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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2006 | TN | SA 1505 | Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
| May 15, 2006 | LA | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
| May 9, 2006 | RI | H 7339 | Restriction on Political Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (36 - 25) |
| May 9, 2006 | LA | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 1, 2006 | KS | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | OK | HCS SCS SB 1657 | Civil Procedure | Bill Passed - House (54 - 30) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| April 24, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| April 17, 2006 | CT | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| April 12, 2006 | NE | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 11, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| April 5, 2006 | FL | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| March 30, 2006 | FL | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| March 29, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| March 29, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| March 20, 2006 | PA | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| March 16, 2006 | FL | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - House (93 - 27) |
| March 16, 2006 | AZ | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 15, 2006 | OH | Amdt. HB 9 | Concealed Weapons Permit Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (51 - 43) |
| March 15, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 3120 | Tort Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| March 9, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1698 | Inmate State ID Cards and Faith-Based Programs in Prisons | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 23) |
| March 9, 2006 | KS | SCR 1606 | Supreme Court Justice Selection Procedure Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 17) |
| March 7, 2006 | National | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 7, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| March 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 2, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| March 1, 2006 | OK | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | VT | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | National | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | WA | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | WA | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/17 | SA 1505 | Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16) |
| 5/15 | HB 1379 | Procedures for the Granting of a Divorce When There are Minor Children | Bill Passed - House (58 - 35) |
| 5/09 | H 7339 | Restriction on Political Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (36 - 25) |
| 5/09 | SB 655 | Remediation for Oil and Gas Sites | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/03 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/01 | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 4/27 | LCO # 4811 | Chief Justice Powers Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8) |
| 4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | HCS SCS SB 1657 | Civil Procedure | Bill Passed - House (54 - 30) |
| 4/27 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| 4/24 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| 4/20 | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| 4/17 | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| 4/12 | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 4/11 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| 4/05 | HB 7009 | Review of Local Government Managers | Bill Passed - House (85 - 32) |
| 3/30 | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 3/29 | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| 3/29 | Am Sub SB 17 | Child Abuse Reporting Requirements and Statute of Limitations Regarding Religious Figures | Bill Passed - House (77 - 18) |
| 3/20 | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| 3/16 | HB 145 | Joint and Several Liability Elimination | Bill Passed - House (93 - 27) |
| 3/16 | SB 1430 | Children, Child Protective Services | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 3/15 | Amdt. HB 9 | Concealed Weapons Permit Disclosure Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (51 - 43) |
| 3/15 | HCS HB 3120 | Tort Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (58 - 41) |
| 3/09 | SCS SB 1698 | Inmate State ID Cards and Faith-Based Programs in Prisons | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 23) |
| 3/09 | SCR 1606 | Supreme Court Justice Selection Procedure Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 17) |
| 3/07 | S 2271 | PATRIOT Act Reauthorization bill | Bill Passed - House (280 - 138) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/07 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/06 | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/02 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| 3/01 | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| 2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| 2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| 2/09 | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| 1/31 | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| 1/27 | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (61 - 37) |
| 1/27 | Sub HB 2661 | Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |