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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2008 | MN | Emmer Amnd. | Voter Identification Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70) |
| April 7, 2008 | IA | HF 2539 | Health Care Expansion Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6) |
| April 6, 2008 | AK | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| April 6, 2008 | AK | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| April 4, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| April 4, 2008 | GA | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 44) |
| April 4, 2008 | GA | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 44) |
| April 4, 2008 | ME | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (98 - 32) |
| April 4, 2008 | MD | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| April 4, 2008 | MD | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
| April 4, 2008 | GA | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 4, 2008 | GA | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 3, 2008 | AZ | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| April 3, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| April 3, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| April 3, 2008 | MO | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| April 3, 2008 | MO | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| April 3, 2008 | MN | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| April 2, 2008 | MN | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
| April 2, 2008 | MN | Marty Amnd. | Removing Funding for Stadium Study | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| April 2, 2008 | GA | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| April 2, 2008 | OK | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| April 2, 2008 | OK | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| April 2, 2008 | AZ | HB 2700 | 9/11 Memorial Modifications | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| April 2, 2008 | GA | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Failed - House (55 - 107) |
| April 2, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| April 2, 2008 | KY | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| April 2, 2008 | KY | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| April 1, 2008 | NE | AM 2319 to LB 1174 | Farm and Ranch Ownership Requirements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 27) |
| April 1, 2008 | PA | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| April 1, 2008 | MN | Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66) | |
| April 1, 2008 | MN | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Bill Passed - House (118 - 11) |
| April 1, 2008 | CO | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| April 1, 2008 | AZ | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| April 1, 2008 | KY | HB 70 | Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| April 1, 2008 | IL | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| April 1, 2008 | KY | HB 70 | Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| March 31, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| March 31, 2008 | MS | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| March 31, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
| March 31, 2008 | MD | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
| March 31, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| March 27, 2008 | KS | Rhoades Amnd. | Repealing In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (51 - 70) |
| March 27, 2008 | KS | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
| March 27, 2008 | MS | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| March 27, 2008 | MS | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| March 27, 2008 | MS | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| March 27, 2008 | AZ | HB 2788 | Relaxing Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (51 - 5) |
| March 27, 2008 | ME | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| March 27, 2008 | ME | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/07 | Emmer Amnd. | Voter Identification Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70) |
| 4/07 | HF 2539 | Health Care Expansion Plan | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 6) |
| 4/06 | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| 4/06 | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| 4/04 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 4/04 | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 44) |
| 4/04 | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 44) |
| 4/04 | LD 701 | Slot Machine Authorization | Bill Passed - House (98 - 32) |
| 4/04 | SB 597 | Property Transfer Tax Exemptions for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| 4/04 | SB 566 | Hospital Visitation/Decision-Making Rights for Domestic Partners | Bill Passed - House (88 - 46) |
| 4/04 | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/04 | HB 978 | Vehicle Seizures for Unlicensed Drivers | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/03 | SB 1132 | Allowing Pistols in Restaurants | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10) |
| 4/03 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 4/03 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 4/03 | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 4/03 | SB 858 | Restrictions on Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 4/03 | SF 960 | Modification of the Definition of Dependents for Local Government Benefits | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 4/02 | Hann Amnd. | Prohibiting Funding for Cities that Prevent Immigration Status Checks | Amendment Rejected - Senate (24 - 33) |
| 4/02 | Marty Amnd. | Removing Funding for Stadium Study | Amendment Adopted - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 4/02 | HB 257 | Limiting Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17) |
| 4/02 | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| 4/02 | SB 1878 | Abortion Regulations | Bill Passed - House (80 - 12) |
| 4/02 | HB 2700 | 9/11 Memorial Modifications | Bill Passed - House (32 - 26) |
| 4/02 | SB 174 | Physical Fitness Standards for State Employees | Bill Failed - House (55 - 107) |
| 4/02 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - House (308 - 116) |
| 4/02 | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| 4/02 | SB 120 | Booster Seat Requirement | Bill Passed - House (88 - 8) |
| 4/01 | AM 2319 to LB 1174 | Farm and Ranch Ownership Requirements | Amendment Rejected - Senate (20 - 27) |
| 4/01 | A 6178 to HB 1845 | Reporting Missing Firearms | Amendment Rejected - House (75 - 128) |
| 4/01 | Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers | Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66) | |
| 4/01 | SF 2369 | Background Checks for Coaches | Bill Passed - House (118 - 11) |
| 4/01 | SB 129 | Restricting Beverage Sales at Schools | Bill Passed - House (37 - 27) |
| 4/01 | HB 2745 | Amending Undocumented Immigrant Employment Sanctions | Bill Passed - House (41 - 16) |
| 4/01 | HB 70 | Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| 4/01 | SB 1997 | Interscholastic Event Image Release | Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 5) |
| 4/01 | HB 70 | Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons | Bill Passed - House (80 - 14) |
| 3/31 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| 3/31 | HB 1089 | Legalizing Deer Baiting | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 51) |
| 3/31 | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
| 3/31 | SB 269 | Authorizing Speed Monitoring Systems | Bill Passed - House (89 - 47) |
| 3/31 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 3/27 | Rhoades Amnd. | Repealing In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Amendment Rejected - House (51 - 70) |
| 3/27 | Carlson Amnd. | Employment Eligibility Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 36) |
| 3/27 | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/27 | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/27 | HB 520 | Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/27 | HB 2788 | Relaxing Concealed Weapon Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (51 - 5) |
| 3/27 | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 3/27 | LD 2012 | Prohibiting Smoking in Vehicles with Children | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |