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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | MO | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | WY | SF 84 | Wyoming Pipeline Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SC | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | NM | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | RI | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | MI | SB 957 | Single Tax Credit: Alternative Tax Rate and Percentage Reduction in Liability | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Jan. 20, 2006 | UT | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | MI | SB 957 | Single Tax Credit: Alternative Tax Rate and Percentage Reduction in Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | MD | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 6, 2006 | MS | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| July 28, 2005 | National | HR 3045 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45) |
| July 26, 2005 | National | S Amdt 1351 | Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| June 30, 2005 | National | S 1307 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45) |
| March 10, 2005 | National | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| Oct. 11, 2004 | National | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17) |
| Oct. 11, 2004 | National | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17) |
| May 11, 2004 | National | S 1637 | Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5) |
| May 11, 2004 | National | S 1637 | Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5) |
| July 31, 2003 | National | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
| July 31, 2003 | National | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
| Aug. 1, 2002 | National | HR 3009 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34) |
| July 31, 2002 | National | S 812 | Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21) |
| July 15, 2002 | National | S 2673 | Accounting Industry Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| June 18, 2002 | National | S 2600 | Terrorism Insurance Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
| Sept. 19, 2000 | National | HR 4444 | U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15) |
| Sept. 13, 2000 | National | S Amdt 4132 | China Nonproliferation Act | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 32) |
| July 13, 2000 | National | S Amdt 3821 | Estate Tax Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| May 11, 2000 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
| Feb. 2, 2000 | National | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
| Nov. 3, 1999 | National | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
| May 13, 1998 | National | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| July 17, 1997 | National | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| Aug. 2, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| July 9, 1996 | National | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| March 21, 1996 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| March 5, 1996 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |
| Dec. 22, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30) |
| Dec. 5, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30) |
| Oct. 19, 1995 | National | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| July 11, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1497 | Small Business Impact Analysis | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| July 10, 1995 | National | S Amdt 1491 | Small Business Impact Analyses | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
| June 28, 1995 | National | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| May 10, 1995 | National | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| Dec. 1, 1994 | National | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24) |
| July 1, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| June 29, 1994 | National | S 687 | Product Liability Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
| May 12, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| March 16, 1994 | National | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Jan. 27, 1994 | National | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | National | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 20, 1993 | National | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| June 30, 1993 | National | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 16) |
| May 13, 1993 | National | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35) |
| Oct. 1, 1992 | National | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/28 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 2/27 | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| 2/23 | SF 84 | Wyoming Pipeline Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 2/22 | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 2/21 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 2/14 | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| 2/13 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/08 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| 2/02 | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 1/25 | SB 957 | Single Tax Credit: Alternative Tax Rate and Percentage Reduction in Liability | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 1/20 | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 1/19 | SB 957 | Single Tax Credit: Alternative Tax Rate and Percentage Reduction in Liability | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 1/17 | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/06 | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 15) |
| 1/05 | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 1/05 | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 7/28 | HR 3045 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 45) |
| 7/26 | S Amdt 1351 | Corporate Financing of Terrorism Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 51) |
| 6/30 | S 1307 | CAFTA Implementation Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 3/10 | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| 10/11 | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17) |
| 10/11 | HR 4520 | JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Strength) | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (69 - 17) |
| 5/11 | S 1637 | Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5) |
| 5/11 | S 1637 | Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 5) |
| 7/31 | HR 2739 | U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 7/31 | HR 2738 | U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 32) |
| 8/01 | HR 3009 | Andean Trade Preference Act Extension | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (64 - 34) |
| 7/31 | S 812 | Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act | Bill Passed - Senate (78 - 21) |
| 7/15 | S 2673 | Accounting Industry Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (97 - 0) |
| 6/18 | S 2600 | Terrorism Insurance Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (84 - 14) |
| 9/19 | HR 4444 | U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 15) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4132 | China Nonproliferation Act | Amendment Tabled - Senate (65 - 32) |
| 7/13 | S Amdt 3821 | Estate Tax Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 5/11 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (77 - 19) |
| 2/02 | HR 833 | Bankruptcy Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
| 11/03 | HR 434 | Africa Free Trade bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 19) |
| 5/13 | S 1260 | Securities Litigation | Bill Passed - Senate (79 - 21) |
| 7/17 | S Amdt 890 | Most Favored Nation Repeal Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 77) |
| 8/02 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (76 - 22) |
| 7/09 | HR 3448 | Minimum Wage Increase bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 3/21 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 3/05 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (74 - 22) |
| 12/22 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (68 - 30) |
| 12/05 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (65 - 30) |
| 10/19 | HR 927 | Cuba Sanctions Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 7/11 | S Amdt 1497 | Small Business Impact Analysis | Amendment Adopted - Senate (53 - 45) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 1491 | Small Business Impact Analyses | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 36) |
| 6/28 | HR 1058 | Legal Reform bill | Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 30) |
| 5/10 | HR 956 | Product Liability bill | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 12/01 | HR 5110 | Uruguay Round Agreements Act | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 24) |
| 7/01 | S Amdt 1851 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 6/29 | S 687 | Product Liability Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
| 5/12 | S Amdt 1695 | Bosnia Arms Embargo Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 49) |
| 3/16 | HR 820 | National Competitiveness Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| 1/27 | S Amdt 1263 | Vietnam Trade Embargo | Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 38) |
| 11/20 | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/20 | HR 3450 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 6/30 | HR 1876 | GATT Uruguay Round Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (76 - 16) |
| 5/13 | S 714 | Resolution Trust Corporation Completion Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 35) |
| 10/01 | HR 5318 | Conditional Extension of Most-Favored-Nation Trade Status to China | Veto Override Failed - Senate (59 - 40) |