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
Jan. 20, 2010 OH HB 166 Authorizing Regional Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - House (72 - 26)
Feb. 10, 2010 CO HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 1, 2010 CO HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
Jan. 27, 2010 VA SB 9 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 4, 2010 KY HB 43 Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
Feb. 4, 2010 MA H 4466 Expanding Driving Regulations Bill Passed - House (146 - 9)
Feb. 9, 2010 NM HB 10 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
Feb. 3, 2010 MS HB 959 Sale of State Plane Bill Passed - House (65 - 55)
Feb. 22, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
March 17, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
March 4, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
Feb. 16, 2010 VA HB 1108 "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
Feb. 17, 2010 SD HB 1178 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
Feb. 15, 2010 VA Gilbert Amdt "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39)
Feb. 17, 2010 UT HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
Feb. 19, 2010 SD HB 1107 Driver's License Renewal by Mail Bill Failed - House (33 - 30)
Feb. 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
Feb. 24, 2010 IL HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
March 3, 2010 CO HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
Feb. 18, 2010 WY SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Failed - House (17 - 41)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 20 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (32 - 26)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 22, 2010 AZ SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
March 2, 2010 AZ SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
March 16, 2010 IA SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (125 - 14)
March 24, 2010 MD SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
April 1, 2010 KY HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)
April 1, 2010 CO HB 1387 Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
June 2, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
April 21, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
April 20, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
March 25, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 30, 2010 GA SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
May 3, 2010 CT SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
March 23, 2010 MD HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - House (97 - 36)
April 7, 2010 MD HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
May 8, 2010 KS HB 2130 Amending Seat Belt Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
May 5, 2010 IL SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/20 HB 166 Authorizing Regional Transportation Authorities Bill Passed - House (72 - 26)
2/10 HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/01 HB 1196 Repealing Income Tax Credit Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
1/27 SB 9 Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as Primary Offenses Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/04 HB 43 Ban on Texting and Underage Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (80 - 16)
2/04 H 4466 Expanding Driving Regulations Bill Passed - House (146 - 9)
2/09 HB 10 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (35 - 30)
2/03 HB 959 Sale of State Plane Bill Passed - House (65 - 55)
2/22 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
3/17 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
3/04 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
2/16 HB 1108 "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plates Bill Passed - House (77 - 22)
2/17 HB 1178 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - House (32 - 37)
2/15 Gilbert Amdt "Trust Women/Respect Choice" License Plate Revenue Redistribution Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 39)
2/17 HB 113 Child Safety Seat Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (24 - 47)
2/19 HB 1107 Driver's License Renewal by Mail Bill Failed - House (33 - 30)
2/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Bill Passed - House (65 - 31)
2/24 HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors Bill Passed - House (83 - 27)
3/03 HB 1147 Requiring Bicycle Helmets for Minors Bill Passed - House (33 - 32)
2/18 SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
3/03 SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Failed - House (17 - 41)
3/03 SF 20 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (32 - 26)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/22 SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
3/02 SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 11)
3/16 SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 17)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
4/09 SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (125 - 14)
3/24 SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
4/01 HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Failed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)
4/01 HB 1387 Highway User Tax Fund Diversion to Licensing Services Fund Bill Passed - House (38 - 27)
6/02 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
4/21 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 9)
4/20 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
3/25 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/30 SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
5/03 SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
3/23 HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - House (97 - 36)
4/07 HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
5/08 HB 2130 Amending Seat Belt Laws Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 8)
5/05 SB 3695 Streetgang-Related Crime Fund Changes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 20)

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