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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2009 | MO | HB 46 | Expansion of Abortion Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| May 7, 2009 | KS | SB 218 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| April 28, 2009 | MO | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
| April 27, 2009 | MN | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| April 27, 2009 | MN | H Amendment | Prohibits State Funding for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 66) |
| April 16, 2009 | NC | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| April 15, 2009 | IN | SB 89 | Health Care Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
| 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 3, 2009 | KS | SB 218 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (82 - 43) |
| April 3, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |
| April 3, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |
| April 2, 2009 | AK | HB 35 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (22 - 14) |
| 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 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 11, 2009 | MO | HB 46 | Expansion of Abortion Laws | Bill Passed - House (115 - 43) |
| March 11, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| March 11, 2009 | AZ | HB 2400 | Specifying Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalty | Bill Passed - House (37 - 19) |
| March 11, 2009 | AZ | HB 2564 | Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 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) |
| March 4, 2009 | KS | SB 238 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Amendments | Bill Passed - House (85 - 37) |
| March 4, 2009 | KS | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
| March 2, 2009 | KY | SB 79 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| March 2, 2009 | KY | SB 79 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | SC | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | SC | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | National | HR 1105 | 2009 Budget Bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 178) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | MT | SB 374 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| Feb. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
| 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. 24, 2009 | SC | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| Feb. 23, 2009 | HI | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| Feb. 20, 2009 | MT | SB 46 | Amending Constitutional Right to Privacy with Regards to Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
| Feb. 17, 2009 | ND | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
| Feb. 16, 2009 | ND | HB 1445 | Amending Abortion Requirements | Bill Passed - House (61 - 31) |
| Feb. 12, 2009 | MS | HB 234 | Sex Education Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
| Feb. 10, 2009 | IN | SB 90 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| July 24, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115) |
| July 16, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| June 18, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7) |
| June 18, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7) |
| June 16, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
| June 16, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
| June 11, 2008 | LA | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 15) |
| 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 | 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 | Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67) | |
| 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 | 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 27, 2008 | MI | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| May 12, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| April 30, 2008 | KS | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| April 30, 2008 | FL | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| April 30, 2008 | FL | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| April 22, 2008 | AZ | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 24) |
| 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 21, 2008 | MO | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| April 17, 2008 | IA | S 5377 to SF 2425 | Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 27) |
| April 15, 2008 | LA | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| April 6, 2008 | AK | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/13 | HB 46 | Expansion of Abortion Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 5/07 | SB 218 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 4/28 | Amdt 1 | Allowing Pharmacists to Refuse to Provide "Abortifacients" | Amendment Adopted - House (115 - 43) |
| 4/27 | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| 4/27 | H Amendment | Prohibits State Funding for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 66) |
| 4/16 | HB 88 | Parental Choice Between Abstinence-Only or Comprehensive Sex Education | Bill Passed - House (62 - 52) |
| 4/15 | SB 89 | Health Care Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 20) |
| 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) |
| 4/03 | SB 218 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (82 - 43) |
| 4/03 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |
| 4/03 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 29) |
| 4/02 | HB 35 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (22 - 14) |
| 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) |
| 3/24 | 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) |
| 3/11 | HB 46 | Expansion of Abortion Laws | Bill Passed - House (115 - 43) |
| 3/11 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - House (41 - 19) |
| 3/11 | HB 2400 | Specifying Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalty | Bill Passed - House (37 - 19) |
| 3/11 | HB 2564 | Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (36 - 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) |
| 3/04 | SB 238 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement Amendments | Bill Passed - House (85 - 37) |
| 3/04 | HB 2206 | Partial Birth/Late-term Abortion Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (82 - 40) |
| 3/02 | SB 79 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 3/02 | SB 79 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 2/26 | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| 2/26 | H 3245 | 24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortions | Bill Passed - House (87 - 24) |
| 2/26 | HR 1105 | 2009 Budget Bill | Bill Passed - House (245 - 178) |
| 2/25 | SB 374 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 2/24 | Amdt 2 | Exempting Cases of Rape from Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Tabled - House (69 - 45) |
| 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) |
| 2/24 | Amdt 5 | Prohibiting Employment Termination Due to Abortion Waiting Period | Amendment Rejected - House (54 - 60) |
| 2/23 | SB 777 | Requiring Comprehensive Sex Education When Using State Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 3) |
| 2/20 | SB 46 | Amending Constitutional Right to Privacy with Regards to Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 2/17 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
| 2/17 | HB 1572 | Legislative Intent With Regards to the Legal Definition of Life | Bill Passed - House (51 - 41) |
| 2/16 | HB 1445 | Amending Abortion Requirements | Bill Passed - House (61 - 31) |
| 2/12 | HB 234 | Sex Education Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (79 - 40) |
| 2/10 | SB 90 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 7/24 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (303 - 115) |
| 7/16 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| 6/18 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7) |
| 6/18 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - House (19 - 7) |
| 6/16 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
| 6/16 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 6) |
| 6/11 | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (69 - 15) |
| 5/27 | Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest | Amendment Rejected - House (41 - 66) | |
| 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 | Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67) | |
| 5/27 | Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health | Amendment Rejected - House (40 - 67) | |
| 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) |
| 5/27 | SB 776 | Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - House (74 - 32) |
| 5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 5/12 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Bill Passed - House (86 - 46) |
| 4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 4/30 | SB 389 | Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 4/30 | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 4/30 | SB 2400 | Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 4/22 | SB 1048 | Prohibiting Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion | Bill Passed - House (31 - 24) |
| 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) |
| 4/21 | HB 1831 | Prohibiting Coerced Abortion | Bill Passed - House (113 - 33) |
| 4/17 | S 5377 to SF 2425 | Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services | Amendment Rejected - Senate (22 - 27) |
| 4/15 | SB 144 | Castration of Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| 4/06 | HB 364 | Parental Consent for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - House (23 - 16) |