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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Jan. 13, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
Jan. 12, 2010 IL SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
Jan. 20, 2010 WA HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
Feb. 16, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
Feb. 1, 2010 CO SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 9, 2010 National PN 1351 Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33)
Jan. 27, 2010 SD SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
Feb. 24, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2010 IN SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 8, 2010 UT HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
March 9, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
Feb. 8, 2010 NM HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
Feb. 4, 2010 IA SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
March 1, 2010 MN SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47)
Feb. 25, 2010 MN SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
Feb. 9, 2010 MN SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
Feb. 8, 2010 VA SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
Feb. 9, 2010 WA SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
Feb. 16, 2010 NM HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 18, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
Feb. 12, 2010 NM SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
March 1, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2010 UT SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
Feb. 26, 2010 WY SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
March 11, 2010 MN HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
March 9, 2010 OK SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
March 18, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
March 17, 2010 IA HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
March 23, 2010 KY HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 25, 2010 KY SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
March 29, 2010 IA SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68)
March 26, 2010 ME LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
April 2, 2010 WA SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
April 6, 2010 NE Amdt 2454 Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27)
April 6, 2010 NE Amdt 2455 Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30)
April 9, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
March 24, 2010 FL SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
April 9, 2010 NE LB 780 PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Sept. 23, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
April 14, 2010 MI SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 22, 2010 WI SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
April 20, 2010 MO SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
April 30, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
May 12, 2010 CO SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
April 19, 2010 LA HB 224 Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees Bill Failed - House (42 - 56)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
April 5, 2010 CO SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
May 27, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
May 26, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 10, 2010 LA HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
May 17, 2010 LA HB 1478 Unpaid holidays for state employees Bill Failed - House (23 - 68)
May 10, 2010 NY S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (83 - 56)
May 10, 2010 NY S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
May 17, 2010 NY S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (92 - 50)
May 17, 2010 NY S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27)
May 12, 2010 CO HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 26, 2010 MA H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
May 25, 2010 IL SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
May 26, 2010 LA Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
June 1, 2010 NY S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
July 1, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19)
March 8, 2010 SD SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
June 9, 2010 NH Amdt 2408 Insurance Premium Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (130 - 220)
June 29, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
July 1, 2010 NY A10163 Establishing the Wage Theft Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (88 - 49)
May 25, 2010 LA SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
July 14, 2010 MO HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
June 20, 2010 LA HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
June 8, 2010 PA HB 1502 Verification of Employee Eligibility Bill Passed - House (188 - 6)
March 2, 2010 WY HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
Feb. 22, 2010 WY HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Passed - House (54 - 3)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
March 10, 2010 SC H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Bill Passed - House (103 - 35)
April 12, 2010 MD SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 45)
April 1, 2010 MD SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
April 12, 2010 MD HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
April 12, 2010 MD HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39)
May 11, 2010 CO SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 10, 2010 CO SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
June 3, 2010 OH Wachtmann Amdt Authorizes Funding for the Workers' Compensation Council Amendment Tabled - House (53 - 44)
Dec. 8, 2010 National S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
Nov. 15, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
Oct. 14, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
June 16, 2010 PA HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/13 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 4)
1/12 SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments Bill Passed - House (74 - 37)
1/20 HB 2561 Energy Efficiency Improvement Bonds Bill Passed - House (57 - 41)
2/16 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
2/01 SB 1 Public Employee Retirement Association Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/09 PN 1351 Craig Becker, Member of the National Labor Relations Board Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 33)
1/27 SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
2/24 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (82 - 17)
1/12 SB 23 Unemployment Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/08 HB 18 Expanding Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
3/09 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Motion Agreed - House (55 - 42)
2/08 SB 66 Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government Employment Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
