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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2006 | National | HR 4 | Pension Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (279 - 131) |
| July 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18) |
| July 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | NC | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| June 30, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| June 30, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 21, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4376 | Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53) |
| June 21, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4322 | Minimum Wage Adjustment Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46) |
| June 20, 2006 | MI | HB 6213 | Overtime Provisions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 49) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - House (91 - 5) |
| June 15, 2006 | DE | HA 5 | Minimum Wage Exception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (16 - 24) |
| June 15, 2006 | DE | HA 5 | Minimum Wage Exception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (16 - 24) |
| June 15, 2006 | DE | SB 62 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| June 15, 2006 | DE | SB 62 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| June 8, 2006 | LA | HB 144 | Equal Pay Bill | Bill Failed - House (40 - 54) |
| June 6, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
| June 6, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| June 1, 2006 | LA | SB 106 | Labor Unions Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26) |
| June 1, 2006 | LA | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| May 30, 2006 | NC | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (72 - 43) |
| May 26, 2006 | TN | HB 3402 | Tennessee Minimum Wage Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| May 26, 2006 | TN | HB 3402 | Tennessee Minimum Wage Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 25, 2006 | CA | AB 2122 | Shareholder Distribution Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Bill Passed - House (72 - 71) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| May 17, 2006 | LA | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| May 16, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| May 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 5, 2006 | VT | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/28 | HR 4 | Pension Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (279 - 131) |
| 7/10 | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18) |
| 7/10 | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 6/30 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| 6/30 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - House (161 - 37) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 4376 | Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 4322 | Minimum Wage Adjustment Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46) |
| 6/20 | HB 6213 | Overtime Provisions | Bill Passed - House (57 - 49) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| 6/16 | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - House (91 - 5) |
| 6/15 | HA 5 | Minimum Wage Exception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (16 - 24) |
| 6/15 | HA 5 | Minimum Wage Exception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (16 - 24) |
| 6/15 | SB 62 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 6/15 | SB 62 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (26 - 14) |
| 6/08 | HB 144 | Equal Pay Bill | Bill Failed - House (40 - 54) |
| 6/06 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
| 6/06 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Passed - House (66 - 35) |
| 6/01 | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 6/01 | SB 106 | Labor Unions Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26) |
| 6/01 | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/31 | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/31 | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| 5/30 | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - House (72 - 43) |
| 5/26 | HB 3402 | Tennessee Minimum Wage Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| 5/26 | HB 3402 | Tennessee Minimum Wage Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 43) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/25 | AB 2122 | Shareholder Distribution Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (48 - 32) |
| 5/24 | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 5/24 | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| 5/24 | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Bill Passed - House (72 - 71) |
| 5/24 | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 5/23 | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| 5/17 | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| 5/16 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 5/12 | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| 5/12 | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| 5/08 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/05 | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |