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 20, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| March 20, 2008 | KS | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 540 | Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
| March 19, 2008 | NH | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| March 19, 2008 | KS | SB 541 | Expanding Children's Health Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| March 19, 2008 | IA | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| March 18, 2008 | KS | Kelly Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| March 18, 2008 | KS | Hensley Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| March 18, 2008 | AZ | HB 2427 | Pinal County Emissions Testing | Bill Failed - House (22 - 37) |
| March 18, 2008 | AZ | SB 1389 | Healthcare Group Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 18, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (84 - 40) |
| March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1645 | State Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (259 - 60) |
| March 18, 2008 | NH | HB 1623 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (193 - 141) |
| March 18, 2008 | MD | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| March 17, 2008 | KS | Mah Amdt | Abortion Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74) |
| March 17, 2008 | KS | Mah Amdt | Abortion Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74) |
| March 17, 2008 | PA | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| March 17, 2008 | ID | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4299 | Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the Legalization of Importing Certain Prescription Drugs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (73 - 23) |
| March 14, 2008 | National | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1160 | Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1517 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1588 | Residency Verification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1495 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128) |
| March 13, 2008 | NH | HB 1160 | Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79) |
| March 13, 2008 | VA | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| March 13, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
| March 13, 2008 | OH | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 13, 2008 | OH | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| March 12, 2008 | IA | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| March 12, 2008 | OK | SB 1407 | Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| March 12, 2008 | OK | SB 1521 | Mandatory Clinical Cancer Trial Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| March 12, 2008 | OK | HB 2628 | Parental Consent for Sex Education | Bill Failed - House (50 - 51) |
| March 12, 2008 | MI | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| March 12, 2008 | KY | SB 156 | Nuclear Waste Disposal | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 11, 2008 | GA | HB 1158 | Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee | Bill Passed - House (164 - 7) |
| March 11, 2008 | OK | HB 3144 | Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| March 11, 2008 | KY | HB 130 | Requiring Licenses for Denturists | Bill Passed - House (66 - 27) |
| March 11, 2008 | PA | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| March 11, 2008 | OK | HB 3144 | Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| March 10, 2008 | OK | SB 2118 | Requiring Health Insurance to Cover Autism | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
| March 10, 2008 | AZ | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/20 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - House (81 - 16) |
| 3/20 | HB 2947 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 51) |
| 3/20 | SB 540 | Health Insurance Plan for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 3/20 | SB 527 | Mandatory Abortion Counseling for Minors | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 14) |
| 3/19 | HB 1434 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | Bill Passed - House (214 - 107) |
| 3/19 | SB 541 | Expanding Children's Health Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| 3/19 | SJR 2002 | Natural Resources Trust Fund | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (47 - 2) |
| 3/18 | Kelly Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| 3/18 | Hensley Amnd. | Premium Assistance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 27) |
| 3/18 | HB 2427 | Pinal County Emissions Testing | Bill Failed - House (22 - 37) |
| 3/18 | SB 1389 | Healthcare Group Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/18 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (84 - 40) |
| 3/18 | HB 1645 | State Retirement System Amendments | Bill Passed - House (259 - 60) |
| 3/18 | HB 1623 | Marijuana Decriminalization | Bill Passed - House (193 - 141) |
| 3/18 | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 3/17 | Mah Amdt | Abortion Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74) |
| 3/17 | Mah Amdt | Abortion Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74) |
| 3/17 | SB 1137 | Expanding Subsidized Health Care | Bill Passed - House (118 - 81) |
| 3/17 | H 561 | Tax Exemptions for the Processing of Fuel for Energy Production | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/17 | HCR 49 | State Employee Pay Raise | Resolution Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 3/17 | H 562 | Tax Exemption for New Capital Investments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 4299 | Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the Legalization of Importing Certain Prescription Drugs | Amendment Adopted - Senate (73 - 23) |
| 3/14 | S Amdt 4233 | Codifying the Definition of a Child Eligible for SCHIP | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 3/13 | HB 1160 | Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79) |
| 3/13 | HB 1517 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109) |
| 3/13 | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
| 3/13 | HB 1588 | Residency Verification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106) |
| 3/13 | HB 1498 | Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111) |
| 3/13 | HB 1495 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128) |
| 3/13 | HB 1160 | Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79) |
| 3/13 | HB 30 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 14) |
| 3/13 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
| 3/13 | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 3/13 | HB 314 | Abortion and Ultrasound Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 3/12 | HF 2212 | Smoking Ban | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 40) |
| 3/12 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| 3/12 | SB 1407 | Restricting Childhood Vaccine Mercury Levels | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 17) |
| 3/12 | SB 1521 | Mandatory Clinical Cancer Trial Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13) |
| 3/12 | HB 2628 | Parental Consent for Sex Education | Bill Failed - House (50 - 51) |
| 3/12 | SB 120 | Issuing Food Stamps Twice Monthly | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 3/12 | HB 406 | 2008-2010 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (84 - 14) |
| 3/12 | SB 156 | Nuclear Waste Disposal | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 3/11 | HB 1158 | Motor Vehicle Trauma Care Fee | Bill Passed - House (164 - 7) |
| 3/11 | HB 3144 | Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| 3/11 | HB 130 | Requiring Licenses for Denturists | Bill Passed - House (66 - 27) |
| 3/11 | HB 1 | Clean Energy Program | Bill Passed - House (126 - 74) |
| 3/11 | HB 3144 | Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (88 - 11) |
| 3/10 | SB 2118 | Requiring Health Insurance to Cover Autism | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
| 3/10 | SB 1476 | Reducing Probation for Good Behavior | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |