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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 14, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| March 9, 2006 | NH | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| March 9, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| March 8, 2006 | WY | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 8, 2006 | MS | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| March 7, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 6, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| March 1, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| March 1, 2006 | KY | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | VT | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | ID | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MO | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | HB 782 | Second-Degree Murder Charges | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | AZ | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Bill Passed - House (33 - 24) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | SD | HB 1184 | Medical Treatments that Violate Medical Workers Principles | Bill Failed - House (34 - 35) |
| Feb. 4, 2006 | NM | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - House (42 - 20) |
| Feb. 3, 2006 | MS | HB 1089 | Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (63 - 46) |
| Feb. 3, 2006 | VA | HB 45 | Death Penalty Age Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | AK | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | AK | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | AK | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | IN | HB 1028 | Firearms and Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | WI | SB 403 | Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (64 - 34) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | WA | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Jan. 26, 2006 | RI | H 6700 Sub A | Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| Jan. 20, 2006 | WA | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MS | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (95 - 25) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MS | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (95 - 25) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NJ | S 2783 | Age Restrictions for the Purchase of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (58 - 16) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NJ | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NY | A 2302 | Childproof Firearms Sales | Bill Passed - House (91 - 44) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NY | A 2302 | Childproof Firearms Sales | Bill Passed - House (91 - 44) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NY | A 2466 | Assault Weapon Definition Amendments | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NY | A 2466 | Assault Weapon Definition Amendments | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| Dec. 16, 2005 | National | HR 4437 | Border Security Bill | Bill Passed - House (239 - 182) |
| Dec. 14, 2005 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 174) |
| Dec. 14, 2005 | National | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 174) |
| Nov. 9, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
| Nov. 2, 2005 | National | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 420 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 184) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/14 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - House (90 - 33) |
| 3/14 | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| 3/09 | HB 1492 | Emergency Contraceptives and Pharmacists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (215 - 106) |
| 3/09 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (32 - 25) |
| 3/09 | HB 2577 | Immigration Policy; Forgery; Employment; Licensing | Bill Passed - House (35 - 20) |
| 3/08 | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (30 - 29) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/08 | SB 2511 | Parole Eligibility for First-Time Nonviolent Offenders Under Twenty-Five | Bill Passed - House (67 - 51) |
| 3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| 3/07 | HCS HB 2138 | Release From School to Attend Religious Instruction | Bill Passed - House (70 - 25) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/06 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - House (49 - 12) |
| 3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/01 | 2SSB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - House (39 - 34) |
| 3/01 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (33 - 22) |
| 3/01 | HB 399 | Wage Discrimination Bill | Bill Passed - House (72 - 22) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/22 | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| 2/22 | H 582 | Breathalyzer Refusal Penalty | Bill Passed - House (47 - 19) |
| 2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 2/21 | SCS SB 578 | Funeral Protests Prohibition | Bill Passed - House (139 - 17) |
| 2/20 | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/15 | HB 1422 | Motion on Death Penalty Repeal | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (200 - 137) |
| 2/15 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| 2/15 | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| 2/15 | HCS HB 290 | Concealed Weapons Permit Classification | Bill Passed - House (89 - 7) |
| 2/14 | Sub HB 1048 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (77 - 22) |
| 2/13 | HB 782 | Second-Degree Murder Charges | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 2/13 | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| 2/13 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Bill Passed - House (41 - 24) |
| 2/09 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (47 - 22) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| 2/07 | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |
| 2/07 | HB 1090 | Juvenile Sentencing | Bill Passed - House (74 - 48) |
| 2/07 | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Bill Passed - House (33 - 24) |
| 2/06 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| 2/06 | HB 1184 | Medical Treatments that Violate Medical Workers Principles | Bill Failed - House (34 - 35) |
| 2/04 | HB 211 | Pseudoephedrine as a Controlled Substance | Bill Passed - House (42 - 20) |
| 2/03 | HB 1089 | Deer Baiting | Bill Passed - House (63 - 46) |
| 2/03 | HB 45 | Death Penalty Age Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 34) |
| 2/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| 2/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 30) |
| 2/01 | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| 2/01 | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| 2/01 | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| 2/01 | HB 1028 | Firearms and Self-Defense | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
| 1/31 | SB 403 | Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (64 - 34) |
| 1/27 | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| 1/26 | H 6700 Sub A | Driver Refusal of Chemical Tests | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| 1/20 | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - House (60 - 37) |
| 1/12 | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (95 - 25) |
| 1/12 | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - House (95 - 25) |
| 1/09 | S 2783 | Age Restrictions for the Purchase of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (58 - 16) |
| 1/09 | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
| 1/09 | A 2302 | Childproof Firearms Sales | Bill Passed - House (91 - 44) |
| 1/09 | A 2302 | Childproof Firearms Sales | Bill Passed - House (91 - 44) |
| 1/09 | A 2466 | Assault Weapon Definition Amendments | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| 1/09 | A 2466 | Assault Weapon Definition Amendments | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| 12/19 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| 12/19 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| 12/16 | HR 4437 | Border Security Bill | Bill Passed - House (239 - 182) |
| 12/14 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 174) |
| 12/14 | HR 3199 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization | Conference Report Adopted - House (251 - 174) |
| 11/09 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
| 11/02 | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
| 10/27 | HR 420 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 184) |