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
Feb. 22, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
March 23, 2010 IA HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
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)
March 17, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
July 28, 2010 MI HB 6151 Transportation Law Amendments ("Complete Streets" Policy) Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 21)
Feb. 24, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
Aug. 5, 2010 National HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
March 4, 2010 National HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
May 10, 2010 TN SB 63 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
June 3, 2010 CA SB 1475 Penalties for Using a Cell Phone While Driving or Riding a Bicycle Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2010 WY SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
June 21, 2010 NY A 9705 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 121 Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 8)
Dec. 21, 2010 National HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 165)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
June 21, 2010 CT HB 5455 Changes to State Transportation Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
April 21, 2010 AL SB 121 Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 13)
March 30, 2010 GA SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Dec. 21, 2010 National HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
April 12, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
Aug. 23, 2010 NJ A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 11, 2010 KS HB 2650 Transportation Works For Kansas Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 38)
May 11, 2010 CO HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 29)
June 16, 2010 LA HB 1410 Establishing the Louisiana Interstate Rail Compact Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 33)
April 27, 2010 AZ HB 2338 Yellow Light Standardization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 21)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
April 20, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
March 11, 2010 VA HB 885 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
April 1, 2010 KY HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
March 3, 2010 WY SF 20 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (32 - 26)
April 22, 2010 AZ HB 2338 Yellow Light Standardization Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
March 4, 2010 CA ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
March 10, 2010 VA HB 885 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
March 25, 2010 MI HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
March 29, 2010 ID H 729 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
May 3, 2010 CT SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
May 7, 2010 KS HB 2650 Transportation Works For Kansas Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
May 10, 2010 CO HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
June 2, 2010 LA SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
June 16, 2010 LA HB 1339 Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
June 28, 2010 NJ S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
March 22, 2010 AZ SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
April 7, 2010 MD HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
June 21, 2010 NJ A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - House (57 - 21)
April 9, 2010 MD SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (125 - 14)
April 7, 2010 ME LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/22 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 30)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 33)
3/23 HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 12)
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)
3/17 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
7/28 HB 6151 Transportation Law Amendments ("Complete Streets" Policy) Concurrence Vote Passed - House (76 - 21)
2/24 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (70 - 28)
8/05 HR 1586 Aid To States for Medicaid, Teacher Employment, and Other Purposes Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (61 - 39)
3/04 HR 2847 Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations and Tax Credits ("Senate Jobs Bill") Concurrence Vote Passed - House (217 - 201)
5/10 SB 63 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
6/03 SB 1475 Penalties for Using a Cell Phone While Driving or Riding a Bicycle Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 16)
2/18 SF 64 Increasing Seat Belt Violation Fine Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9)
6/21 A 9705 2010-2011 Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 29)
4/21 SB 121 Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - Senate (25 - 8)
12/21 HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (193 - 165)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (102 - 44)
6/21 HB 5455 Changes to State Transportation Plan Veto Override Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
4/21 SB 121 Highway Construction Appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund Conference Report Adopted - House (86 - 13)
3/30 SB 67 English Only Requirement for Driver's License Examinations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
12/21 HR 3082 Continuing Appropriations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (79 - 16)
4/12 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 5)
8/23 A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/11 HB 2650 Transportation Works For Kansas Program Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 38)
5/11 HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 29)
6/16 HB 1410 Establishing the Louisiana Interstate Rail Compact Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 33)
4/27 HB 2338 Yellow Light Standardization Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 21)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 30)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 32)
4/20 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (74 - 33)
3/11 HB 885 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Concurrence Vote Passed - House (69 - 28)
4/01 HB 415 Prohibiting Text-Messaging While Driving Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 10)
3/03 SF 20 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (32 - 26)
4/22 HB 2338 Yellow Light Standardization Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/04 ABx8 6 Fuel Tax Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
3/04 ABx8 9 Tax and Transportation Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10)
3/10 HB 885 Authorizing Concealed Firearms in Vehicles Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
3/25 HB 4394 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
3/29 H 729 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4)
5/03 SB 407 Requiring Motorcycle Training Course Bill Passed - House (117 - 31)
5/07 HB 2650 Transportation Works For Kansas Program Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
5/10 HB 1238 Increasing Fines for Moving Traffic Violations in Wildlife Crossing Zones Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
6/02 SB 9 Classifying Text Messaging While Driving as a Primary Offense Bill Passed - House (69 - 22)
6/16 HB 1339 Increasing Driving Restrictions on Class E License Holders Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
6/28 S 2090 Car Inspection Waiver Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
3/22 SB 1334 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10)
4/07 HB 825 Increase in Motor Vehicle Liability Payment Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
6/21 A 2740 Requiring Review of New Drivers' Program Bill Passed - House (57 - 21)
4/09 SB 321 Prohibiting Hand-Held Cell Phone Use While Driving Bill Passed - House (125 - 14)
4/07 LD 1826 Bond Authorization Bill Passed - House (100 - 48)

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