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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 2, 2009 | NY | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
Sept. 8, 2009 | CA | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Sept. 4, 2009 | CA | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Aug. 5, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
June 29, 2009 | DE | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
June 24, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
June 23, 2009 | OR | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
June 22, 2009 | AZ | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
June 22, 2009 | AZ | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
June 18, 2009 | NJ | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
June 8, 2009 | OR | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
June 4, 2009 | DE | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
June 3, 2009 | ME | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
June 1, 2009 | NV | SB 52 | New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
May 30, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
May 28, 2009 | LA | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
May 20, 2009 | ME | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
May 20, 2009 | NH | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
May 18, 2009 | MN | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19) |
May 14, 2009 | NC | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
May 14, 2009 | CA | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
May 13, 2009 | WI | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
May 11, 2009 | NC | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
May 6, 2009 | ME | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
May 5, 2009 | OR | SB 786 | Workplace Religious Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
April 30, 2009 | CO | SB 296 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
April 29, 2009 | NH | HB 383 | Mandating Seat Belt Usage | Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11) |
April 29, 2009 | NH | HB 436 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
April 28, 2009 | WI | SB 20 | Discriminatory Pay Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
April 27, 2009 | CO | SB 241 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
April 22, 2009 | CT | SB 899 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
April 21, 2009 | NV | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
April 17, 2009 | NE | LB 355 | Exempting Cigar Bars from the Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
April 17, 2009 | NV | SB 372 | Smoking Ban Exceptions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
April 16, 2009 | CA | SB 242 | Prohibiting Language Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
April 15, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
April 15, 2009 | TX | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
April 8, 2009 | ME | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
April 7, 2009 | VT | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
April 2, 2009 | MT | HB 531 | Red Light Camera Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
April 2, 2009 | MD | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
March 31, 2009 | TX | SB 298 | Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
March 30, 2009 | GA | HB 614 | Prescription Tracking Database | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 29) |
March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
March 23, 2009 | VT | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
March 19, 2009 | NM | HB 393 | Opening Conference Committees to the Public | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
March 13, 2009 | WV | SB 238 | Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
March 11, 2009 | TX | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
March 10, 2009 | WA | SB 5688 | Expanding Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
March 10, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
March 4, 2009 | SD | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
March 4, 2009 | GA | SB 235 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | |
March 3, 2009 | ND | HB 1182 | Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 25) |
Feb. 27, 2009 | NE | LB 5 | Trapping In Rights-of-Way | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | NM | SB 12 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 25) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | NM | SB 44 | Prohibiting Smoking in Cars with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | GA | SB 23 | Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | VA | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
Feb. 24, 2009 | NV | SB 116 | Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 19, 2009 | KS | SB 59 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
Feb. 18, 2009 | ND | SB 2278 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
Feb. 17, 2009 | KS | SB 25 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Feb. 16, 2009 | IA | SF 137 | Wage Discrimination Policy and Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
Feb. 12, 2009 | SD | SB 156 | Expansion of Hate Crime Law | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
Feb. 5, 2009 | MT | SB 237 | Primary Seatbelt Enforcement | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25) |
Feb. 5, 2009 | VA | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | MS | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | SD | SB 79 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | SD | SB 83 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
Feb. 3, 2009 | VA | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | ND | SB 2070 | Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
Jan. 30, 2009 | ND | SB 2087 | Secrecy in Public University Hiring | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
Jan. 28, 2009 | WY | SF 65 | Ban on Texting While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
12/02 | A 40003 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (24 - 38) |
9/09 | SB 54 | Recognizing Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
9/08 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
9/08 | AB 524 | Privacy Law Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
9/04 | AB 793 | Clarifying Statute of Limitations for Wage Discrimination Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
8/05 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 18) |
6/29 | SB 169 | Health Clinic Access | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
6/24 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
6/23 | HB 2377 | Prohibiting Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
6/22 | HCR 2019 | Ends Affirmative Action | Amendment Adopted - Senate (17 - 11) |
6/22 | SB 1443 | Driving While Texting | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 15) |
6/22 | SB 1440 | Smoking in Cars with Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 20) |
6/18 | A 3101 | Creating Homelessness Trust Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
6/08 | SB 519 | Mandatory Workplace Meetings | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
6/04 | SB 121 | Adding Sexual Orientation to Delaware Anti-Discriminatory Laws | |
6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (7 - 28) |
6/03 | LD 1357 | Relating to Driver's License and Identification Card Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
6/01 | SB 52 | New Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
5/30 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Veto Override Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
5/28 | SB 186 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
5/20 | LD 290 | Out-of-State Health Insurance | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16) |
5/20 | HB 73 | Religious Choice in Performing Marriage Ceremonies | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
5/18 | HF 108 | Primary Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 19) |
5/14 | SB 461 | Racial Discrimination in Capital Sentences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
5/14 | SB 4 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
5/14 | SB 572 | Harvey Milk Day | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
5/13 | SB 181 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
5/11 | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
5/11 | HB 2 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
5/06 | LD 1020 | Same Sex Marriage Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
5/05 | SB 786 | Workplace Religious Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
4/30 | SB 296 | Seat Belt Violation as Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
4/29 | HB 383 | Mandating Seat Belt Usage | Bill Tabled - Senate (13 - 11) |
4/29 | HB 436 | Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 11) |
4/28 | SB 20 | Discriminatory Pay Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
4/27 | SB 241 | DNA Sampling Upon Felony Arrest | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
4/22 | SB 899 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
4/21 | SB 283 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
4/17 | LB 355 | Exempting Cigar Bars from the Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
4/17 | SB 372 | Smoking Ban Exceptions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5) |
4/16 | SB 242 | Prohibiting Language Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
4/15 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
4/15 | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
4/08 | LD 67 | Prohibiting Smoking at State Park Beaches | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
4/07 | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Veto Override Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
4/02 | HB 531 | Red Light Camera Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
4/02 | SB 277 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
3/31 | SB 298 | Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
3/30 | HB 614 | Prescription Tracking Database | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 29) |
3/23 | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
3/23 | S 115 | Same-Sex Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
3/19 | HB 393 | Opening Conference Committees to the Public | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 8) |
3/13 | SB 238 | Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
3/11 | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
3/10 | SB 5688 | Expanding Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
3/10 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
3/04 | HB 1240 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
3/04 | SB 235 | Ban on Required Human Microchip Implantation | |
3/03 | HB 1182 | Point Reduction for Seat Belt Use | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 25) |
2/27 | LB 5 | Trapping In Rights-of-Way | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
2/26 | SB 12 | Establishing Domestic Partnerships | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 25) |
2/25 | SB 44 | Prohibiting Smoking in Cars with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12) |
2/25 | SB 23 | Admissibility of Seat Belt Evidence in Court | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12) |
2/24 | HB 1826 | Driver's License Suspension for Unexcused School Absences | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
2/24 | SB 116 | Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9) |
2/19 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Restaurants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 13) |
2/19 | SB 59 | Enforcing Seat Belt Violations as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
2/18 | SB 2278 | Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19) |
2/17 | SB 25 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
2/16 | SF 137 | Wage Discrimination Policy and Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
2/12 | SB 156 | Expansion of Hate Crime Law | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
2/05 | SB 237 | Primary Seatbelt Enforcement | Bill Failed - Senate (25 - 25) |
2/05 | SB 1161 | Classifying a Seat Belt Violation as a Primary Offense | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
2/04 | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
2/03 | SB 79 | Primary Seat Belt Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
2/03 | SB 83 | Statewide Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18) |
2/03 | SB 1105 | Prohibiting Smoking in Bars and Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 13) |
2/02 | SB 2070 | Ban on Smoking in Cars with Children Passengers | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
1/30 | SB 2087 | Secrecy in Public University Hiring | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
1/28 | SF 65 | Ban on Texting While Driving | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 17) |