Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Feb. 28, 2008 GA HB 978 Vehicle Seizures for Undocumented Immigrant Traffic Violations Bill Passed - House (104 - 51)
Feb. 26, 2008 GA HR 413 English as the Official Language of Georgia Resolution Failed - House (103 - 61)
Feb. 26, 2008 CO SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 25, 2008 WY HB 145 Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
Feb. 21, 2008 UT SB 81 Expanding Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
Feb. 14, 2008 MI HB 4505 Changes to Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 5)
Feb. 12, 2008 UT HB 241 Restricting In-State Tuition Eligibility Bill Passed - House (40 - 35)
Feb. 11, 2008 OR SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
Feb. 11, 2008 UT HB 239 Driver's License Requirements Bill Passed - House (39 - 35)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
Feb. 6, 2008 MI SB 962 Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
Feb. 4, 2008 ID H 366 Driver's License Residency Requirement Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
Feb. 1, 2008 UT HB 237 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
Feb. 1, 2008 MS SB 2037 Requirements for Public Works Laborers Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5)
Jan. 31, 2008 SC H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
Oct. 24, 2007 National S 2205 DREAM Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44)
Oct. 22, 2007 NY S 6484 Driver's License Citizenship Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
Oct. 3, 2007 National S Amdt 3117 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
July 26, 2007 National S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
June 28, 2007 National S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
June 7, 2007 National S 1348 Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
June 6, 2007 National S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
June 1, 2007 CT HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
May 23, 2007 National S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
May 23, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4)
May 17, 2007 CT HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 67)
May 16, 2007 MN SF 653 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20)
May 2, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
May 1, 2007 OK SCS HB 1804 Immigration Reform Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
April 25, 2007 FL CS HB 7189 Kidcare Eligibility Expansion Bill Passed - House (98 - 14)
April 24, 2007 NV SB 52 Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
April 24, 2007 AZ HB 2589 Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
April 24, 2007 TX HB 218 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
April 24, 2007 NV SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
April 23, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
April 19, 2007 MN H Amendment Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Amendment Rejected - House (61 - 71)
April 19, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (95 - 37)
April 5, 2007 AZ HB 2467 Proof of Residency for Business Licensing Bill Passed - House (31 - 22)
March 28, 2007 IL HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
March 23, 2007 MD HB 6 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 57)
March 22, 2007 MN SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
March 20, 2007 KS HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
March 19, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
March 15, 2007 AZ HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (46 - 13)
March 9, 2007 ND SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
March 8, 2007 AZ HB 2589 Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
March 7, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 7, 2007 OK HCS HB 1734 Photo Identification Voting Requirement Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
March 5, 2007 TN SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
March 1, 2007 MO HB 269 College Admission of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
Feb. 21, 2007 KS HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (114 - 7)
Feb. 16, 2007 VA Sub SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
Feb. 8, 2007 MS HB 1144 Out-of-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (84 - 33)
Feb. 1, 2007 VA Sub HB 2623 Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (74 - 23)
Jan. 31, 2007 UT HB 224 Repeal of Exemptions from Nonresident Tuition Motion Rejected - House (36 - 38)
Jan. 25, 2007 WY HB 271 False Citizenship or Resident Alien Documents Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
Sept. 29, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
Sept. 21, 2006 National HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)
Sept. 14, 2006 National HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
Aug. 2, 2006 National S Amdt 4775 Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
July 13, 2006 National S Amdt 4659 Double-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
July 10, 2006 CO HB 1017 Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18)
July 10, 2006 CO HB 1023 Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
July 10, 2006 CO HB 1017 Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
July 8, 2006 CO HB 1020 Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
July 8, 2006 CO HB 1023 Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (35 - 28)
June 28, 2006 PA A7999 to HB 1959 English as Official Language Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70)
June 16, 2006 LA SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - House (91 - 5)
June 1, 2006 LA SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
June 1, 2006 CA SB 1160 Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
May 30, 2006 MI HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
May 25, 2006 National S Amdt 4097 Confidentiality Requirement Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
May 25, 2006 AZ HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
May 25, 2006 National S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
May 24, 2006 MA H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
May 24, 2006 National S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
May 23, 2006 National S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
May 22, 2006 CA AJR 51 Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
May 18, 2006 National S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
May 17, 2006 National S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
May 16, 2006 MI HB 5633 English as the Official Language Bill Bill Passed - House (73 - 32)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/28 HB 978 Vehicle Seizures for Undocumented Immigrant Traffic Violations Bill Passed - House (104 - 51)
2/26 HR 413 English as the Official Language of Georgia Resolution Failed - House (103 - 61)
2/26 SB 139 Undocumented Immigrant Hiring Ban Notification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/25 HB 145 Restricting Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (40 - 18)
2/21 SB 81 Expanding Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5)
2/14 HB 4505 Changes to Driver's License Eligibility Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 5)
2/12 HB 241 Restricting In-State Tuition Eligibility Bill Passed - House (40 - 35)
2/11 SB 1080 Driver's License Residency Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7)
2/11 HB 239 Driver's License Requirements Bill Passed - House (39 - 35)
2/07 SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
2/07 SB 340 Prohibiting Sanctuary Policies Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 8)
2/06 SB 962 Prohibiting Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
2/04 H 366 Driver's License Residency Requirement Bill Passed - House (47 - 21)
2/01 HB 237 Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (44 - 25)
2/01 SB 2037 Requirements for Public Works Laborers Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 5)
1/31 H 4400 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - House (80 - 13)
1/29 SB 335 Immigration Bill Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
10/24 S 2205 DREAM Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (52 - 44)
10/22 S 6484 Driver's License Citizenship Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 19)
10/03 S Amdt 3117 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (95 - 1)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/26 S Amdt 2405 REAL ID Funding Amendment Tabled - Senate (50 - 44)
7/26 S Amdt 2480 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations Amendment Adopted - Senate (89 - 1)
6/28 S 1639 Second Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (46 - 53)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 11)
6/20 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 4)
6/07 S 1348 Immigration Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61)
6/06 S Amdt 1333 Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32)
6/06 S Amdt 1151 Declaring English the National Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33)
6/06 S Amdt 1316 Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48)
6/06 S Amdt 1250 Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39)
6/06 S Amdt 1384 English as the Common Language Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
6/06 S Amdt 1202 Point Based Immigration Expiration Date Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55)
6/06 S Amdt 1184 Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51)
6/04 SB 60 Expanding Driver's License Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
6/01 HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
5/23 S Amdt 1169 Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24)
5/23 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4)
5/17 HB 5656 Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 67)
5/16 SF 653 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20)
5/02 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
5/01 SCS HB 1804 Immigration Reform Bill Passed - House (84 - 14)
4/25 CS HB 7189 Kidcare Eligibility Expansion Bill Passed - House (98 - 14)
4/24 SB 52 Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
4/24 HB 2589 Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
4/24 HB 218 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
4/24 SB 415 Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4)
4/23 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
4/19 H Amendment Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Amendment Rejected - House (61 - 71)
4/19 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - House (95 - 37)
4/05 HB 2467 Proof of Residency for Business Licensing Bill Passed - House (31 - 22)
3/28 HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
3/23 HB 6 Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 57)
3/22 SF 1989 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget Bill Passed - Senate (64 - 2)
3/20 HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
3/19 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (46 - 20)
3/15 HB 2779 Employment of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (46 - 13)
3/09 SB 2417 Verifying Employee Work Status Bill Failed - House (18 - 70)
3/08 HB 2589 Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass Bill Passed - House (35 - 23)
3/08 SB 1132 Volunteer Homeland Security Force Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8)
3/07 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/07 HCS HB 1734 Photo Identification Voting Requirement Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
3/05 SB 201 English-Only Driver's License Exam Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6)
3/01 HB 269 College Admission of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (120 - 35)
2/21 HB 2140 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - House (114 - 7)
2/16 Sub SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
2/08 HB 1144 Out-of-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (84 - 33)
2/01 Sub HB 2623 Denying In-State Tuition to Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (74 - 23)
1/31 HB 224 Repeal of Exemptions from Nonresident Tuition Motion Rejected - House (36 - 38)
1/25 HB 271 False Citizenship or Resident Alien Documents Bill Failed - House (29 - 30)
1/23 SB 1204 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8)
9/29 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19)
9/21 HR 6095 Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (277 - 140)
9/14 HR 6061 Secure Fence Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (283 - 138)
8/02 S Amdt 4775 Triple-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (94 - 3)
7/13 S Amdt 4659 Double-Layered Fencing Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (29 - 71)
7/10 HB 1017 Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 18)
7/10 HB 1023 Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
7/10 HB 1017 Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
7/08 HB 1020 Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
7/08 HB 1023 Public Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - House (35 - 28)
6/28 A7999 to HB 1959 English as Official Language Amendment Adopted - House (122 - 70)
6/16 SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - House (91 - 5)
6/01 SB 753 Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9)
6/01 SB 1160 Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
5/30 HB 6085 Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License Bill Passed - House (76 - 27)
5/25 S Amdt 4097 Confidentiality Requirement Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9)
5/25 HB 2577 Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22)
5/25 S 2611 Immigration Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36)
5/24 H 4479 MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5)
5/24 S Amdt 4095 H-2C Visa Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49)
5/23 S Amdt 4087 Orange Card Program Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61)
5/23 S Amdt 4177 Employer Verification Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39)
5/22 AJR 51 Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27)
5/18 S Amdt 4072 "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program" Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 52)
5/18 S Amdt 4073 English as Unifying Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39)
5/18 S Amdt 4064 English As National Language Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (62 - 35)
5/17 S Amdt 3965 Employment-based Immigrant Visa Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (50 - 48)
5/16 HB 5633 English as the Official Language Bill Bill Passed - House (73 - 32)

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