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
March 4, 2008 WI SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
March 3, 2008 CO SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 27, 2008 MS SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
Feb. 25, 2008 VA HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2008 GA SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
Feb. 11, 2008 SD SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 7, 2008 GA SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
Jan. 29, 2008 IN SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
Jan. 25, 2008 MS SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 22, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Jan. 7, 2008 NJ S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
Dec. 10, 2007 NJ S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
Nov. 8, 2007 National PN 958 Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40)
June 27, 2007 OH SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
June 20, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
June 19, 2007 RI LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
June 11, 2007 National S J Res 14 Attorney General No Confidence Vote Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38)
June 7, 2007 NH HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
June 4, 2007 OR HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
June 4, 2007 CA SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
May 31, 2007 CT Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
May 31, 2007 OH SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
May 23, 2007 CT Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 17, 2007 IL HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
May 15, 2007 NC SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
May 14, 2007 NY S 319 Death Penalty For Certain Murders Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24)
May 1, 2007 TX CSSB 966 Journalist Confidentiality Protection Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 20, 2007 VT SR 16 Urging National Executive Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9)
April 19, 2007 OK SB 507 Comprehensive tort reform-Provide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 4, 2007 VA Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule" Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14)
April 4, 2007 VA Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
April 4, 2007 VA HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
March 28, 2007 IA SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
March 20, 2007 National S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
March 20, 2007 IL SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
March 13, 2007 OK SB 507 Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
March 8, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
March 8, 2007 AZ SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
March 7, 2007 ID S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 5, 2007 NY S 3318 Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
Feb. 27, 2007 NM SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
Feb. 27, 2007 MD SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
Jan. 29, 2007 AZ SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
Sept. 28, 2006 National S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
June 21, 2006 NY S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
May 24, 2006 OK SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
May 17, 2006 TN SA 1505 Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
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 CO HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
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 12, 2006 NE LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
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 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 16, 2006 AZ SB 1430 Children, Child Protective Services Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
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 WI AB 1073 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 6, 2006 OK SCS SB 1874 Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
March 1, 2006 OK SB 1471 Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
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. 9, 2006 NM SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
Jan. 31, 2006 National PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/04 SB 537 John Doe Proceedings Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
3/03 SB 164 Increasing Caps on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/27 SB 2998 Immunity for Physicians Treating Medicaid Recipients Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
2/26 SB 2550 Covenant Marriage Act Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 13)
2/25 HB 933 "Triggerman Rule" in Capital Murder Cases Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
2/13 SB 174 Railroad Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
2/12 SR 822 Reassessing Georgia's Northern Border Resolution Passed - Senate (52 - 0)
2/11 SB 189 Accessibility of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/07 SB 350 Increasing Penalties for Driving Without a License Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 13)
1/29 SB 143 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 13)
1/25 SB 2188 Attorney General-Private Attorney Contract Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/22 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
1/07 S 176 Expanding Damages for Wrongful Death Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
12/11 SJR 5 Limiting Governor's Partial Veto Authority Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
12/11 SB 176 Compensation for Discharged Police Officers Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
12/10 S 171 Eliminating the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16)
11/08 PN 958 Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 40)
6/27 SB 7 Eminent Domain Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 3)
6/20 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 6)
6/19 LCO # 2552/4 to H5300Aaa Repeal of Provision Requiring the Trying Seventeen Year-Olds as Adults in Criminal Cases Amendment Rejected - Senate (5 - 30)
6/11 S J Res 14 Attorney General No Confidence Vote Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38)
6/07 HB 143 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 11)
6/04 HB 2760 Annexation of Unincorporated Land Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
6/04 SB 1019 Access to Police Misconduct Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
5/31 Sub SB 167 Restricting Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
5/31 SJR 1 Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment Ballot Bill Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
5/23 Sub SB 938 Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/17 HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 23)
5/15 SB 1006 Confidentiality of Competitive Health Care Information Act Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 5)
5/14 S 319 Death Penalty For Certain Murders Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24)
5/01 CSSB 966 Journalist Confidentiality Protection Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/20 SR 16 Urging National Executive Impeachment Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 9)
4/19 SB 507 Comprehensive tort reform-Provide Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
4/09 HB 992 Parole for Drug Offenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/04 Sub HB 2348 Extension of "Triggerman Rule" Veto Override Failed - Senate (24 - 14)
4/04 Sub HB 2750 Capital Murder of a Judge Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 10)
4/04 HB 2347 Capital Murder of a Witness Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
3/28 SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
3/20 S 214 United States Attorneys Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (94 - 2)
3/20 SB 1296 Damages in Civil Actions Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 23)
3/13 SB 507 Firearm Injury Liability and Tort Reform Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
3/08 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (49 - 2)
3/08 SB 1152 REAL ID Implementation Prohibition Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5)
3/07 S 1172 English as the Official Language Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/05 S 3318 Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act Bill Passed - Senate (53 - 8)
2/27 SB 322 Requiring Conference Committees to be Public Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 21)
2/27 SB 61 Evidence in Sexual Misconduct Trials Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/07 SB 2391 Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0)
1/29 SB 1032 Emergency Room Malpractice Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
9/28 S Amdt 5087 Habeas Review Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 51)
9/28 S 3930 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 34)
6/21 S 8446 DNA Database Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (56 - 2)
5/24 SB 1807 Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10)
5/17 SA 1505 Medical Malpractice Limits Amendment Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 16)
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 HB 1315 Juvenile Criminal Parole Act Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
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)
4/12 LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
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)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/16 SB 1430 Children, Child Protective Services Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
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 AB 1073 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/06 SCS SB 1874 Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
3/01 SB 1471 Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
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)
2/09 SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
1/31 PN 1059 Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42)

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