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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 5, 2007 SC S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
April 5, 2007 SC S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
April 4, 2007 VA Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule" Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14)
April 4, 2007 VA Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 4, 2007 VA HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 29, 2007 CO SJM Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 29, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
March 29, 2007 IL SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
March 29, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
March 29, 2007 MN SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
March 29, 2007 CO SJM 2 Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 28, 2007 MN SF 276 School District Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
March 28, 2007 IA SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 27, 2007 National S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
March 27, 2007 KS SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
March 27, 2007 MN SF 238 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24)
March 26, 2007 IA SF 427 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
March 26, 2007 MD SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 24, 2007 MN SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
March 23, 2007 National S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
March 22, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
March 22, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
March 20, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
March 20, 2007 KS HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 20, 2007 GA SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
March 19, 2007 IA HF 5 Maximum Title Loan Finance Charge Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
March 16, 2007 MD SB 533 Removal of Remarriage Barriers Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22)
March 15, 2007 NJ A 1044 Notification of Job Loss and Plant Closures Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
March 15, 2007 NH SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
March 15, 2007 National S J Res 9 United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50)
March 13, 2007 OK SB 507 Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
March 13, 2007 AR SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 13, 2007 AR SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 13, 2007 AR SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
March 8, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
March 8, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
March 8, 2007 IA SF 413 “Fair Share” Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 7, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 7, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 7, 2007 WA Sub SB 5297 Sexual Health Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
March 5, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 5, 2007 NM SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 5, 2007 TN SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
March 5, 2007 NY S 3318 Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
March 1, 2007 WA Sub SB 5336 Legal Benefits for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
Feb. 27, 2007 NM SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/05 S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
4/05 S 355 Restructuring the Department of Transportation Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
4/04 Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule" Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14)
4/04 Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/04 HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/29 SJM Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/29 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
3/29 SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
3/29 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
3/29 SF 2171 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
3/29 SJM 2 Opposition to Troop Escalation in Iraq Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/28 SF 276 School District Health Insurance Pool Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23)
3/28 SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/27 S Amdt 643 Iraq Withdrawal Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 50)
3/27 SB 385 State Employee Pay Increase Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
3/27 SF 238 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24)
3/26 SF 427 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
3/26 SB 91 Indoor Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/24 SF 1997 2008-2009 State Government Budget Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 20)
3/23 S Con Res 21 2008 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 47)
3/22 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
3/22 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
3/20 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
3/20 HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/20 SB 174 Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
3/19 HF 5 Maximum Title Loan Finance Charge Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
3/16 SB 533 Removal of Remarriage Barriers Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 22)
3/15 A 1044 Notification of Job Loss and Plant Closures Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
3/15 SB 18 Raising the Compulsory School Age Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7)
3/15 S J Res 9 United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (48 - 50)
3/13 SB 507 Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
3/13 SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/13 SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/13 SB 959 Adoption and Foster Care Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
3/08 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
3/08 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
3/08 SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
3/08 SF 413 “Fair Share” Union Fees Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/08 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/08 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/07 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/07 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/07 Sub SB 5297 Sexual Health Education Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19)
3/05 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/05 SB 1174 HPV Vaccine Requirement for Sixth Graders Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/05 SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
3/05 S 3318 Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
3/01 Sub SB 5336 Legal Benefits for Domestic Partners Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
2/27 SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)

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