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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2008 | MD | SB 1013 | Regulation of Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (102 - 38) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | HB 374 | Energy Efficiency Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| April 7, 2008 | MD | HB 375 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| April 5, 2008 | MD | SB 646 | Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling | Bill Passed - House (124 - 12) |
| April 5, 2008 | MD | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
| April 4, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| April 4, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 4, 2008 | KS | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
| April 4, 2008 | MD | HB 1626 | Public Utilitiy Regulation | Bill Passed - House (98 - 41) |
| April 3, 2008 | MD | Amnd. 663027/2 | Power Plant Regulation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 3, 2008 | AZ | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| April 3, 2008 | MD | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 3, 2008 | MO | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| April 2, 2008 | KY | HB 552 | Mortgage Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 7) |
| April 2, 2008 | GA | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| April 2, 2008 | AR | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| April 2, 2008 | AR | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| April 1, 2008 | NE | AM 2319 to LB 1174 | Farm and Ranch Ownership Requirements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 27) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| April 1, 2008 | AR | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| April 1, 2008 | MD | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| April 1, 2008 | AR | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| April 1, 2008 | IL | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| April 1, 2008 | AZ | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| March 31, 2008 | ME | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 31, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| March 31, 2008 | MN | SF 3099 | Health Improvement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 23) |
| March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1123 | Funeral Registration | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| March 31, 2008 | CO | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| March 28, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| March 28, 2008 | KS | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - House (104 - 19) |
| March 28, 2008 | ID | H 655 | Tax Rebate for Road Projects | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| March 27, 2008 | KS | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
| March 27, 2008 | MN | Marty Amnd. | Health Improvement Program Amendments | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) |
| March 27, 2008 | MN | Seifert Amendment: Breaches of Insurance Policy | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 52) | |
| March 27, 2008 | CO | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 27, 2008 | MN | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - House (81 - 51) |
| March 27, 2008 | ID | H 680 | Community Infrastructure Districts | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| March 26, 2008 | KS | Barnett Amnd. | Immigration Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 27) |
| March 26, 2008 | KS | Huelskamp Amnd. 1 | Employment Verification | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27) |
| March 26, 2008 | MD | SB 373 | Tax Credit for Educational Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 25, 2008 | WI | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| March 25, 2008 | ID | H 592 | Film and Television Production Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| March 24, 2008 | CO | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 24, 2008 | MD | SB 309 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| March 21, 2008 | ID | H 599 | Eliminating the Personal Property Tax | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| March 20, 2008 | MA | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
| March 20, 2008 | KS | SB 461 | Electronic Wage Reports and Reimbursement Payments | Motion Agreed - House (63 - 58) |
| March 20, 2008 | CO | SB 82 | Removing Ban on Sunday Alcohol Sales | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| March 20, 2008 | AZ | SB 1465 | Public-Private Transportation Projects | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| March 20, 2008 | AZ | SB 1450 | Theme Park Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2936 | Capital Improvements Funding | Bill Passed - House (87 - 35) |
| March 20, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 540 | Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| March 20, 2008 | AZ | SB 1420 | Public Highway Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| March 19, 2008 | MN | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 15) |
| March 19, 2008 | NH | HB 1472 | Affordable Workforce Housing | Bill Passed - House (176 - 149) |
| March 19, 2008 | AZ | HB 2230 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (48 - 11) |
| March 19, 2008 | NH | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| March 18, 2008 | MN | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| March 18, 2008 | CO | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
| March 18, 2008 | MS | SB 2793 | Creating a Select Committee on Base Load Generation | Bill Passed - House (107 - 13) |
| March 18, 2008 | CO | SB 82 | Removing Ban on Sunday Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 20) |
| March 18, 2008 | AZ | SB 1389 | Healthcare Group Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - House (180 - 126) |
| March 18, 2008 | ID | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| March 17, 2008 | PA | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| March 17, 2008 | CO | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (37 - 26) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 348 | Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 17, 2008 | KS | HB 2762 | Income Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (109 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/07 | SB 1013 | Regulation of Power Plants | Bill Passed - House (102 - 38) |
| 4/07 | HB 374 | Energy Efficiency Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 4/07 | HB 375 | Increasing Renewable Energy Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 4/05 | SB 646 | Allowing For-Profit Entities to Provide Credit Counseling | Bill Passed - House (124 - 12) |
| 4/05 | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - House (93 - 44) |
| 4/04 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7) |
| 4/04 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 4/04 | SB 148 | Electricity Generation and Conservation | Bill Passed - House (83 - 41) |
| 4/04 | HB 1626 | Public Utilitiy Regulation | Bill Passed - House (98 - 41) |
| 4/03 | Amnd. 663027/2 | Power Plant Regulation | Amendment Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/03 | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| 4/03 | SB 46 | Computer Services Sales Tax Repeal and Other Tax Adjustments | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/03 | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 4/02 | HB 552 | Mortgage Reform | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (86 - 7) |
| 4/02 | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| 4/02 | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (82 - 17) |
| 4/02 | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| 4/01 | AM 2319 to LB 1174 | Farm and Ranch Ownership Requirements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 27) |
| 4/01 | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| 4/01 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| 4/01 | SB 1 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 4/01 | SB 268 | Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 4/01 | HB 1004 | Natural Gas Tax | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 4/01 | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| 4/01 | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| 3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (84 - 55) |
| 3/31 | HB 1270 | Prohibiting Restrictions on Energy Efficiency Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 3/31 | LD 2289 | 2008-2009 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/31 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 3/31 | SF 3099 | Health Improvement Program | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 23) |
| 3/31 | HB 1123 | Funeral Registration | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| 3/31 | HB 1161 | Mining Regulation | Bill Passed - House (49 - 16) |
| 3/28 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 3/28 | SB 586 | Incentives to Develop Nuclear Power Facilities | Bill Passed - House (104 - 19) |
| 3/28 | H 655 | Tax Rebate for Road Projects | Bill Passed - House (40 - 25) |
| 3/27 | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
| 3/27 | Marty Amnd. | Health Improvement Program Amendments | Amendment Rejected - Senate (32 - 33) |
| 3/27 | Seifert Amendment: Breaches of Insurance Policy | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 52) | |
| 3/27 | HB 1228 | Insurance Company Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 3/27 | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - House (81 - 51) |
| 3/27 | H 680 | Community Infrastructure Districts | Bill Passed - House (50 - 18) |
| 3/26 | Barnett Amnd. | Immigration Reform Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (12 - 27) |
| 3/26 | Huelskamp Amnd. 1 | Employment Verification | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 27) |
| 3/26 | SB 373 | Tax Credit for Educational Donations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/25 | AB 1 | Budget Repair Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 3/25 | H 592 | Film and Television Production Rebate | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 3/24 | HB 1276 | Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/24 | SB 309 | Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 3/21 | H 599 | Eliminating the Personal Property Tax | Bill Passed - House (39 - 31) |
| 3/20 | H 4920 to 4307 | Establishing and Regulating Casinos | Amendment Adopted - House (106 - 48) |
| 3/20 | SB 461 | Electronic Wage Reports and Reimbursement Payments | Motion Agreed - House (63 - 58) |
| 3/20 | SB 82 | Removing Ban on Sunday Alcohol Sales | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 9) |
| 3/20 | SB 1465 | Public-Private Transportation Projects | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 15) |
| 3/20 | SB 312 | Insurance Coverage for Obesity Treatments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 3/20 | SB 1450 | Theme Park Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 3/20 | HB 2936 | Capital Improvements Funding | Bill Passed - House (87 - 35) |
| 3/20 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/20 | SB 540 | Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 3/20 | SB 1420 | Public Highway Authorities | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 3/19 | SF 2822 | "Good Faith" Requirement for Insurance Companies | Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 15) |
| 3/19 | HB 1472 | Affordable Workforce Housing | Bill Passed - House (176 - 149) |
| 3/19 | HB 2230 | College Textbook Information Disclosure | Bill Passed - House (48 - 11) |
| 3/19 | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| 3/18 | Scheid Amnd. | Insurance Payouts Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (37 - 30) |
| 3/18 | SB 139 | Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification | Bill Passed - House (52 - 12) |
| 3/18 | SB 2793 | Creating a Select Committee on Base Load Generation | Bill Passed - House (107 - 13) |
| 3/18 | SB 82 | Removing Ban on Sunday Alcohol Sales | Bill Passed - House (42 - 20) |
| 3/18 | SB 1389 | Healthcare Group Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/18 | HB 1436 | Automatic Continuation Clause in Collective Bargaining Agreements | Bill Passed - House (180 - 126) |
| 3/18 | S 1393 | Non-Compete Agreements | Bill Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 3/17 | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| 3/17 | SB 122 | Wage Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (37 - 26) |
| 3/17 | H 348 | Legalizing Alcohol Sales on Election Day | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/17 | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/17 | HB 2762 | Income Tax Reduction | Bill Passed - House (109 - 13) |