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
April 8, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 49)
Jan. 17, 2006 MD HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
April 7, 2006 MD HB 853 Prohibiting Dredging for Oysters & Clams in Atlantic Coastal Bays Bill Passed - House (88 - 44)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 293 Public Charter School Program Reform Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
April 6, 2006 MD SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
March 27, 2006 MD SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
Jan. 12, 2006 MD SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
March 31, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
March 25, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - House (87 - 47)
April 10, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 3, 2006 MD HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
June 23, 2006 MD SB 1 Electricity Rates Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 37)
June 15, 2006 MD SB 1 Electricity Rates Bill Passed - House (109 - 26)
June 14, 2006 MD SB 1 Electricity Rates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
March 23, 2006 MD Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
April 10, 2006 MD HB 1215 School Closure Regulations Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 8, 2006 MD HB 1215 School Closure Regulations Veto Override Passed - House (97 - 42)
March 24, 2006 MD SB 1075 Governor Cabinet Appointments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 31, 2006 MD SB 1075 Governor Cabinet Appointments Bill Passed - House (89 - 48)
June 14, 2006 MD SB 52 Maryland Transportation Authority Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 42)
June 14, 2006 MD SB 52 Maryland Transportation Authority Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
April 10, 2006 MD HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 8, 2006 MD HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45)
April 4, 2006 MD HB 1054 Public Campaign Financing Act for Candidates for the General Assembly Bill Passed - House (79 - 56)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
March 27, 2006 MD Amendment 3929 to SB 297 Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28)
June 15, 2006 MD HB 2 Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
Feb. 27, 2007 MD SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
April 5, 2007 MD SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (123 - 17)
Feb. 26, 2007 MD SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Feb. 16, 2007 MD HB 201 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (101 - 31)
April 6, 2007 MD SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (107 - 32)
Feb. 20, 2007 MD SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
April 4, 2007 MD HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
Feb. 20, 2007 MD HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (122 - 16)
March 6, 2007 MD SB 160 Discrimination Against the Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
March 24, 2007 MD HB 1220 Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund Bill Passed - House (96 - 41)
March 28, 2007 MD SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 6, 2007 MD SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (84 - 54)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
March 26, 2007 MD HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (71 - 66)
March 23, 2007 MD HB 6 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 57)
April 5, 2007 MD HB 359 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 24, 2007 MD HB 359 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (98 - 40)
March 23, 2007 MD SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
March 26, 2007 MD SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (78 - 60)
April 3, 2007 MD SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (99 - 39)
March 26, 2007 MD SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 16, 2007 MD HB 754 Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 37)
March 16, 2007 MD SB 533 Removal of Remarriage Barriers Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 430 State Living Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 49)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 430 State Living Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
April 6, 2007 MD HB 430 State Living Wage Bill Passed - House (88 - 50)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 2, 2007 MD HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 52)
Nov. 19, 2007 MD HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
Nov. 11, 2007 MD HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (80 - 56)
Nov. 11, 2007 MD HB 2 Tax Reform Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (82 - 55)
Feb. 21, 2008 MD SB 111 Expanding Hate Crimes Classification to Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 4)
Feb. 22, 2008 MD SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
March 28, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
March 4, 2008 MD HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
March 6, 2008 MD SB 646 Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 646 Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling Bill Passed - House (124 - 12)
March 12, 2008 MD SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 4, 2008 MD SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (88 - 46)
April 4, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 24, 2008 MD SB 309 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
March 31, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
March 18, 2008 MD SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
March 26, 2008 MD SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 1, 2008 MD SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
April 3, 2008 MD Amnd. 663027/2 Power Plant Regulation Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 18)
April 3, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
April 7, 2008 MD SB 1013 Regulation of Power Plants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
April 7, 2008 MD SB 1013 Regulation of Power Plants Bill Passed - House (102 - 38)
April 4, 2008 MD HB 1626 Public Utilitiy Regulation Bill Passed - House (98 - 41)
March 20, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
March 14, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
April 7, 2008 MD SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
April 7, 2008 MD SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Passed - House (113 - 25)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 7)
April 5, 2008 MD SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31)
April 7, 2008 MD HB 374 Energy Efficiency Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 33)
April 7, 2008 MD HB 374 Energy Efficiency Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
April 7, 2008 MD HB 375 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 24)
April 7, 2008 MD HB 375 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 31, 2006 MD SB 154 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/08 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 49)
1/17 HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/12 HB 391 Minimum Wage Increase Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 48)
4/07 HB 853 Prohibiting Dredging for Oysters & Clams in Atlantic Coastal Bays Bill Passed - House (88 - 44)
3/24 SB 257 Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27)
3/24 SB 293 Public Charter School Program Reform Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
4/06 SB 320 Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/28 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25)
3/27 SB 539 Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22)
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
1/12 SB 790 Health Care for Large Companies Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50)
3/31 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
3/25 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - House (87 - 47)
4/10 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/03 HB 1 Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
3/15 Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
6/23 SB 1 Electricity Rates Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 37)
6/15 SB 1 Electricity Rates Bill Passed - House (109 - 26)
6/14 SB 1 Electricity Rates Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
3/23 Amendment 953927 Stem Cell Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (46 - 93)
3/15 Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
4/10 HB 1215 School Closure Regulations Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/08 HB 1215 School Closure Regulations Veto Override Passed - House (97 - 42)
3/24 SB 1075 Governor Cabinet Appointments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/31 SB 1075 Governor Cabinet Appointments Bill Passed - House (89 - 48)
6/14 SB 52 Maryland Transportation Authority Veto Override Passed - House (94 - 42)
6/14 SB 52 Maryland Transportation Authority Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13)
4/10 HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/08 HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45)
4/04 HB 1054 Public Campaign Financing Act for Candidates for the General Assembly Bill Passed - House (79 - 56)
3/28 SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
3/27 Amendment 3929 to SB 297 Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28)
6/15 HB 2 Mandatory Sentences and Other Penalties for Sex Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5)
2/27 SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
4/05 SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (123 - 17)
2/26 SB 103 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
2/16 HB 201 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (101 - 31)
4/06 SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (107 - 32)
2/20 SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/04 HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
2/20 HB 131 Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (122 - 16)
3/06 SB 160 Discrimination Against the Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9)
3/24 HB 1220 Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund Bill Passed - House (96 - 41)
3/28 SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/06 SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (84 - 54)
4/09 HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
3/26 HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - House (71 - 66)
3/23 HB 6 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 57)
4/05 HB 359 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/24 HB 359 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (98 - 40)
3/23 SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
3/26 SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (78 - 60)
4/03 SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - House (99 - 39)
3/26 SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/16 HB 754 Tobacco Tax to Fund Health Care Bill Passed - House (102 - 37)
3/16 SB 533 Removal of Remarriage Barriers Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22)
4/09 HB 430 State Living Wage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (91 - 49)
4/09 HB 430 State Living Wage Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
4/06 HB 430 State Living Wage Bill Passed - House (88 - 50)
4/09 HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/02 HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
11/19 HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Concurrence Vote Passed - House (81 - 52)
11/19 HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
11/11 HB 5 Sales Tax Increase Bill Passed - House (80 - 56)
11/11 HB 2 Tax Reform Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (82 - 55)
2/21 SB 111 Expanding Hate Crimes Classification to Homeless Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 4)
2/22 SB 243 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10)
3/28 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
3/04 HB 362 Department of Information Technology Bill Passed - House (105 - 31)
3/06 SB 646 Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 5)
4/05 SB 646 Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling Bill Passed - House (124 - 12)
3/12 SB 42 Temporary Confiscation of Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/14 SB 461 Prohibiting Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 21)
3/18 SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/04 SB 566 Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (88 - 46)
4/04 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - House (86 - 47)
3/24 SB 597 Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/24 SB 309 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
3/31 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - House (89 - 47)
3/18 SB 269 Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/20 SB 2 Banning Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21)
3/26 SB 373 Tax Credit for Educational Donations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/01 SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
4/03 Amnd. 663027/2 Power Plant Regulation Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 18)
4/03 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/05 SB 46 Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments Bill Passed - House (93 - 44)
4/07 SB 1013 Regulation of Power Plants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 11)
4/07 SB 1013 Regulation of Power Plants Bill Passed - House (102 - 38)
4/04 HB 1626 Public Utilitiy Regulation Bill Passed - House (98 - 41)
3/20 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (105 - 34)
3/14 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 7)
4/07 SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
4/07 SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program Bill Passed - House (113 - 25)
4/05 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 7)
4/05 SB 90 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (109 - 31)
4/07 HB 374 Energy Efficiency Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (101 - 33)
4/07 HB 374 Energy Efficiency Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
4/07 HB 375 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 24)
4/07 HB 375 Increasing Renewable Energy Standards Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/31 SB 154 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11)

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