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
March 12, 2009 SD HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 17, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
March 11, 2009 SD HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 10)
Feb. 21, 2008 SD HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD H Amdt 1215rb Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25)
Feb. 7, 2006 SD H Amdt 1194rf Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33)
March 3, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 22)
March 3, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
March 1, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33)
March 9, 2009 SD HB 1240 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23)
March 2, 2007 SD SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD SB 126 Repealing Liquor License Cap Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
Feb. 26, 2007 SD HB 1139 Tobacco Tax Funds Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 1, 2007 SD HB 1082 School District Consolidation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 22, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
March 4, 2009 SD HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 24, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2008 SD SB 126 Repealing Liquor License Cap Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 13, 2009 SD HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
Jan. 31, 2008 SD SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
Feb. 25, 2008 SD SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - House (63 - 6)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 14, 2007 SD HB 1175 Lethal Injection Reform Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
Feb. 6, 2007 SD HB 1175 Lethal Injection Reform Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
Feb. 20, 2007 SD HB 1082 School District Consolidation Bill Passed - House (37 - 33)
Feb. 12, 2007 SD SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 14, 2008 SD HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
Feb. 28, 2007 SD SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - House (46 - 23)
Feb. 12, 2007 SD SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
Feb. 28, 2007 SD SB 95 Control of Technical Institutes Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
Feb. 9, 2006 SD HB 1234 Mandatory Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
Feb. 10, 2006 SD HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
Jan. 17, 2006 SD SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
Jan. 24, 2006 SD SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - House (61 - 7)
March 21, 2006 SD SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
March 21, 2006 SD SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
March 3, 2010 SD SB 89 Exempts Certain Firearms From Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (49 - 19)
Feb. 18, 2010 SD SB 89 Exempts Certain Firearms From Federal Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
Feb. 17, 2010 SD HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Feb. 5, 2008 SD HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (54 - 14)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 11, 2008 SD SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 4, 2008 SD HB 1261 Firearm Possession on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
March 13, 2009 SD HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 26, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/12 HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/17 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Veto Override Passed - House (61 - 8)
3/11 HB 1197 Tax Changes Relating to Single Family Dwellings Under Construction Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 10)
2/21 HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Tabled - Senate (29 - 4)
2/09 H Amdt 1215rb Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (42 - 25)
2/07 H Amdt 1194rf Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33)
3/03 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 22)
3/03 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
3/01 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 33)
3/09 HB 1240 Smoking Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (46 - 23)
3/02 SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - House (62 - 8)
2/26 SB 126 Repealing Liquor License Cap Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
2/26 HB 1139 Tobacco Tax Funds Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/01 HB 1082 School District Consolidation Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/22 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
3/04 HB 1240 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/24 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
2/06 SB 126 Repealing Liquor License Cap Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/13 HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - House (42 - 28)
1/31 SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
2/25 SB 173 Eliminating Restrictions on Corporate Dairy Farms Bill Passed - House (63 - 6)
1/29 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/14 HB 1175 Lethal Injection Reform Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
2/06 HB 1175 Lethal Injection Reform Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
2/20 HB 1082 School District Consolidation Bill Passed - House (37 - 33)
2/12 SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/14 HB 1151 Adult-Oriented Business Restrictions Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
2/28 SB 199 Mandatory School Attendance Bill Passed - House (46 - 23)
2/12 SB 207 Minimum Wage Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6)
2/28 SB 95 Control of Technical Institutes Bill Passed - House (50 - 19)
2/09 HB 1234 Mandatory Kindergarten Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
2/10 HB 1235 Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 Bill Passed - House (51 - 14)
1/17 SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
1/24 SB 27 State Fair Appropriation Bill Passed - House (61 - 7)
3/21 SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
3/21 SB 210 2006-2007 Budget Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
3/03 SB 89 Exempts Certain Firearms From Federal Regulation Bill Passed - House (49 - 19)
2/18 SB 89 Exempts Certain Firearms From Federal Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
2/17 HCR 1009 Urges Changes to the Public School Environmental Curriculum Resolution Passed - House (36 - 30)
2/26 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
2/05 HB 1250 Legislative Pay Raise Bill Passed - House (54 - 14)
2/13 HB 1233 Government Spending Database Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
1/29 HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
2/13 SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/11 SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/04 HB 1261 Firearm Possession on College Campuses Bill Passed - House (63 - 3)
3/13 HB 1300 2009-2010 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/26 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)

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