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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2007 | DE | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 14, 2007 | DE | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 14, 2007 | DE | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| June 14, 2007 | OR | HB 2637 | Cyberbullying Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| June 14, 2007 | MA | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| June 11, 2007 | National | S J Res 14 | Attorney General No Confidence Vote | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38) |
| June 7, 2007 | National | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 7, 2007 | CA | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| June 7, 2007 | NH | HB 184 | Abortion Parental Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| June 6, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 1, 2007 | CT | HB 6715 | Medical Use of Marijuana Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 1, 2007 | CT | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| June 1, 2007 | CT | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| May 31, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| May 31, 2007 | TN | SB 2143 | Legalization of Handguns in State Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| May 31, 2007 | CT | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| May 30, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| May 30, 2007 | NE | LB 551 | Sports Arena and Convention Center Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| May 25, 2007 | OR | HB 2650 | School Food Nutritional Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| May 24, 2007 | TN | SB 1325 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| May 23, 2007 | National | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
| May 23, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 23, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 23, 2007 | AZ | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| May 23, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 1044 | Gender Identification Nondiscrimination Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| May 23, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 1044 | Gender Identification Nondiscrimination Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| May 23, 2007 | OH | Sub SB 125 | "Instant Racing Systems" Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| May 23, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 23, 2007 | CT | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| May 16, 2007 | MN | SF 653 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20) |
| May 14, 2007 | NY | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
| May 11, 2007 | MN | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
| May 10, 2007 | NH | HB 790 | Extending Medical Insurance Coverage for Dependents | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10) |
| May 10, 2007 | RI | S 21 | Telephone Political Solicitation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 9, 2007 | CT | Sub HB 7350 | In-School Suspensions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| May 9, 2007 | IL | SB 1007 | Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| May 7, 2007 | MN | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
| May 4, 2007 | FL | CS HB 1497 | Abortion Waiting Periods | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| May 3, 2007 | MN | SF 345 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| May 3, 2007 | FL | CS HB 1047 | Casino Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| May 2, 2007 | AZ | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| May 2, 2007 | MN | SF 1398 | Domestic Partnership Visitation Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| May 1, 2007 | TX | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 1, 2007 | CO | HB 1301 | Cervical Cancer Immunization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 30, 2007 | MN | S Amendment | Domestic Partner Visitation Rights | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 34) |
| April 29, 2007 | IN | HB 1835 | Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
| April 29, 2007 | IN | HB 1510 | Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| April 27, 2007 | KS | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| April 27, 2007 | TX | CSSB 308 | Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| April 26, 2007 | NH | HB 437 | Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 25, 2007 | IA | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| April 25, 2007 | CT | SB 1343 | Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| April 24, 2007 | NV | SB 52 | Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| April 24, 2007 | AL | SJR 54 | Expressing Regret For Slavery | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| April 24, 2007 | AZ | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 24, 2007 | NV | SB 415 | Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| April 23, 2007 | ND | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 16) |
| April 19, 2007 | OK | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/14 | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/14 | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/14 | HB 175 | Emergency Power to Seize Private Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 3) |
| 6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| 6/14 | HB 2637 | Cyberbullying Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| 6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| 6/14 | S 2220 | Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage | Bill Failed - Senate (5 - 34) |
| 6/11 | S J Res 14 | Attorney General No Confidence Vote | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 38) |
| 6/07 | S 1348 | Immigration Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (34 - 61) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/07 | SB 32 | Children's Health Care Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/07 | SB 48 | Health Care Coverage and Cost Control Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 6/07 | HB 184 | Abortion Parental Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 9) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1316 | Five Year Expiration for Guest Worker Program | Amendment Adopted - Senate (49 - 48) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1250 | Law Enforcement Review of Z Visa Applications | Amendment Adopted - Senate (57 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1202 | Point Based Immigration Expiration Date | Amendment Rejected - Senate (42 - 55) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1184 | Denying Legal Status for Immigrants Convicted of Certain Crimes | Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 51) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1151 | Declaring English the National Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (64 - 33) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1384 | English as the Common Language | Amendment Adopted - Senate (58 - 39) |
| 6/06 | S Amdt 1333 | Barring Immigrants with Certain Criminal Histories | Amendment Adopted - Senate (66 - 32) |
| 6/04 | SB 1019 | Access to Police Misconduct Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| 6/04 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/01 | HB 6715 | Medical Use of Marijuana Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 6/01 | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 6/01 | HB 5656 | Immigrants and Postsecondary Education Act | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15) |
| 5/31 | Sub SB 167 | Restricting Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3) |
| 5/31 | SB 2143 | Legalization of Handguns in State Parks | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 5) |
| 5/31 | HB 7400 | Tax Code Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 17) |
| 5/30 | Amendment No. P-2B | State Scholarships for Private Schools | Amendment Tabled - Senate (29 - 15) |
| 5/30 | LB 551 | Sports Arena and Convention Center Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 5/25 | HB 2650 | School Food Nutritional Standards | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| 5/24 | SB 1325 | Indoor Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 1169 | Guest Worker Number Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (74 - 24) |
| 5/23 | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 5/23 | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| 5/23 | HB 2779 | Employment of Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 4) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 1044 | Gender Identification Nondiscrimination Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 1044 | Gender Identification Nondiscrimination Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 125 | "Instant Racing Systems" Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/23 | Sub SB 938 | Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 5/16 | SF 653 | Resident Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 20) |
| 5/14 | S 319 | Death Penalty For Certain Murders | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 24) |
| 5/11 | SF 238 | Smoking Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (43 - 21) |
| 5/10 | HB 790 | Extending Medical Insurance Coverage for Dependents | Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 10) |
| 5/10 | S 21 | Telephone Political Solicitation Act | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 5/09 | Sub HB 7350 | In-School Suspensions | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 5/09 | SB 1007 | Large Capacity Firearm Magazine Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 26) |
| 5/07 | SF 2171 | 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 19) |
| 5/04 | CS HB 1497 | Abortion Waiting Periods | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 5/03 | SF 345 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 29) |
| 5/03 | CS HB 1047 | Casino Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| 5/02 | SB 1132 | Volunteer Homeland Security Force | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 5/02 | SF 1398 | Domestic Partnership Visitation Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 22) |
| 5/01 | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/01 | HB 1301 | Cervical Cancer Immunization Act | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| 4/30 | S Amendment | Domestic Partner Visitation Rights | Amendment Rejected - Senate (31 - 34) |
| 4/29 | HB 1835 | Slot Machines at Race Tracks | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 4/29 | HB 1510 | Charity Gambling and Illegal Gambling Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (41 - 9) |
| 4/27 | HB 2528 | Concealed Firearms | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 4/27 | CSSB 308 | Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 4/26 | HB 437 | Same-Sex Civil Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 4/25 | SF 427 | Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 4/25 | SB 1343 | Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 4/24 | SB 52 | Governor Guinn Millennium Teaching Scholarship Program | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7) |
| 4/24 | SJR 54 | Expressing Regret For Slavery | Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| 4/24 | HB 2589 | Labor Solicitation and Criminal Trespass | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/24 | SB 415 | Undocumented Students and State Financial Aid Act | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 4) |
| 4/23 | HB 1466 | Abortion Ban | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 16) |
| 4/19 | SB 507 | Comprehensive tort reform-Provide | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |