34 - 41) |
2/26 | SB 12 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 25) |
3/20 | H 214 | Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages | Bill Failed - House (31 - 32) |
4/03 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |