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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 23, 2007 | UT | SB 78 | Firearm Regulations for Private Property | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | CO | SB 34 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | IL | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | WV | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| Feb. 21, 2007 | WV | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | SD | SB 208 | Tanning Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | AZ | SB 1251 | Secure Storage of Guns at Public Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| Feb. 20, 2007 | UT | SB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2007 | UT | 4SHB 236 | Student Clubs Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| Feb. 19, 2007 | MN | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| Feb. 15, 2007 | KY | SB 152 | State Employee Health Coverage Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| Feb. 13, 2007 | IA | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | IN | SJR 7 | Definition of Marriage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | IN | SJR 7 | Definition of Marriage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | IN | SB 327 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| Feb. 9, 2007 | UT | HB 148 | Parent Choice in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| Feb. 9, 2007 | ND | SB 2138 | Repeal of Cohabitation Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | MS | SB 2391 | Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | NM | SB 238 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | MS | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| Feb. 7, 2007 | NM | SB 10 | Prohibiting Cockfighting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | WY | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | WY | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 6, 2007 | WY | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 905 | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | WY | SF 118 | Homicide During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2007 | WY | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Jan. 31, 2007 | WY | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| Jan. 30, 2007 | IA | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | MT | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | VA | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | WY | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | MT | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| Jan. 25, 2007 | WY | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Sept. 29, 2006 | National | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
| Sept. 28, 2006 | National | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 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) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 28, 2006 | CA | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 352 | Microstamping of Bullets Fired from Semi-Automatic Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Aug. 24, 2006 | CA | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Aug. 22, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/23 | SB 78 | Firearm Regulations for Private Property | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 8) |
| 2/23 | SB 34 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 2/23 | SB 4 | Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 23) |
| 2/21 | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 2/21 | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 219 | Ban on Smoking in a Vehicle with a Minor | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 2/20 | SB 208 | Tanning Restrictions | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| 2/20 | SB 1251 | Secure Storage of Guns at Public Establishments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 2/20 | SB 251 | Concealed Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/19 | 4SHB 236 | Student Clubs Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 2/19 | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| 2/15 | SB 152 | State Employee Health Coverage Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 2/14 | HB 1160 | Physician Presence at Executions | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 3) |
| 2/14 | HB 1175 | Lethal Injection Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 2/13 | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 2/12 | SJR 7 | Definition of Marriage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| 2/12 | SJR 7 | Definition of Marriage | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (39 - 10) |
| 2/12 | SB 327 | HPV Immunization | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| 2/09 | HB 148 | Parent Choice in Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 10) |
| 2/09 | SB 2138 | Repeal of Cohabitation Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 10) |
| 2/07 | SB 2391 | Parental Consent Waiver for Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 0) |
| 2/07 | SB 238 | Medical Marijuana Legalization | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 7) |
| 2/07 | SB 2617 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15) |
| 2/07 | SB 10 | Prohibiting Cockfighting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 11) |
| 2/06 | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/06 | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/06 | SF 101 | Sex Offender Tracking | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/05 | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 2/02 | Sub SB 905 | Refusal of Medical Treatment for Children | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 2/02 | SF 118 | Homicide During Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 1/31 | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 1/31 | SF 13 | Same Sex Marriages | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 8) |
| 1/30 | SF 61 | Harassment In Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 1/25 | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 1/25 | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 1/25 | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 1/25 | SB 15 | Funeral Picketing Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 1/25 | SF 104 | Sexual Abuse of Minors | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 5) |
| 1/23 | SB 1204 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| 1/23 | Sub SB 1116 | Capital Murder of a Judge or Witness | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 9/29 | HR 6061 | Secure Fence Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 19) |
| 9/28 | S Amdt 5095 | Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 53) |
| 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) |
| 8/31 | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 8/31 | SB 1578 | Dog Restraint Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 8/30 | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 8/28 | AB 3029 | CalWorks and Food Stamp Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 8/24 | AB 352 | Microstamping of Bullets Fired from Semi-Automatic Guns | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 8/24 | AB 2205 | Food Stamp Eligibility for Medi-Cal Recipients | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 8/22 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |