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. 22, 2008 | MD | SB 243 | Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| Feb. 20, 2008 | KY | HB 396 | HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students | Bill Passed - House (56 - 37) |
| Feb. 18, 2008 | WA | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| Feb. 18, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| Feb. 15, 2008 | WA | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| Feb. 14, 2008 | KY | HB 55 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | TN | SB 3419 | Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | MI | HB 5322 | HPV Information for Schools | Bill Passed - House (90 - 17) |
| Feb. 12, 2008 | MI | SB 415 | HPV Information for Schools | Bill Passed - House (94 - 12) |
| Feb. 7, 2008 | NH | SB 436 | Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| Feb. 2, 2008 | NM | SB 68 | Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| Jan. 29, 2008 | GA | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| Jan. 28, 2008 | CO | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Jan. 25, 2008 | CO | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
| Jan. 23, 2008 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
| Jan. 22, 2008 | SD | SB 26 | State Regulation of Preschools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Jan. 21, 2008 | VA | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| Nov. 14, 2007 | National | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
| Nov. 1, 2007 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
| Oct. 31, 2007 | MI | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4359 | 2007-2008 Public School Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 5) |
| Oct. 30, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| Oct. 29, 2007 | MI | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 28) |
| Oct. 25, 2007 | National | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Bill Passed - House (265 - 142) |
| Oct. 18, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156) |
| Oct. 10, 2007 | OH | Amendment | Foster Parent Confidentiality | Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
| Sept. 27, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
| Sept. 25, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159) |
| Aug. 2, 2007 | National | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
| Aug. 1, 2007 | National | HR 3162 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (225 - 204) |
| July 19, 2007 | National | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| June 20, 2007 | AZ | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| June 19, 2007 | RI | LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa | Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30) |
| June 19, 2007 | OH | HB 119 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53) |
| June 19, 2007 | DE | HA 4 | Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity | Bill Failed - House (17 - 24) |
| June 15, 2007 | RI | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
| June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - House (40 - 117) |
| June 14, 2007 | OR | HB 2637 | Cyberbullying Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| June 13, 2007 | LA | HB 747 | Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use | Bill Failed - House (50 - 50) |
| June 12, 2007 | OR | HB 2967 | Tobacco Tax Increase for Childrens Health Care | Bill Failed - House (35 - 22) |
| June 11, 2007 | OR | SB 392 | Mandatory School Age | Bill Failed - House (22 - 33) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 7, 2007 | LA | HB 786 | Teenage Driver Passenger Limit | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| June 7, 2007 | NH | HB 184 | Abortion Parental Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| June 6, 2007 | NH | SB 18 | Raising the Compulsory School Age | Bill Passed - House (201 - 156) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/22 | SB 243 | Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| 2/20 | HB 396 | HPV Vaccinations for Primary, Secondary and Preschool Students | Bill Passed - House (56 - 37) |
| 2/18 | SB 6305 | Use of Federal Sex Education Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11) |
| 2/18 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - House (41 - 23) |
| 2/15 | HB 3104 | Domestic Partnership Rights | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| 2/14 | HB 55 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (68 - 28) |
| 2/13 | SB 3419 | Parental Consent for Sexual Abuse Prevention Education | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 6) |
| 2/12 | HB 5322 | HPV Information for Schools | Bill Passed - House (90 - 17) |
| 2/12 | SB 415 | HPV Information for Schools | Bill Passed - House (94 - 12) |
| 2/07 | SB 436 | Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6) |
| 2/02 | SB 68 | Increasing Domestic Violence Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 5) |
| 1/29 | HB 908 | Expanding Sex Offender Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (141 - 29) |
| 1/28 | SB 3 | Medicaid Funded Family Planning | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 1/25 | SA Mitchell | Prohibiting State Funding of Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 20) |
| 1/23 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152) |
| 1/22 | SB 26 | State Regulation of Preschools | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 1/21 | HB 188 | HPV Vaccine Deadline Extension | Bill Passed - House (57 - 39) |
| 11/14 | HR 1429 | Head Start Act of 2007 | Conference Report Adopted - House (381 - 36) |
| 11/01 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 30) |
| 10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 50) |
| 10/31 | SB 232 | 2007-2008 Department of Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4359 | 2007-2008 Public School Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (104 - 5) |
| 10/30 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 3) |
| 10/29 | S Sub for Sub HB 4344 | 2007-2008 Department of Community Health Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (81 - 28) |
| 10/25 | HR 3963 | Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) | Bill Passed - House (265 - 142) |
| 10/18 | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Veto Override Failed - House (273 - 156) |
| 10/10 | Amendment | Foster Parent Confidentiality | Amendment Adopted - House (52 - 44) |
| 9/27 | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (67 - 29) |
| 9/25 | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (265 - 159) |
| 8/02 | HR 976 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
| 8/01 | HR 3162 | State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (225 - 204) |
| 7/19 | HR 3043 | Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies | Bill Passed - House (276 - 140) |
| 6/20 | HB 2641 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6) |
| 6/19 | LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa | Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30) |
| 6/19 | HB 119 | 2008-2009 Budget | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (46 - 53) |
| 6/19 | HA 4 | Amendment to "Child's Victim Act"; State Immunity | Bill Failed - House (17 - 24) |
| 6/15 | Article 22 of H5300A | Classifying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 19) |
| 6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| 6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - House (40 - 117) |
| 6/14 | HB 2637 | Cyberbullying Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| 6/13 | HB 747 | Restrictions on All-Terrain Vehicle Use | Bill Failed - House (50 - 50) |
| 6/12 | HB 2967 | Tobacco Tax Increase for Childrens Health Care | Bill Failed - House (35 - 22) |
| 6/11 | SB 392 | Mandatory School Age | Bill Failed - House (22 - 33) |
| 6/07 | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 6/07 | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/07 | HB 786 | Teenage Driver Passenger Limit | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/07 | AB 8 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (47 - 32) |
| 6/07 | HB 184 | Abortion Parental Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| 6/06 | SB 18 | Raising the Compulsory School Age | Bill Passed - House (201 - 156) |