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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18, 2007 | OR | SB 571 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 14, 2007 | DE | SB 36 | State Employee Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 456 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| May 31, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 847 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 24, 2007 | TN | SB 1325 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| May 23, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| May 21, 2007 | CA | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 19, 2007 | MN | HF 464 | School District Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| May 11, 2007 | MN | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
| April 29, 2007 | IN | HB 1678 | Employer Health Insurance Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 13) |
| April 26, 2007 | NH | HB 514 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| April 24, 2007 | AZ | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 23, 2007 | MN | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| April 10, 2007 | SC | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| April 9, 2007 | MD | HB 430 | State Living Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| April 5, 2007 | MD | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 29, 2007 | IL | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| March 28, 2007 | MN | SF 276 | School District Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23) |
| March 27, 2007 | KS | SB 385 | State Employee Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| March 27, 2007 | MN | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| March 26, 2007 | MD | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| March 15, 2007 | NJ | A 1044 | Notification of Job Loss and Plant Closures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| March 8, 2007 | IA | SF 413 | Fair Share Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 13, 2007 | ND | SB 2122 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | SD | SB 207 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1327 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | CO | HB 1072 | Termination of All-Union Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | NM | SB 324 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7) |
| Jan. 24, 2007 | IA | HF 1 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8) |
| Nov. 15, 2006 | IL | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Aug. 23, 2006 | CA | AB 2536 | Overtime Pay for Personal Attendants | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 17, 2006 | CA | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| July 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | NC | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| June 1, 2006 | LA | SB 106 | Labor Unions Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| May 16, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 12, 2006 | MN | SF 1459 | School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27) |
| April 11, 2006 | ME | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| April 10, 2006 | MN | SF 2702 | Labor Disputes, Eligibility for Unemployment, and Dislocated Worker Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1010 | Requiring Legislative Approval Before Entering International Trade Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 8, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 7 | Workers Compensation and Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| March 8, 2006 | ID | H 551 | Public Works Contractors Licensing Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| March 7, 2006 | HI | SB 3008 | Public Work Projects; Hours and Wages; Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | NM | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | WV | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | RI | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | MD | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | MD | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 5, 2006 | NJ | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| March 21, 2001 | National | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
| Nov. 8, 1997 | National | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| Oct. 3, 1996 | National | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| July 10, 1996 | National | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| July 12, 1994 | National | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/18 | SB 571 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 6/14 | SB 36 | State Employee Collective Bargaining | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| 6/07 | SB 456 | Diacetyl Toxic Substance Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 5/31 | Sub SB 847 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 5/24 | SB 1325 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| 5/23 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| 5/21 | SB 180 | Collective Bargaining Representation for Agricultural Workers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/19 | HF 464 | School District Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 16) |
| 5/11 | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
| 4/29 | HB 1678 | Employer Health Insurance Plans | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (37 - 13) |
| 4/26 | HB 514 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 5) |
| 4/24 | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/23 | SF 875 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 23) |
| 4/10 | S 332 | Workers' Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 4/09 | HB 430 | State Living Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 4/05 | HB 359 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 3/29 | SB 500 | Smoke Free Illinois Act | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23) |
| 3/28 | SF 276 | School District Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 23) |
| 3/27 | SB 385 | State Employee Pay Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 3/27 | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 3/26 | SB 91 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 3/15 | A 1044 | Notification of Job Loss and Plant Closures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12) |
| 3/08 | SF 413 | Fair Share Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 2/13 | SB 2122 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 2/12 | SB 207 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| 2/05 | Sub SB 1327 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 2/05 | HB 1072 | Termination of All-Union Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 2/02 | SB 324 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7) |
| 1/24 | HF 1 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 8) |
| 11/15 | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| 8/31 | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 8/23 | AB 2536 | Overtime Pay for Personal Attendants | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 8/17 | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 7/10 | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| 6/01 | SB 106 | Labor Unions Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (8 - 26) |
| 6/01 | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/23 | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| 5/16 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 4/12 | SF 1459 | School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27) |
| 4/11 | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 4/10 | SF 2702 | Labor Disputes, Eligibility for Unemployment, and Dislocated Worker Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 28) |
| 4/10 | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 4/06 | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 3/24 | HB 1010 | Requiring Legislative Approval Before Entering International Trade Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/08 | Am Sub SB 7 | Workers Compensation and Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 3/08 | H 551 | Public Works Contractors Licensing Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| 3/07 | SB 3008 | Public Work Projects; Hours and Wages; Violations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 4) |
| 2/14 | SB 449 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 18) |
| 2/08 | SB 539 | Mine Director Qualifications | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 3) |
| 2/02 | S 2112 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2) |
| 1/17 | HB 391 | Minimum Wage Increase | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/12 | SB 790 | Health Care for Large Companies | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/05 | S 1412 | Development Subsidies Application and Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 3/21 | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
| 11/08 | HR 2264 | Appropriations bill FY98, Labor, HHS, Education | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (91 - 4) |
| 10/03 | HR 3539 | Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| 7/10 | S Amdt 4438 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 38) |
| 7/10 | HR 743 | Teamwork for Employees and Managers Act of 1995 | Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| 7/12 | S 55 | Striker Replacement | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |