Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 26, 2010 OK HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - House (84 - 12)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
April 22, 2010 LA Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
April 22, 2010 LA HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - House (76 - 13)
March 30, 2010 KS HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 36)
Feb. 17, 2010 NM SB 148 Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
Feb. 17, 2010 NH HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
Feb. 15, 2010 WA HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
Jan. 29, 2010 UT HB 12 Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (59 - 12)
Nov. 5, 2009 WI AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
Sept. 10, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 10, 2009 CA AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
Sept. 3, 2009 CA AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 28)
July 6, 2009 NC SB 870 Making General Statutes Gender Neutral Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33)
June 29, 2009 AZ SB 1175 Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions Bill Passed - House (35 - 19)
June 4, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
May 21, 2009 LA HB 705 Equal Pay for Women Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
May 20, 2009 NY S 1290 Anti-Shackling Bill Bill Passed - House (119 - 21)
April 29, 2009 WI SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
April 28, 2009 MO Amdt 1 Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43)
April 16, 2009 NC HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
April 15, 2009 OR HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
April 14, 2009 HI SB 777 Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds Bill Passed - House (44 - 3)
April 2, 2009 AK HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
March 24, 2009 NH HB 531 Parental Notification for Underage Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160)
March 20, 2009 ID H 214 Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages Bill Failed - House (31 - 32)
March 20, 2009 ID H 214 Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages Bill Failed - House (31 - 32)
March 18, 2009 IA HF 243 Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
March 11, 2009 OR HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
March 11, 2009 AZ HB 2564 Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 19)
March 11, 2009 AZ HB 2400 Specifying Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (37 - 19)
Feb. 26, 2009 SC H 3245 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions Bill Passed - House (87 - 24)
Feb. 24, 2009 SC Amdt 2 Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45)
Feb. 24, 2009 SC Amdt 5 Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60)
Feb. 17, 2009 ND HB 1572 Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life Bill Passed - House (51 - 41)
Feb. 12, 2009 MS HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
Feb. 3, 2009 UT HB 90 Increasing Illegal Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
Feb. 3, 2009 UT HB 222 Offering Anesthetics to Women Undergoing Abortions Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
Jan. 29, 2009 UT HB 17 Allowing Doctors to Prescribe Antibiotics to Unnamed Sexual Partners Bill Passed - House (63 - 8)
Jan. 27, 2009 National S 181 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Bill Passed - House (250 - 177)
Jan. 14, 2009 National HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - House (289 - 139)
Jan. 9, 2009 National HR 11 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (247 - 171)
Jan. 9, 2009 National HR 12 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (256 - 163)
July 31, 2008 National HR 1338 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (247 - 178)
July 24, 2008 National HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115)
June 18, 2008 AZ SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7)
June 11, 2008 LA SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
May 27, 2008 MI Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67)
May 27, 2008 MI Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
May 27, 2008 MI Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 27, 2008 MI HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
May 27, 2008 MI SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
May 12, 2008 MN SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
April 22, 2008 AZ SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
April 21, 2008 MO HB 1831 Prohibiting Coerced Abortion Bill Passed - House (113 - 33)
April 6, 2008 AK HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
April 2, 2008 National HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - House (308 - 116)
April 2, 2008 OK SB 1878 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - House (80 - 12)
April 1, 2008 MN Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66)
March 27, 2008 MS HB 520 Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41)
March 25, 2008 AK HB 301 Redefining Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (21 - 15)
March 20, 2008 IA HF 2145 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 20, 2008 IA HF 2145 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
March 18, 2008 KS SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (84 - 40)
March 17, 2008 KS Mah Amdt Abortion Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1160 Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1498 Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
March 12, 2008 OK HB 2628 Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Failed - House (50 - 51)
March 11, 2008 OK HB 3144 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
March 7, 2008 CO HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/26 HB 2656 Abortion Regulation Modifications Veto Override Passed - House (84 - 12)
4/22 Amdt 87A Non-Viability Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (19 - 66)
4/22 Amdt 88 Health Risk Exemption from Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (17 - 67)
4/22 Amdt 89 Rape and Incest Exemption From Prohibition on Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortion Amendment Rejected - House (21 - 65)
4/22 HB 1247 Prohibiting Insurance Coverage of Elective Abortions Bill Passed - House (76 - 13)
3/30 HB 2115 Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 36)
2/17 SB 148 Excluding Gender for Health Insurance Deliberation Bill Passed - House (50 - 17)
2/17 HB 1644 Expanding Homicide to Include "Unborn Child" "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (219 - 122)
2/15 HB 2793 Legalizing Paid Surrogacy Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
1/29 HB 12 Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (59 - 12)
11/05 AB 458 Sex Education Curriculum Requirements Bill Passed - House (48 - 43)
9/10 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/10 AB 98 Required Maternity Services Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (51 - 27)
9/03 AB 119 Prohibiting Gender-Based Health Insurance Pricing Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 28)
7/06 SB 870 Making General Statutes Gender Neutral Motion Agreed - House (79 - 33)
6/29 SB 1175 Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions Bill Passed - House (35 - 19)
6/04 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 17)
5/21 HB 705 Equal Pay for Women Bill Failed - House (33 - 59)
5/20 S 1290 Anti-Shackling Bill Bill Passed - House (119 - 21)
4/29 SB 20 Discriminatory Pay Compensation Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
4/28 Amdt 1 Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43)
4/16 HB 88 Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education Bill Passed - House (62 - 52)
4/15 HB 2794 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (48 - 12)
4/14 SB 777 Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds Bill Passed - House (44 - 3)
4/02 HB 35 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (22 - 14)
3/24 HB 531 Parental Notification for Underage Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (216 - 160)
3/20 H 214 Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages Bill Failed - House (31 - 32)
3/20 H 214 Voluntary Death Certificates for Miscarriages Bill Failed - House (31 - 32)
3/18 HF 243 Gender Requirements for Certain Local Government Positions Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
3/11 HB 2509 Sexual Education Bill Passed - House (41 - 19)
3/11 HB 2564 Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (36 - 19)
3/11 HB 2400 Specifying Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (37 - 19)
2/26 H 3245 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions Bill Passed - House (87 - 24)
2/24 Amdt 2 Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45)
2/24 Amdt 5 Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60)
2/17 HB 1572 Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life Bill Passed - House (51 - 41)
2/12 HB 234 Sex Education Pilot Program Bill Passed - House (79 - 40)
2/03 HB 90 Increasing Illegal Abortion Penalty Bill Passed - House (56 - 16)
2/03 HB 222 Offering Anesthetics to Women Undergoing Abortions Bill Passed - House (56 - 15)
1/29 HB 17 Allowing Doctors to Prescribe Antibiotics to Unnamed Sexual Partners Bill Passed - House (63 - 8)
1/27 S 181 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 Bill Passed - House (250 - 177)
1/14 HR 2 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization and Expansion Bill Passed - House (289 - 139)
1/09 HR 11 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (247 - 171)
1/09 HR 12 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (256 - 163)
7/31 HR 1338 Employment Discrimination Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (247 - 178)
7/24 HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115)
6/18 SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7)
6/11 SB 144 Castration of Sex Offenders Bill Passed - House (69 - 15)
5/27 Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67)
5/27 Meadows Amdt: Access to Contraceptives Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
5/27 Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/27 HB 6048 Emergency Contraception for Victims of Sexual Assault Bill Passed - House (57 - 51)
5/27 SB 776 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (74 - 32)
5/12 SF 2965 Surrogate Mother Regulations Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
4/22 SB 1048 Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (31 - 24)
4/21 HB 1831 Prohibiting Coerced Abortion Bill Passed - House (113 - 33)
4/06 HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
4/02 HR 5501 Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis Bill Passed - House (308 - 116)
4/02 SB 1878 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - House (80 - 12)
4/01 Seifert Amendment: Prohibiting Grants for Groups Associated with Abortion Providers Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 66)
3/27 HB 520 Reporting Sexual Activity of Minors Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 41)
3/25 HB 301 Redefining Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Bill Passed - House (21 - 15)
3/20 HF 2145 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/20 HF 2145 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage Bill Passed - House (81 - 16)
3/18 SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (84 - 40)
3/17 Mah Amdt Abortion Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74)
3/13 HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
3/13 HB 1160 Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79)
3/13 HB 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
3/13 HB 1498 Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111)
3/13 HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
3/12 HB 2628 Parental Consent for Sex Education Bill Failed - House (50 - 51)
3/11 HB 3144 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
3/07 HJR 1009 Ratification of the UN Convention Against the Discrimination of Women Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 21)

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