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 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
| April 25, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 25, 2006 | MN | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (78 - 55) |
| April 24, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| April 24, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| April 24, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (80 - 68) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| April 20, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| April 20, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| April 20, 2006 | MO | HB 1864 | College Admission of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (119 - 30) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (57 - 3) |
| April 20, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 20, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 20, 2006 | MN | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 1106 | Possession of Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) | |
| April 19, 2006 | TN | SB 303 | Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| April 17, 2006 | CO | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| April 17, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| April 17, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| April 17, 2006 | CT | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| April 13, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| April 13, 2006 | CO | HB 1126 | Child Product Safety Requirements | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| April 13, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 13, 2006 | NH | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| April 12, 2006 | MO | HA 9 | Eminent Domain Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 19) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2666 | Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| April 12, 2006 | DE | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 391-4h | New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36) |
| April 11, 2006 | AZ | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
| 4/25 | HCS HB 2615 | "Stand Your Ground Law" | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 5) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/25 | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (78 - 55) |
| 4/24 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| 4/24 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| 4/24 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - House (80 - 68) |
| 4/20 | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 7) |
| 4/20 | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| 4/20 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 4/20 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8) |
| 4/20 | HB 1864 | College Admission of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (119 - 30) |
| 4/20 | SB 5644 | Social Services and Education Funding | Bill Passed - House (57 - 3) |
| 4/20 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/20 | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
| 4/19 | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| 4/19 | HB 1106 | Possession of Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36) |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (27 - 70) | |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: DMV Voter Registration Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) | |
| 4/19 | SB 303 | Driver's License Examination English Language Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 14) |
| 4/17 | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| 4/17 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 4/17 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| 4/17 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| 4/17 | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| 4/17 | HB 2696 | Adoption Preference for Married Couples | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 13) |
| 4/13 | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 4/13 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 8) |
| 4/13 | HB 1126 | Child Product Safety Requirements | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 4/13 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 4/13 | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/13 | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| 4/12 | HA 9 | Eminent Domain Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 4/12 | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 19) |
| 4/12 | HB 2666 | Notarized Parental Consent for Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 20) |
| 4/12 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 4/12 | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 391-4h | New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36) |
| 4/11 | SB 1444 | Sentencing; Third Felony Offenses | Bill Passed - House (38 - 20) |