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 7, 2007 | CA | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| June 4, 2007 | CA | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| June 3, 2007 | NV | AB 595 | Highway Funding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
| May 31, 2007 | NH | HB 802 | Requiring Seatbelts in Automotive Vehicles | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| May 29, 2007 | LA | SB 223 | Required Liability Insurance Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| May 14, 2007 | MN | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17) |
| May 9, 2007 | SC | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| April 11, 2007 | AZ | HB 2033 | Teen Drivers License Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| April 5, 2007 | SC | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 4, 2007 | MD | HB 131 | Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| March 30, 2007 | ID | H 336 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| March 29, 2007 | ID | S 1245 | Highway Bonding Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
| March 26, 2007 | MN | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24) |
| March 23, 2007 | MN | SF 1986 | Transportation Taxes and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24) |
| March 22, 2007 | IN | HB 1237 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| March 13, 2007 | National | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| March 8, 2007 | HI | SB 1276 | Environmental Impact of Harbor Improvements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| March 5, 2007 | TN | SB 201 | English-Only Driver's License Exam | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| Feb. 27, 2007 | CO | SB 151 | Mandatory Seatbelt Use | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 26, 2007 | MD | SB 103 | Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| Feb. 23, 2007 | MT | SB 300 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 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 | VA | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | VA | S Sub | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | IN | SB 1 | Indiana Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Aug. 22, 2006 | CA | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| July 12, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4707 | Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| June 28, 2006 | PA | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| June 14, 2006 | MD | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| June 14, 2006 | SC | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| June 8, 2006 | NC | SB 1289 | Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1160 | Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 24, 2006 | UT | 2SHB 3001 | 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10) |
| May 18, 2006 | MA | H 229 | Primary Seat Belt Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | SB 1266 | Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 27, 2006 | VA | SB 5013 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| April 24, 2006 | AK | CSHB 471 | Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| April 20, 2006 | MN | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
| 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 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| March 31, 2006 | KS | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/07 | SB 7 | Marco Firebaugh Memorial Childrens Health and Safety Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 6/04 | SB 60 | Expanding Driver's License Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 6/03 | AB 595 | Highway Funding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 3) |
| 5/31 | HB 802 | Requiring Seatbelts in Automotive Vehicles | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 8) |
| 5/29 | SB 223 | Required Liability Insurance Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 5/14 | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (47 - 17) |
| 5/09 | Amendment No. 2c | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Amendment Tabled - Senate (20 - 19) |
| 4/11 | HB 2033 | Teen Drivers License Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 6) |
| 4/05 | S 355 | Restructuring the Department of Transportation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/04 | HB 131 | Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 3/30 | H 336 | Highway Project Financing | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7) |
| 3/29 | S 1245 | Highway Bonding Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (12 - 23) |
| 3/26 | HF 946 | Transportation Funding and Gas Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 24) |
| 3/23 | SF 1986 | Transportation Taxes and Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 24) |
| 3/22 | HB 1237 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 3/13 | S 4 | Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 38) |
| 3/08 | SB 1276 | Environmental Impact of Harbor Improvements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 4) |
| 3/05 | SB 201 | English-Only Driver's License Exam | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 2/27 | SB 151 | Mandatory Seatbelt Use | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/26 | SB 103 | Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) |
| 2/23 | SB 300 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 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 | Sub HB 1778 | Traffic Light Cameras | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 2/14 | S Sub | Funding for Statewide Transportation Projects | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 2/12 | SB 1 | Indiana Commerce Connector and Illiana Expressway | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| 8/31 | SB 1613 | Prohibition on Wireless Phone Use While Driving | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 8/22 | AB 2108 | Child Booster and Seat Belt Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4553 | Rail and Transit Security Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 7/12 | S Amdt 4587 | Transit Security Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50) |
| 7/08 | A 4707 | Luxury and Fuel Inefficient Automobiles | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 6/28 | HB 804 | Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| 6/14 | SB 52 | Maryland Transportation Authority | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 13) |
| 6/14 | H 3726 | ATV Use Regulations | Veto Override Failed - Senate (19 - 22) |
| 6/08 | SB 1289 | Cell Phone Use by Drivers Under 18 Prohibited | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| 6/01 | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 6/01 | SB 1160 | Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 5/24 | 2SHB 3001 | 2006-2007 Transportation Budget Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 10) |
| 5/18 | H 229 | Primary Seat Belt Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 5/04 | SB 1266 | Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 1) |
| 5/02 | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 4/28 | LD 1974 | Supplemental Transportation Budget Bill | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/27 | SB 5013 | Transportation Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 4/24 | CSHB 471 | Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| 4/20 | SF 1070 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (46 - 20) |
| 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) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 3/31 | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |