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 8, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
| May 8, 2008 | MI | HB 4163 | Workplace Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | SC | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos | Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69) | |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| May 7, 2008 | MN | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| May 7, 2008 | IL | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
| May 6, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| May 6, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| May 6, 2008 | KS | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56) |
| May 6, 2008 | KS | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| May 6, 2008 | CO | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| May 6, 2008 | OK | SB 1150 | Voter Identification Requirement | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| May 6, 2008 | AZ | HB 2677 | Real ID | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| May 6, 2008 | AL | HB 829 | Hate Crime Legislation Regarding Victim's Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (46 - 44) |
| May 6, 2008 | AL | HB 829 | Hate Crime Legislation Regarding Victim's Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (46 - 44) |
| May 6, 2008 | LA | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| May 6, 2008 | LA | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| May 5, 2008 | CO | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| May 5, 2008 | CA | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| May 2, 2008 | CO | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 1, 2008 | MN | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 1, 2008 | RI | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| April 30, 2008 | IL | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| April 30, 2008 | FL | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| April 29, 2008 | RI | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| April 29, 2008 | RI | S 2009 | Expansion of Video Lottery Facility Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| April 29, 2008 | AZ | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| April 29, 2008 | RI | H 7107 | Employment Verification Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| April 29, 2008 | LA | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/08 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - House (82 - 49) |
| 5/08 | HB 4163 | Workplace Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | Amendment No. 8A | Requiring Employers to Verify Immigration the Status of Their Employees | Amendment Adopted - House (80 - 33) |
| 5/07 | Dean Amendment: Stem cell research that does not destroy, injure or create human embryos | Amendment Rejected - House (65 - 69) | |
| 5/07 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 5/07 | SF 3001 | Modifying State Education Policies | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (45 - 20) |
| 5/07 | SF 100 | Public Funding for Stem Cell Research | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| 5/07 | HB 4139 | Peace Officer Firearms | Bill Passed - House (91 - 18) |
| 5/06 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - House (51 - 16) |
| 5/06 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 5/06 | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56) |
| 5/06 | HB 2019 | Voter Identification | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - House (58 - 5) |
| 5/06 | HB 1388 | Increasing Education Funding | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 5/06 | SB 1150 | Voter Identification Requirement | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 5/06 | HB 2677 | Real ID | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7) |
| 5/06 | HB 829 | Hate Crime Legislation Regarding Victim's Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (46 - 44) |
| 5/06 | HB 829 | Hate Crime Legislation Regarding Victim's Sexual Orientation | Bill Passed - House (46 - 44) |
| 5/06 | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 5/06 | SB 137 | Young Drivers Using Cell Phones While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| 5/05 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 5/05 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| 5/05 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (36 - 28) |
| 5/05 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (34 - 30) |
| 5/05 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/05 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 17) |
| 5/05 | SB 226 | Zebra Mussels Ban | Bill Passed - House (54 - 11) |
| 5/05 | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| 5/05 | AB 2233 | Ban on Holding Pets While Driving | Bill Passed - House (44 - 20) |
| 5/02 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/02 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 5/02 | HB 1082 | Sealing Criminal Records | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 5/02 | HB 1325 | Seasonal Foreign Worker Pilot Program | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 5/02 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 5/02 | SB 200 | Sexual Orientation Nondiscrimination | Bill Passed - House (38 - 26) |
| 5/02 | HB 1208 | Limitations on Direct File Juvenile Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/01 | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Conference Report Adopted - House (112 - 15) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/01 | H 7204 | 2007-2008 Budget Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 4/30 | HB 5191 | Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility | Bill Passed - House (74 - 36) |
| 4/30 | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 4/29 | H 7040 | Twenty-Four Hour Operation of Video Lottery Games | Bill Passed - House (51 - 19) |
| 4/29 | S 2009 | Expansion of Video Lottery Facility Hours | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 6) |
| 4/29 | HB 2557 | Fine Arts and Physical Education in School | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 4/29 | H 7107 | Employment Verification Program | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 4/29 | HB 674 | Anti-Bullying Bill | Bill Failed - House (28 - 63) |