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
June 16, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
April 29, 2009 NH HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11)
May 27, 2009 LA Amdt B-200 Cell Phone Secondary Offense Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40)
Dec. 13, 2009 National HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
June 18, 2009 MA S 2087 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
Dec. 10, 2009 National HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 202)
June 18, 2009 MA S 2087 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (130 - 25)
May 31, 2009 TX HB 537 Increase Required Age for Seatbelts Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 34)
June 17, 2009 LA HB 499 Seat Belt Law Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 12)
May 1, 2009 FL SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 37)
Aug. 10, 2009 NC HB 148 Local Transportation Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 40)
April 24, 2009 WA SB 5768 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
March 12, 2009 UT HB 290 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29)
July 15, 2009 NC HB 1185 Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29)
May 1, 2009 FL SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
Dec. 16, 2009 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 212)
April 15, 2009 IN HB 1607 West Lake Commuter Rail Project Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
April 2, 2009 MT HB 531 Red Light Camera Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
June 24, 2009 OR HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
March 24, 2009 WI SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
March 18, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
June 23, 2009 OR HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA ABx3 3 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
April 27, 2009 TN SB 393 Prohibiting Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (67 - 24)
April 22, 2009 WA SB 5768 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
May 19, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
July 24, 2009 CA ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
May 27, 2009 LA HB 146 Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
Jan. 29, 2009 WY HB 190 Suspending Driver's Licenses for Nonpayment of Child Support Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
Jan. 29, 2009 ND HB 1182 Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
Jan. 30, 2009 WY HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
Feb. 3, 2009 SD SB 79 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
Feb. 5, 2009 VA SB 1161 Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 13, 2009 ND SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
Feb. 18, 2009 SC S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Feb. 18, 2009 NH HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Passed - House (197 - 155)
Feb. 19, 2009 KS SB 59 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 20, 2009 NE LB 85 Bond Revenue to Fund Streets and Bridges Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2009 MT HB 531 Red Light Camera Prohibition Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
Feb. 24, 2009 NV SB 116 Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
Feb. 24, 2009 VA HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
Feb. 25, 2009 IN HB 1607 West Lake Commuter Rail Project Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
Feb. 25, 2009 NM SB 44 Prohibiting Smoking in Cars with Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
March 4, 2009 NH HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
March 5, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
March 5, 2009 UT HB 179 Authorizing Land Swap for Development of UTA Rail Station Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
March 11, 2009 UT HB 179 Authorizing Land Swap for Development of UTA Rail Station Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
March 12, 2009 GA HB 480 Car Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (133 - 39)
March 18, 2009 IL HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
March 24, 2009 NH HB 34 Banning Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (222 - 137)
March 26, 2009 MN HF 1797 Federal Stimulus Transportation Funding Bill Passed - House (113 - 19)
March 27, 2009 WV HB 2621 Prohibiting the Use of Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
March 31, 2009 TX SB 298 Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 1, 2009 VT H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
April 1, 2009 IL HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
April 2, 2009 MD SB 277 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 10, 2009 MD SB 277 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (94 - 41)
April 14, 2009 TX SB 855 Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
April 15, 2009 VT H 147 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - House (104 - 40)
April 28, 2009 OR HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
April 30, 2009 CO SB 296 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 8, 2009 OR HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
May 18, 2009 MN HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19)
May 18, 2009 MN HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - House (73 - 60)
May 27, 2009 OR HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
Jan. 26, 2009 CO HB 1042 Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
May 29, 2009 OR HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
June 1, 2009 CA SB 435 Smog Check Requirements for Motorcycles Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
June 1, 2009 ME LD 1357 Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (81 - 56)
June 2, 2009 LA HB 639 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
June 3, 2009 ME LD 1357 Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
June 9, 2009 National HR 2751 Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act Bill Passed - House (298 - 119)
June 22, 2009 NY A 1039 Albany Parking Permits Bill Passed - House (99 - 42)
July 31, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
Aug. 6, 2009 National HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
May 8, 2009 FL SB 1778 Increases Certain Transportation-Related Fees Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
Feb. 19, 2009 CA SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
May 8, 2009 ID H 376 Transportation Funding Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
April 7, 2009 MA S 2024 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Bill Passed - House (147 - 7)
April 1, 2009 GA SB 200 Reorganization of the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - House (90 - 84)
Feb. 26, 2009 CO SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
April 28, 2009 CO SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
March 30, 2009 GA SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - House (104 - 58)
May 7, 2009 ID H 376 Transportation Funding Package Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
Sept. 24, 2009 CT HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
Feb. 25, 2009 AR SB 78 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
March 13, 2009 KY HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
April 10, 2009 ID S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
April 1, 2009 OH HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 29)
March 16, 2009 ID S 1089 Eliminating Child Safety Seat Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 6, 2009 KY HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
March 5, 2009 GA SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
Feb. 10, 2009 IN HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
Dec. 16, 2009 MI HB 5634 Auto Insurance Discrimination Prohibitions Bill Passed - House (57 - 47)
Feb. 5, 2009 CO SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
March 17, 2009 CO SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Sept. 24, 2009 CT HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (106 - 34)
March 9, 2009 GA HB 160 Speeding Fee Bill Passed - House (113 - 53)
Jan. 29, 2009 AR HB 1013 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (78 - 12)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/16 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Veto Override Passed - Senate (35 - 9)
4/29 HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11)
5/27 Amdt B-200 Cell Phone Secondary Offense Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 40)
12/13 HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (57 - 35)
6/18 S 2087 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 11)
12/10 HR 3288 2009-2010 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (221 - 202)
6/18 S 2087 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Conference Report Adopted - House (130 - 25)
5/31 HB 537 Increase Required Age for Seatbelts Conference Report Adopted - House (105 - 34)
6/17 HB 499 Seat Belt Law Concurrence Vote Passed - House (75 - 12)
5/01 SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 37)
8/10 HB 148 Local Transportation Reforms Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 40)
4/24 SB 5768 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 9)
3/12 HB 290 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29)
7/15 HB 1185 Habitual DWI Reinstatement after Ten Years Concurrence Vote Passed - House (87 - 29)
5/01 SB 360 Growth Management Deregulation Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
12/16 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 212)
4/15 HB 1607 West Lake Commuter Rail Project Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
4/02 HB 531 Red Light Camera Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11)
6/24 HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
3/24 SB 37 Allowing Drivers To Keep Licenses While Paying Fines Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
3/18 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
6/23 HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
2/19 ABx3 3 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
4/27 SB 393 Prohibiting Texting While Driving Bill Passed - House (67 - 24)
4/22 SB 5768 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
5/19 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
7/24 ABX4 30 Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Revisions: Transfer of Local Government Revenue Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
5/27 HB 146 Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
1/29 HB 190 Suspending Driver's Licenses for Nonpayment of Child Support Bill Passed - House (37 - 23)
1/29 HB 1182 Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
1/30 HB 141 Amending DUI Statutes Bill Passed - House (49 - 10)
2/03 SB 79 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/05 HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
2/05 SB 1161 Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/13 SB 2184 Repeals Auto Rebate Tax Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
2/18 S 351 State Ports Authority Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
2/18 HB 383 Mandating Seat Belt Usage Bill Passed - House (197 - 155)
2/19 SB 59 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/20 LB 85 Bond Revenue to Fund Streets and Bridges Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10)
2/24 HB 531 Red Light Camera Prohibition Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
2/24 SB 116 Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
2/24 HB 1826 Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3)
2/25 HB 1607 West Lake Commuter Rail Project Bill Passed - House (68 - 31)
2/25 SB 44 Prohibiting Smoking in Cars with Children Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
3/04 HB 644 Gasoline Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (190 - 162)
3/05 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
3/05 HB 179 Authorizing Land Swap for Development of UTA Rail Station Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
3/11 HB 179 Authorizing Land Swap for Development of UTA Rail Station Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8)
3/12 HB 480 Car Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (133 - 39)
3/18 HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement Bill Passed - House (68 - 47)
3/24 HB 34 Banning Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (222 - 137)
3/26 HF 1797 Federal Stimulus Transportation Funding Bill Passed - House (113 - 19)
3/27 HB 2621 Prohibiting the Use of Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
3/31 SB 298 Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/01 H 438 Gas Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
4/01 HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones Bill Passed - House (90 - 24)
4/02 SB 277 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/10 SB 277 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (94 - 41)
4/14 SB 855 Authorizing County Taxes and Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
4/15 H 147 Primary Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Passed - House (104 - 40)
4/28 HB 2377 Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
4/30 SB 296 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/08 HB 2186 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
5/18 HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19)
5/18 HF 108 Primary Seat Belt Law Bill Passed - House (73 - 60)
5/27 HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (38 - 22)
1/26 HB 1042 Amending Minimum Traffic Speed Regulations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
5/29 HB 2001 Transit and Gas Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6)
6/01 SB 435 Smog Check Requirements for Motorcycles Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
6/01 LD 1357 Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations Bill Passed - House (81 - 56)
6/02 HB 639 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - House (64 - 33)
6/03 LD 1357 Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
6/09 HR 2751 Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act Bill Passed - House (298 - 119)
6/22 A 1039 Albany Parking Permits Bill Passed - House (99 - 42)
7/31 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - House (316 - 109)
8/06 HR 3435 Supplemental Appropriations for the "Cash for Clunkers" Program Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 37)
5/08 SB 1778 Increases Certain Transportation-Related Fees Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 43)
2/19 SBx3 7 Transportation Financing Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
5/08 H 376 Transportation Funding Package Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
4/07 S 2024 Massachusetts Transportation Agency Consolidation Bill Passed - House (147 - 7)
4/01 SB 200 Reorganization of the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - House (90 - 84)
2/26 SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - House (34 - 31)
4/28 SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
3/30 SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - House (104 - 58)
5/07 H 376 Transportation Funding Package Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
9/24 HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
2/25 SB 78 Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (60 - 31)
3/13 HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7)
4/10 S 1186 Highway Project Financing Bill Passed - House (39 - 29)
4/01 HB 2 2009-2011 Biennium Transportation Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 29)
3/16 S 1089 Eliminating Child Safety Seat Exemptions Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/06 HB 374 Gasoline Tax Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
3/05 SB 200 Reorganization of State Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 25)
2/10 HB 1656 Shifting Federal Transportation Funding to Counties and Localities Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
12/16 HB 5634 Auto Insurance Discrimination Prohibitions Bill Passed - House (57 - 47)
2/05 SB 108 Increasing Vehicle Fees to Fund Transportation Projects Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
3/17 SB 228 Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
9/24 HB 7002 2009-2011 Biennium Budget Financing Bill Passed - House (106 - 34)
3/09 HB 160 Speeding Fee Bill Passed - House (113 - 53)
1/29 HB 1013 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (78 - 12)

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