2/08 HB 17 Prohibiting Domestic Violence Offenders from Being Peace Officers Bill Passed - House (48 - 19)
2/04 SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 6)
3/01 SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Failed - House (86 - 47)
2/25 SF 2168 General Assistance Medical Care Program Modifications Veto Override Passed - Senate (45 - 21)
2/09 SF 2360 Construction Projects Authorizations and Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 14)
2/08 SB 239 Unemployment Benefit Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 9)
2/09 SB 6382 Extending State Employee Salary Freeze Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
2/16 HB 231 Authorizing Education Retirement Board Pension Disclosure Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/18 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - House (37 - 31)
2/12 SB 112 Authorizing Severance Tax Bonds and Allocating Proceeds Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 17)
3/01 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
2/26 SB 43 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 20)
3/01 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
2/26 SB 63 Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - House (46 - 26)
2/26 SF 72 Increasing State Employee Contribution to State Retirement System Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 44)
3/11 HF 2700 Omnibus Bonding and Budget Amendments Conference Report Adopted - Senate (49 - 17)
3/09 SB 1973 Worker's Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
3/18 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
3/17 HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments Bill Passed - House (53 - 43)
3/23 HB 239 School Principal Selection Process Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/25 SB 178 Closed-Session School Superintendent Evaluations Bill Passed - House (67 - 29)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 17)
3/29 SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (52 - 47)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 68)
3/26 LD 1552 Repealing Maine Tree Growth Program Eligibility for Use of "Bonded Laborers" Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
4/02 SB 6503 State Employee Furlough Plan Bill Passed - House (50 - 38)
4/06 Amdt 2454 Limiting First Responder PTSD Death Benefits to 1 Year Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 27)
4/06 Amdt 2455 Limiting First Responder PTSD Benefits to 26 Weeks Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 30)
4/09 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (64 - 55)
3/24 SB 6 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
4/09 LB 780 PTSD Workers' Compensation Benefits for First Responders Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
9/23 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (60 - 45)
4/14 SB 1226 State Retirement Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/22 SB 437 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (50 - 47)
4/20 SB 714 State Employee Retirement System Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
4/30 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
5/12 SB 191 Education Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
4/19 HB 224 Withholding Pension Benefits from Incarcerated Public Employees Bill Failed - House (42 - 56)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
4/05 SB 133 Income Tax Credit Incentive for Colorado Businesses Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 17)
5/27 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 23)
5/26 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/10 HB 1033 Evaluation and Assessment Programs Bill Passed - House (68 - 26)
5/17 HB 1478 Unpaid holidays for state employees Bill Failed - House (23 - 68)
5/10 S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (83 - 56)
5/10 S 7777 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
5/17 S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - House (92 - 50)
5/17 S 7846 Emergency Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
5/12 HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (35 - 27)
5/12 HB 1409 State Employee Compensation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/26 H 4703 Sentencing Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (139 - 17)
5/25 SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations Bill Passed - House (71 - 44)
5/26 Amdt 4002 Requires Department of Education Employees Evaluation Amendment Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
6/01 S 2311D Labor Standards for Domestic Workers Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 28)
7/01 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
6/03 SB 1121 Overtime Wages for Agricultural Workers Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
6/21 HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
6/21 HB 5207 Criminal Background Checks for State Employees Veto Override Passed - House (120 - 19)
3/08 SB 18 Restrictions on Retirement for Rehired Public Employees Bill Passed - House (55 - 13)
6/09 Amdt 2408 Insurance Premium Amendments Amendment Rejected - House (130 - 220)
6/29 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Bill Passed - House (92 - 54)
7/01 A10163 Establishing the Wage Theft Prevention Act Bill Passed - House (88 - 49)
5/25 SB 293 Establishes and Implements an Agency Attrition Analysis Process Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 53)
7/14 HB 1 Public Retirement Systems Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 5)
6/20 HB 519 Limiting "Retire-Rehire" Benefits in Public Schools Concurrence Vote Passed - House (71 - 19)
6/08 HB 1502 Verification of Employee Eligibility Bill Passed - House (188 - 6)
3/02 HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 15)
2/22 HB 93 Increasing Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations Bill Passed - House (54 - 3)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (106 - 12)
3/10 H 3305 Requiring Secret Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 9)
4/12 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 12)
4/09 SB 590 Establishes a Public School Labor Relations Board Bill Passed - House (103 - 35)
4/12 SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - House (94 - 45)
4/01 SB 789 Requires Shift Breaks for Certain Employees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18)
4/12 HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 18)
4/12 HB 465 Establishes Collective Bargaining Procedures for Certain Child Care Providers Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 39)
5/11 SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/10 SB 12 Increasing Penalties for Worker's Compensation Violations Bill Passed - House (37 - 27)
6/03 Wachtmann Amdt Authorizes Funding for the Workers' Compensation Council Amendment Tabled - House (53 - 44)
12/08 S 3991 Allowing Collective Bargaining for Public Safety Officers Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (55 - 43)
11/15 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Concurrence Vote Passed - House (165 - 31)
10/14 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8)
6/16 HB 2497 Amends State Employee Pension System Bill Passed - House (192 - 6)

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