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. 11, 2008 MI SB 505 Authorizing Judges to Carry Concealed Weapons in Courtrooms Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
Dec. 10, 2008 OH HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
Oct. 21, 2008 SC S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
Sept. 17, 2008 National HR 6842 Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban Bill Passed - House (266 - 152)
Sept. 16, 2008 CA SCA 12 State Lottery Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14)
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 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
Aug. 19, 2008 NM SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
Aug. 18, 2008 NM SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
Aug. 16, 2008 NM HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
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. 13, 2008 CA SB 1171 Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions Bill Passed - House (45 - 32)
Aug. 13, 2008 CA SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
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 30, 2008 National HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
July 29, 2008 MA Peterson Amdt to H 5022 Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59)
July 29, 2008 MA SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
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 16, 2008 National H Amdt 1114 Allowing the Use of Certain Terms in Within the Intelligence Community Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 180)
July 8, 2008 NC HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
July 1, 2008 DE SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
June 27, 2008 AZ HB 2389 Involving Gun Owners' Rights Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 21)
June 26, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
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 25, 2008 PA A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
June 23, 2008 NJ A 339 Handgun Purchasing Limitations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
June 23, 2008 NJ S 1557 FamilyCare Expansion bill Bill Passed - House (59 - 18)
June 21, 2008 LA HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
June 20, 2008 LA SB 51 Guns in Parked Locked Cars Bill Passed - House (66 - 35)
June 20, 2008 LA SB 718 State Board Member and Commissioner Financial Disclosures Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
June 20, 2008 RI S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
June 20, 2008 National HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
June 19, 2008 National HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155)
June 19, 2008 National HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
June 19, 2008 LA SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
June 18, 2008 AZ SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7)
June 12, 2008 RI H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
June 12, 2008 RI H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
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 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 LA SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
June 10, 2008 National HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
June 10, 2008 National HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
June 5, 2008 CA SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
June 4, 2008 PA SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
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 2062 Regulation Of Ammunition Sales Bill Passed - House (42 - 32)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
May 28, 2008 OH SB 184 Lethal Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
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 CA AB 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
May 27, 2008 MI Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives 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 Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest 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 CA AB 1996 Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (42 - 35)
May 27, 2008 MI HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
May 27, 2008 CA AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 27, 2008 CA AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 22, 2008 OH HB 477 English Language for State Business Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
May 22, 2008 IL HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
May 21, 2008 AZ HB 2629 Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 26)
May 19, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
May 19, 2008 AZ SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
May 19, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
May 19, 2008 CA AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
May 16, 2008 MO HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
May 15, 2008 National HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
May 15, 2008 IL HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Bill Passed - House (83 - 28)
May 15, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
May 15, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
May 15, 2008 MN SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
May 15, 2008 DE HB 190 Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (28 - 10)
May 14, 2008 AZ HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9)
May 13, 2008 AZ HB 2807 Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25)
May 13, 2008 AZ HB 2807 Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25)
May 13, 2008 MN HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 30)
May 13, 2008 LA HB 1357 Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
May 13, 2008 LA HB 1357 Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
May 13, 2008 LA HB 25 Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (83 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/11 SB 505 Authorizing Judges to Carry Concealed Weapons in Courtrooms Bill Passed - House (80 - 18)
12/10 HB 648 Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information Bill Passed - House (69 - 26)
12/04 HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
12/04 HB 5117 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (68 - 32)
12/04 HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
12/04 HB 4404 Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles Bill Passed - House (59 - 47)
12/04 HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
12/04 HB 4405 Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform Bill Passed - House (63 - 43)
10/21 S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
10/21 S 429 DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest Veto Override Passed - House (86 - 25)
9/17 HR 6842 Repealing Portions of the D.C. Firearm Ban Bill Passed - House (266 - 152)
9/16 SCA 12 State Lottery Amendments Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14)
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 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - House (41 - 31)
8/19 SB 24 Tax Rebate Bill Passed - House (51 - 16)
8/18 SB 22 Subsidizing Children's Health Care Bill Passed - House (47 - 19)
8/16 HB 4 Working Families Tax Credit Increase Bill Passed - House (39 - 25)
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)
8/13 SB 1171 Expanding Loaded Firearm Restrictions Bill Passed - House (45 - 32)
8/13 SB 28 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving Bill Passed - House (52 - 24)
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)
7/30 HR 1108 FDA Regulation of Tobacco Bill Passed - House (326 - 102)
7/29 Peterson Amdt to H 5022 Reducing Firearm Licensing Fee Amendment Adopted - House (97 - 59)
7/29 SB 800 Repealing Out of State Marriage Restrictions Bill Passed - House (119 - 36)
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)
7/16 H Amdt 1114 Allowing the Use of Certain Terms in Within the Intelligence Community Amendment Adopted - House (249 - 180)
7/08 HB 2690 Durham County Meals Tax Bill Passed - House (60 - 59)
7/01 SB 300 2008-2009 Budget Bill Passed - House (33 - 7)
6/27 HB 2389 Involving Gun Owners' Rights Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 21)
6/26 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
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)
6/25 A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data Bill Failed - House (92 - 108)
6/23 A 339 Handgun Purchasing Limitations Bill Passed - House (47 - 28)
6/23 S 1557 FamilyCare Expansion bill Bill Passed - House (59 - 18)
6/21 HB 906 Anonymity of Ethics Board Complaints Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 21)
6/20 SB 51 Guns in Parked Locked Cars Bill Passed - House (66 - 35)
6/20 SB 718 State Board Member and Commissioner Financial Disclosures Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
6/20 S 2706 Red Light Cameras Bill Passed - House (44 - 12)
6/20 HR 6304 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Bill Passed - House (293 - 129)
6/19 HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (268 - 155)
6/19 HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (416 - 12)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
6/19 SB 137 Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving Bill Passed - House (70 - 19)
6/18 SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7)
6/12 H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
6/12 H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
6/12 H 7222 page 5, re: Sec. 3-8-9: Transportation of Alcohol by Minors Bill Passed - House (52 - 14)
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 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
6/10 HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
6/10 HR 6028 Assistance for Mexico and Central America for Anti-Drug Programs (Merida Program) Bill Passed - House (311 - 106)
6/05 SB 153 Property Transfer Bill Passed - House (45 - 29)
6/04 SB 246 Smoking Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (163 - 38)
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 2062 Regulation Of Ammunition Sales Bill Passed - House (42 - 32)
5/29 AB 2076 Prohibiting E-verify Bill Passed - House (43 - 31)
5/28 SB 184 Lethal Force Against Intruders Bill Passed - House (73 - 23)
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 2279 Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Against Medical Marijuana Patients Bill Passed - House (41 - 35)
5/27 Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives 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 Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest 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 AB 1996 Food Stamps for Convicted Drug Felons Bill Passed - House (42 - 35)
5/27 HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
5/27 AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/27 AB 2654 Expanding Anti-Discrimination Laws Bill Passed - House (48 - 30)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/22 HB 477 English Language for State Business Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
5/22 HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines Bill Passed - House (85 - 25)
5/21 HB 2629 Legalizing the Defensive Display of a Firearm Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 26)
5/19 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
5/19 SB 1476 Reducing Probation for Good Behavior Bill Passed - House (35 - 18)
5/19 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
5/19 AB 2567 Creation of "Harvey Milk Day" Bill Passed - House (45 - 28)
5/16 HB 1549, 1771, 1395, 2366 Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (136 - 12)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Passed - House (227 - 196)
5/15 HR 2642 Iraq Related Provisions such as a Troop Withdrawal, a Permanent Base Ban, and Limiting Interrogation Techniques Concurrence Vote Failed - House (141 - 149)
5/15 HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority Bill Passed - House (83 - 28)
5/15 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
5/15 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
5/15 SF 960 Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits Bill Passed - House (83 - 50)
5/15 HB 190 Sports Betting Bill Passed - House (28 - 10)
5/14 HB 2557 Fine Arts and Physical Education in School Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 9)
5/13 HB 2807 Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25)
5/13 HB 2807 Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws Veto Override Failed - House (30 - 25)
5/13 HF 3807 Real ID Prohibition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (103 - 30)
5/13 HB 1357 Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
5/13 HB 1357 Harboring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (77 - 18)
5/13 HB 25 Verification of Citizenship or Immigration Status Bill Passed - House (83 - 11)

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