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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |