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. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 4 Reducing Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
Dec. 18, 2008 CA ABx1 8 Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Dec. 15, 2008 NJ A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
Dec. 10, 2008 MI SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Nov. 24, 2008 NJ A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Nov. 21, 2008 NE LB 1 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
Nov. 18, 2008 NE Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
Oct. 1, 2008 National HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
Oct. 1, 2008 National HR 7081 United States - India Nuclear Agreement Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 13)
Sept. 10, 2008 MO SB 873 Voting Student Curator on the University of Missouri Board of Curators Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 17)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Aug. 31, 2008 CA AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
Aug. 30, 2008 CA SB 375 Global Warming and Land Use Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Aug. 25, 2008 CA AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Aug. 22, 2008 CA AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 20, 2008 CA AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
Aug. 19, 2008 IL HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
Aug. 14, 2008 CA AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Aug. 11, 2008 CA AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
Aug. 8, 2008 NY S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
Aug. 5, 2008 CA AB 2001 Whistleblower Hotline Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
Aug. 5, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Aug. 5, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
July 26, 2008 National HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
July 17, 2008 NC HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
July 16, 2008 National S Amdt 5077 Funding Amendment to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 64)
July 16, 2008 National HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16)
July 15, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26)
July 15, 2008 National S Amdt 5078 Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24)
July 15, 2008 National S Amdt 5078 Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24)
July 10, 2008 NC HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
July 9, 2008 National HR 6331 Medicare Bill Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
July 7, 2008 CA AB 2949 Retrieving Abandoned Pets Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
July 2, 2008 CA AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
July 2, 2008 NC SB 1988 Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
June 27, 2008 AZ SCR 1042 Parameters of Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
June 27, 2008 NV SB 5 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
June 26, 2008 AZ HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
June 26, 2008 AZ HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
June 25, 2008 National S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
June 25, 2008 AZ SCR 1042 Parameters of Marriage Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 11)
June 23, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
June 19, 2008 NC HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
June 18, 2008 LA HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
June 17, 2008 NC SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
June 12, 2008 NY S 2375 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9)
June 11, 2008 CT SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 11, 2008 LA HB 1347 Vouchers Bill Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
June 10, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
June 4, 2008 NH SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
June 4, 2008 AZ HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
June 4, 2008 NY S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
May 29, 2008 CA CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 29, 2008 CA CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
May 29, 2008 CA SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
May 29, 2008 AL SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
May 28, 2008 LA SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
May 28, 2008 MS SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
May 27, 2008 CA SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 15, 2008 CA SB 1589 Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
May 14, 2008 SC H 3032 Immigration Reform Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
May 13, 2008 MN SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
May 13, 2008 WI AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
May 12, 2008 MN HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
May 12, 2008 CA SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
May 8, 2008 MI HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 7, 2008 SC S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
May 7, 2008 National S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
May 7, 2008 MN SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
May 7, 2008 SC H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
May 7, 2008 OH SB 57 Disability Scholarship Fund Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
May 6, 2008 SC S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1388 Increasing Education Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
May 6, 2008 CO SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
May 6, 2008 CT HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
May 5, 2008 CO SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 5, 2008 CO SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/18 ABx1 4 Reducing Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
12/18 ABx1 8 Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
12/15 S 1599 Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
12/15 A 3373 Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4)
12/10 SB 861 Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
11/24 A 3459 Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
11/21 LB 1 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 5)
11/18 Amdt 4 Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26)
10/01 HR 1424 Financial Asset Purchase Authority and Tax Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25)
10/01 HR 7081 United States - India Nuclear Agreement Bill Passed - Senate (86 - 13)
9/10 SB 873 Voting Student Curator on the University of Missouri Board of Curators Veto Override Failed - Senate (16 - 17)
8/31 SB 840 California Universal Healthcare Agency Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/31 SB 1420 Nutritional Information Disclosure in Chain Restaurants Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/31 SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10)
8/31 SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
8/31 AB 1945 Health Insurance Cancellation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
8/30 SB 375 Global Warming and Land Use Policy Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
8/25 AB 1879 Regulating Chemicals in Consumer Products Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
8/22 AB 2765 Aerial Spraying Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
8/20 AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/20 AB 2747 Disclosing End-of-Life Care Options Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
8/19 HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 17)
8/19 HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (27 - 11)
8/18 HB 5 Electronic Medical Records Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7)
8/14 AB 1894 Health Insurance Coverage of HIV Testing Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
8/11 AB 86 Cyber-Bullying Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
8/08 S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
8/08 S 8736 School District Property Tax Cap Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 20)
8/05 AB 2001 Whistleblower Hotline Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
8/05 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
8/05 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
7/26 HR 3221 Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (72 - 13)
7/17 HB 2499 Water Management During Droughts Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 9)
7/16 S Amdt 5077 Funding Amendment to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 64)
7/16 HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16)
7/15 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Veto Override Passed - Senate (70 - 26)
7/15 S Amdt 5078 Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24)
7/15 S Amdt 5078 Limiting Countries for HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (70 - 24)
7/10 HB 822 Swine Farm Rebuilding Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8)
7/09 HR 6331 Medicare Bill Cloture Invoked - Senate (69 - 30)
7/08 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
7/07 AB 2949 Retrieving Abandoned Pets Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
7/02 AB 97 Trans Fats Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
7/02 SB 1988 Outlaws Burning Crosses and Hanging Nooses Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 3)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 6)
6/27 SCR 1042 Parameters of Marriage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 4)
6/27 SB 5 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
6/26 HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
6/26 HB 2713 Student's Religious Liberties Act Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
6/25 S Amdt 4983 Housing Foreclosure Assistance Programs Amendment Adopted - Senate (79 - 16)
6/25 SCR 1042 Parameters of Marriage Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (14 - 11)
6/23 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 4)
6/23 S 1962 State Worker Retirement and Health Benefits Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8)
6/23 A 2873 School Construction Bonds Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
6/19 HB 2436 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
6/18 HB 734 Tuition Increase Bill Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
6/17 SB 1686 Restrictions on Public Smoking Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 15)
6/12 S 2375 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 9)
6/11 SB 1001 Real Estate Conveyance Tax Extension Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/11 HB 1347 Vouchers Bill Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
6/10 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Rejected - Senate (19 - 31)
6/04 SSHB 1 Education Appropriations Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
6/04 HB 2475 Bonds for School Computers Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 13)
6/04 S 6823 Long Island Affordable Housing Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 9)
5/29 CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/29 CA SB 1665 Prison Health Care Facility Bonds Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 15)
5/29 SB 1096 Pharmacy Prescription Refill Mailings Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
5/29 SB 1407 Financing Courthouse Construction Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
5/29 SB 51 2008-2009 Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1)
5/28 SB 292 Public Fishing in Overflow Waters Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 19)
5/28 SB 2013 Hospital Tax for Medicaid Funding Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
5/27 SB 1440 Capping Administrative Spending for Health Insurers Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 7)
5/15 SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
5/15 SB 1322 Communist Party Membership Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
5/15 SB 1713 Bisphenol A (BPA) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/15 SB 1589 Uncorroborated Jailhouse Informant Testimony Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
5/14 H 3032 Immigration Reform Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (20 - 26)
5/13 HF 6 2008 Education Budget Conference Report Adopted - Senate (55 - 10)
5/13 SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22)
5/13 AB 1 Budget Repair Plan Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 16)
5/12 HF 3391 Health Care Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (53 - 13)
5/12 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/12 SB 1313 Perfluorochemical (PFC) Ban Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
5/12 SB 1301 Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
5/08 HB 4163 Workplace Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/07 S Amdt P-4A Cigarette Tax Rate Adjustment Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (18 - 24)
5/07 S Amdt 4719 Optional Wind Damage Insurance Amendment Rejected - Senate (19 - 74)
5/07 SF 3001 Modifying State Education Policies Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20)
5/07 H 3567 Cigarette Tax Increase Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 11)
5/07 SB 57 Disability Scholarship Fund Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
5/06 S Amdt P-1 Cigarette Tax Increase for Medicaid Amendment Tabled - Senate (31 - 13)
5/06 HB 1388 Increasing Education Funding Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13)
5/06 SB 217 Extended Health Care Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
5/06 HB 5536 Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
5/05 SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/05 SB 200 Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15)

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