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. 7, 2006 | SD | HB 1217 | Abstinence-Only Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 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. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | AK | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | National | H Res 653 | Budget Reconciliation Adoption | Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | NM | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | NM | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | IN | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| Jan. 26, 2006 | CA | AB 802 | Local Governments Assessment of Flood Risks | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| Jan. 26, 2006 | MS | HB 1318 | Hurricane Katrina Response and Recovery Oversight Act | Bill Passed - House (79 - 42) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | WV | HB 4021 SUB | Health Care Changes | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | MS | HB 123 | Smoking Ban in Government Buildings | Bill Passed - House (83 - 37) |
| Jan. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| Jan. 23, 2006 | WA | 2nd Sub HB 2292 | Addressing Health Care Liability Reform | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| Jan. 20, 2006 | UT | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | WI | AB 766 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 36) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| Jan. 9, 2006 | NJ | S 2783 | Age Restrictions for the Purchase of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (58 - 16) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| Jan. 3, 2006 | RI | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| Dec. 21, 2005 | National | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| Dec. 19, 2005 | National | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| 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 | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Nov. 17, 2005 | National | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| Nov. 16, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| Nov. 9, 2005 | National | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 17) |
| Nov. 9, 2005 | National | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2356 | Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2371 | Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2348 | Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2357 | Medicare Premiums Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2409 | Targeted Case Management Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| Nov. 3, 2005 | National | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/07 | HB 1217 | Abstinence-Only Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 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) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| 2/01 | HB 149 | Controlled Substance Law Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (15 - 23) |
| 2/01 | H Res 653 | Budget Reconciliation Adoption | Resolution Passed - House (216 - 214) |
| 2/01 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 1/31 | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| 1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| 1/31 | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| 1/30 | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 1/27 | 1SHB 85 | Parental Consent for Minors Abortion Bill | Bill Passed - House (65 - 8) |
| 1/26 | AB 802 | Local Governments Assessment of Flood Risks | Bill Passed - House (41 - 34) |
| 1/26 | HB 1318 | Hurricane Katrina Response and Recovery Oversight Act | Bill Passed - House (79 - 42) |
| 1/25 | HB 4021 SUB | Health Care Changes | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| 1/25 | HB 123 | Smoking Ban in Government Buildings | Bill Passed - House (83 - 37) |
| 1/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 1/23 | 2nd Sub HB 2292 | Addressing Health Care Liability Reform | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| 1/20 | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 1/19 | AB 766 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Veto Override Failed - House (63 - 36) |
| 1/19 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 50) |
| 1/09 | S 2783 | Age Restrictions for the Purchase of Tobacco Products | Bill Passed - House (58 - 16) |
| 1/05 | S 2907 | Reimbursement for Contaminated Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 5) |
| 1/03 | H 6052 Sub. A | Medical Marijuana Bill | Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 13) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 44) |
| 12/21 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (93 - 0) |
| 12/21 | S Con Res 74 | Removal of ANWR Provision from HR 2863 | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| 12/19 | S 1932 | Budget Reconciliation Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (212 - 206) |
| 12/19 | HR 2863 | Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (308 - 106) |
| 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 | S Amdt 2601 | Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 47) |
| 11/17 | HR 3010 | Labor, HHS and Education FY 2006 Appropriations Bill | Conference Report Rejected - House (209 - 224) |
| 11/16 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (94 - 5) |
| 11/09 | HR 2419 | Energy and Water Appropriations Bill FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (339 - 17) |
| 11/09 | HR 2862 | Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill, FY 2006 | Conference Report Adopted - House (397 - 19) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2365 | Medical Assistance and Prescription Drug Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2356 | Hurricane Health Care for Survivors Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2371 | Medicare Prescription Drug Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (51 - 48) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2348 | Medicaid Generic Drug Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2358 | ANWR Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2357 | Medicare Premiums Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 50) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2409 | Targeted Case Management Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 52) |
| 11/03 | S Amdt 2400 | Alaska Judicial Review of Oil Revenue Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51) |