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 4, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | AK | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | LA | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| May 4, 2006 | LA | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| May 4, 2006 | NH | HB 1331 | TANF Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| May 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SB 567 | Limit Public Assistance to Citizens or Legal Residents of the United States | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 3, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 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 3, 2006 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Failed - House (32 - 32) |
| May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 2, 2006 | CO | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| May 1, 2006 | TN | HA 1232 | Removing Sexual Orientation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32) |
| May 1, 2006 | KS | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| April 30, 2006 | CT | LCO # 5227 | Estate/Death and Gift Taxes Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 98) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 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 | 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 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | CA | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| April 27, 2006 | MO | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| April 26, 2006 | AZ | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| April 26, 2006 | LA | Amdt 1923 | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20) |
| April 26, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| April 26, 2006 | LA | SB 33 | Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/04 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/04 | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| 5/04 | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| 5/04 | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| 5/04 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| 5/04 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| 5/04 | HB 1331 | TANF Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 8) |
| 5/04 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/04 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/04 | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | SB 567 | Limit Public Assistance to Citizens or Legal Residents of the United States | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| 5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 5/03 | HB 1090 | Sexual Abuse Prosecution Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/03 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 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) |
| 5/03 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Failed - House (32 - 32) |
| 5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/02 | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| 5/01 | HA 1232 | Removing Sexual Orientation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32) |
| 5/01 | HB 2554 | DNA Sampling in Felony Cases | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 4/30 | LCO # 5227 | Estate/Death and Gift Taxes Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 98) |
| 4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 4/28 | HCA C to LD 1717 | Sentencing Requirements for Certain Sex Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 4/28 | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 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 | 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 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 4/27 | SCR 113 | The Great American Boycott 2006 | Resolution Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 4/27 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| 4/27 | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| 4/26 | SB 1425 | Prohibition of Confiscation of Firearms During an Emergency | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 4/26 | Amdt 1923 | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 20) |
| 4/26 | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| 4/26 | SB 33 | Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life of the Woman | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| 4/26 | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| 4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/26 | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |