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 27, 2006 | MD | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
| March 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 22, 2006 | ID | H 777 | Serving Alcohol in Movie Theaters | Bill Failed - House (30 - 38) |
| March 21, 2006 | NH | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
| March 21, 2006 | NH | HB 1682 | Emergency Contraceptives Requirement | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (189 - 118) |
| March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| March 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 15, 2006 | MD | Amendment 503528 to SB 110 | Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| March 11, 2006 | WV | Com Sub SB 205 | Sex Offenders | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 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 8, 2006 | KY | HB 334 | Helmet Requirement for ATV Drivers Under 16 | Bill Passed - House (56 - 34) |
| March 7, 2006 | HI | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | WI | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2369 | Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minors Abortion | Bill Passed - House (81 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | KS | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | CO | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 107 | Full-Day Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (43 - 29) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | UT | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | ID | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | HB 1194 | Contraceptive Distribution at Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | SD | HB 1234 | Mandatory Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (52 - 15) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | SD | H Amdt 1194rf | Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | SD | HB 1217 | Abstinence-Only Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | ID | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | VA | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | GA | SB 382 | Child Support Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NJ | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| Dec. 14, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| Oct. 27, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| April 27, 2005 | National | HR 748 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 157) |
| April 14, 2005 | National | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (302 - 126) |
| March 17, 2005 | National | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| March 10, 2005 | National | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| Sept. 23, 2004 | National | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3) |
| Sept. 23, 2004 | National | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 65) |
| July 14, 2004 | National | S J Res 40 | Federal Marriage Amendment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50) |
| May 20, 2004 | National | HR 4359 | Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (271 - 139) |
| April 28, 2004 | National | HR 4181 | Marriage Penalty Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (323 - 95) |
| March 24, 2004 | National | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| March 24, 2004 | National | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| April 10, 2003 | National | S 151 | Enhance AMBER Alert bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25) |
| Feb. 13, 2003 | National | HR 4 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 192) |
| May 16, 2002 | National | HR 4737 | Temporary Aid to Needy Families | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
| Sept. 13, 2000 | National | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158) |
| July 21, 2000 | National | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34) |
| July 20, 2000 | National | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156) |
| March 2, 2000 | National | S 1134 | Education Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 10, 2000 | National | HR 6 | Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (268 - 158) |
| Oct. 21, 1999 | National | S 1692 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
| July 29, 1999 | National | H Amdt 356 | Adoption Restriction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 215) |
| June 30, 1999 | National | HR 1218 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 159) |
| Oct. 8, 1998 | National | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
| Oct. 8, 1998 | National | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/27 | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
| 3/27 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| 3/24 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 3/22 | H 777 | Serving Alcohol in Movie Theaters | Bill Failed - House (30 - 38) |
| 3/21 | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
| 3/21 | HB 1682 | Emergency Contraceptives Requirement | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (189 - 118) |
| 3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 3/16 | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 3/15 | Amendment 503528 to SB 110 | Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29) |
| 3/14 | HB 2475 | Unattended Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Failed - House (30 - 67) |
| 3/11 | Com Sub SB 205 | Sex Offenders | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 3/08 | HB 334 | Helmet Requirement for ATV Drivers Under 16 | Bill Passed - House (56 - 34) |
| 3/07 | SB 3102 | Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/01 | HB 328 | Eliminating The Age Requirement For Hunting Small Game | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7) |
| 2/28 | SJR 53 | Constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman | Amendment Adopted - House (62 - 31) |
| 2/28 | HB 1289 | Colorado Student Assessment Program Penalty Removal | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/28 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - House (72 - 24) |
| 2/28 | S 1337 | Controlled Substances Relating to Pregnant Women & Children Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/28 | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 2/23 | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/23 | HCS HB 2369 | Parental Written Consent Requirement for Minors Abortion | Bill Passed - House (81 - 12) |
| 2/23 | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/20 | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/20 | 1SHB 107 | Full-Day Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (43 - 29) |
| 2/20 | HB 329 | Big Game Hunting Age | Bill Passed - House (41 - 26) |
| 2/15 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 2/14 | S 1327 | Background Checks for Adults Who Work With Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/13 | 1SHB 10 | Dating Violence Protective Orders Bill | Bill Failed - House (36 - 39) |
| 2/09 | HB 1194 | Contraceptive Distribution at Public Schools | Bill Passed - House (51 - 17) |
| 2/09 | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| 2/09 | HB 1234 | Mandatory Kindergarten | Bill Passed - House (52 - 15) |
| 2/07 | H Amdt 1194rf | Penalties for School Employees for Dispensing Contraceptives Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (37 - 33) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| 2/07 | HB 1217 | Abstinence-Only Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 2/06 | HJR 2 | Marriage Amendment Ballot Question | Bill Passed - House (53 - 17) |
| 2/02 | SB 253 | Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/01 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| 1/27 | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| 1/25 | SB 382 | Child Support Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 17) |
| 1/25 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 1/19 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 1/09 | S 2083 | Domestic Partner Surviving Rights | Bill Passed - House (67 - 8) |
| 12/19 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| 12/14 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (215 - 213) |
| 11/17 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| 10/27 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 3) |
| 4/27 | HR 748 | Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 157) |
| 4/14 | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (302 - 126) |
| 3/17 | S Amdt 244 | Unintended Pregnancy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53) |
| 3/10 | S 256 | Bankruptcy Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| 9/23 | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 3) |
| 9/23 | HR 1308 | Child Tax Credit Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 65) |
| 7/14 | S J Res 40 | Federal Marriage Amendment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (48 - 50) |
| 5/20 | HR 4359 | Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 | Bill Passed - House (271 - 139) |
| 4/28 | HR 4181 | Marriage Penalty Tax Bill | Bill Passed - House (323 - 95) |
| 3/24 | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| 3/24 | HR 3873 | Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act | Bill Passed - House (419 - 5) |
| 4/10 | S 151 | Enhance AMBER Alert bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (400 - 25) |
| 2/13 | HR 4 | Welfare Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (230 - 192) |
| 5/16 | HR 4737 | Temporary Aid to Needy Families | Bill Passed - House (229 - 197) |
| 9/13 | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Veto Override Failed - House (270 - 158) |
| 7/21 | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (60 - 34) |
| 7/20 | HR 4810 | Marriage Tax Relief Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (271 - 156) |
| 3/02 | S 1134 | Education Savings Accounts | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 2/10 | HR 6 | Changes in Income Tax Deductions for Married Couples | Bill Passed - House (268 - 158) |
| 10/21 | S 1692 | Ban on Partial-Birth/Late Term Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (63 - 34) |
| 7/29 | H Amdt 356 | Adoption Restriction Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (213 - 215) |
| 6/30 | HR 1218 | Child Custody Protection Act | Bill Passed - House (270 - 159) |
| 10/08 | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |
| 10/08 | H Amdt 923 | Contraceptive Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (224 - 200) |