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
Dec. 19, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
Dec. 11, 2008 MI HB 4141 Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 5765 Reducing Pupil Count for First Class School Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 42)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
Nov. 17, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 11 to H 5300 Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 20 to H 5300 Repealing Property Tax Exemption Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17)
Oct. 3, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
Sept. 29, 2008 National HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
Sept. 27, 2008 National HR 7081 United States - India Nuclear Agreement Bill Passed - House (298 - 117)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Aug. 28, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
Aug. 27, 2008 CA SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
Aug. 25, 2008 CA SB 375 Global Warming and Land Use Policy Bill Passed - House (49 - 22)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
Aug. 19, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
Aug. 19, 2008 NY A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
Aug. 18, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
Aug. 17, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)
Aug. 13, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
Aug. 12, 2008 CA SB 1589 Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
Aug. 7, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
July 29, 2008 MA SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
July 24, 2008 National HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115)
July 23, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
July 18, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
July 15, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41)
July 15, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
July 14, 2008 CA AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 20)
July 4, 2008 PA HB 1067 Omnibus Education Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11)
July 2, 2008 NC HB 2367 Involuntary Annexation Moratorium Bill Passed - House (98 - 18)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
June 30, 2008 CA SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
June 28, 2008 MI SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 30)
June 25, 2008 PA A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
June 25, 2008 National HR 2176 Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill Bill Failed - House (121 - 298)
June 24, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
June 23, 2008 CA SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - House (54 - 24)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1557 FamilyCare Expansion bill Bill Passed - House (59 - 18)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
June 21, 2008 LA HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
June 16, 2008 NJ A 500 Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (44 - 34)
June 12, 2008 RI H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
June 10, 2008 National HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
June 9, 2008 CA SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Failed - House (49 - 26)
June 9, 2008 LA HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - House (84 - 18)
June 5, 2008 CA SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
June 5, 2008 MI SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 47)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
May 31, 2008 AL SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 4)
May 29, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
May 29, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
May 29, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
May 29, 2008 MS HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2572 Nutritional Disclosure Bill Bill Passed - House (46 - 15)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 1991 Development on Half Moon Bay Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2716 Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - House (45 - 33)
May 28, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
May 28, 2008 MI HB 5074 Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
May 28, 2008 WI AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
May 28, 2008 WI AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
May 28, 2008 WI AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
May 27, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
May 27, 2008 MI Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
May 27, 2008 MI Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
May 27, 2008 MI Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 27, 2008 MI HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
May 22, 2008 IL HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
May 22, 2008 OH HB 477 English Language for State Business Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
May 21, 2008 SC H Amdt 3A Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/19 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - House (61 - 34)
12/15 S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Bill Passed - House (49 - 28)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - House (63 - 10)
12/11 HB 4141 Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds Bill Passed - House (71 - 28)
12/04 HB 5765 Reducing Pupil Count for First Class School Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 42)
12/04 HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
12/04 HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
11/17 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - House (47 - 26)
10/21 S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
10/21 H Amdt 11 to H 5300 Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50)
10/21 H Amdt 20 to H 5300 Repealing Property Tax Exemption Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17)
10/03 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Concurrence Vote Passed - House (263 - 171)
9/29 HR 3997 Financial Asset Purchase Authority Concurrence Vote Failed - House (205 - 228)
9/27 HR 7081 United States - India Nuclear Agreement Bill Passed - House (298 - 117)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 17)
8/31 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
8/31 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
8/29 SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - House (45 - 20)
8/29 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Bill Passed - House (44 - 32)
8/29 SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
8/28 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 14)
8/27 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - House (43 - 30)
8/27 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Bill Passed - House (46 - 28)
8/25 SB 375 Global Warming and Land Use Policy Bill Passed - House (49 - 22)
8/19 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 29)
8/19 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - House (46 - 31)
8/19 A 11838 Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (118 - 24)
8/18 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Failed - House (33 - 32)
8/18 SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
8/18 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Failed - House (37 - 34)
8/17 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - House (35 - 29)
8/13 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Passed - House (78 - 12)
8/13 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - House (70 - 21)
8/13 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 22)
8/12 SB 1589 Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban Bill Passed - House (41 - 37)
8/07 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
8/07 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 27)
7/29 SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
7/24 HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115)
7/23 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (272 - 152)
7/18 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 36)
7/15 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - House (383 - 41)
7/15 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - House (92 - 20)
7/14 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28)
7/14 AB 1155 Penalties for Healthcare Service Plan Underpayments or Failures to Pay Service Providers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 26)
7/08 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 20)
7/04 HB 1067 Omnibus Education Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (191 - 11)
7/02 HB 2367 Involuntary Annexation Moratorium Bill Passed - House (98 - 18)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
6/30 SB 1137 Residential Property Foreclosures Bill Passed - House (55 - 18)
6/30 SB 823 Private Postsecondary Education Regulation Bill Failed - House (41 - 33)
6/28 SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Appropriations Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 30)
6/25 A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
6/25 HR 2176 Bay Mills Indian Community Land Claim Bill Bill Failed - House (121 - 298)
6/24 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Bill Passed - House (355 - 59)
6/23 SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Passed - House (54 - 24)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - House (52 - 13)
6/23 S 1557 FamilyCare Expansion bill Bill Passed - House (59 - 18)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - House (42 - 36)
6/21 HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
6/16 A 500 Affordable Housing Bill Passed - House (44 - 34)
6/12 H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
6/11 SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
6/11 SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
6/11 SB 733 Supplemental Science Teaching Materials Bill Passed - House (94 - 3)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - House (82 - 51)
6/10 HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
6/09 SB 606 'No Child Left Behind' Implementation Bill Failed - House (49 - 26)
6/09 HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - House (84 - 18)
6/05 SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
6/05 SB 1094 2008-2009 Department of Community Health Budget Bill Passed - House (60 - 47)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
5/31 SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - House (98 - 4)
5/29 H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
5/29 H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
5/29 H 4400 Immigration Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 16)
5/29 AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
5/29 AB 1830 Subprime Lending Regulations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
5/29 HB 17 Medicaid Funds Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 53)
5/29 AB 2572 Nutritional Disclosure Bill Bill Passed - House (46 - 15)
5/28 AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
5/28 AB 1991 Development on Half Moon Bay Bill Passed - House (46 - 18)
5/28 AB 2716 Paid Sick Leave Bill Passed - House (45 - 33)
5/28 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - House (42 - 34)
5/28 HB 5074 Ban Smoking in Places of Employment and Public Places with Exceptions for Casinos, Cigar Bars, and Specialty Tobacco Stores Bill Passed - House (65 - 39)
5/28 AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36)
5/28 AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
5/28 AB 1 Education Line Item Veto Override Veto Override Failed - House (57 - 39)
5/27 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Veto Override Failed - House (54 - 57)
5/27 Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
5/27 Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
5/27 Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/27 HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
5/22 HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
5/22 HB 477 English Language for State Business Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
5/21 H Amdt 3A Cigarette Tax Increase for Employee Health Care Amendment Tabled - House (67 - 51)

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