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
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 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 6, 2008 AK HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
April 6, 2008 AK HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
April 2, 2008 OK SB 1878 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - House (80 - 12)
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)
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 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 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 18, 2008 KS SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (84 - 40)
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 17, 2008 KS Mah Amdt Abortion Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74)
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 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
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 1160 Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
March 13, 2008 NH HB 1498 Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111)
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 11, 2008 OK HB 3144 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
March 5, 2008 UT HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
March 4, 2008 MO HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
March 4, 2008 MO HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
March 4, 2008 AZ HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
March 3, 2008 AZ HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2008 WI AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 20, 2008 SD SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
Feb. 18, 2008 CO SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
Jan. 29, 2008 SD HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
Jan. 23, 2008 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152)
Jan. 23, 2008 WI AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
Dec. 11, 2007 WI ASA 1 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 41)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
Nov. 1, 2007 MA S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
Oct. 30, 2007 WI AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
Oct. 25, 2007 National HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
Aug. 1, 2007 National HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 19, 2007 National HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
July 11, 2007 National S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
June 6, 2007 National HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
May 31, 2007 IL SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
May 14, 2007 OK HCS SB 139 State-Funded Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (77 - 19)
May 7, 2007 LA HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 16)
May 2, 2007 CT SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
April 27, 2007 FL CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - House (71 - 42)
April 27, 2007 FL CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
April 26, 2007 IL HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
April 25, 2007 KS HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 27)
April 23, 2007 ND HB 1466 Abortion Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
April 20, 2007 MN H Amendment Prohibiting Public Funding for Abortions Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 68)
April 4, 2007 NH HB 744 Informed Consent Before Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (276 - 88)
April 3, 2007 OK SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
March 21, 2007 SC H 3355 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Passed - House (91 - 23)
March 19, 2007 GA HCS HB 147 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Bill Passed - House (116 - 54)
March 15, 2007 OK HCS HB 1317 Ban on State Participation Regarding Abortion Bill Passed - House (85 - 13)
March 8, 2007 AZ HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
March 7, 2007 NH HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
Feb. 22, 2007 MS SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2007 KS HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
Feb. 14, 2007 SD HB 1293 Abortion Limitations Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
Feb. 12, 2007 UT 2SHB 235 Abortion Law Revisions Bill Passed - House (62 - 12)
Feb. 5, 2007 SD HB 1296 Pre-Abortion Sonograms Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
Feb. 1, 2007 WY HB 144 Abortion Information Requirement Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1489 Felony to Perform Abortions Bill Failed - House (20 - 69)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1464 Abortion Regulation Bill Failed - House (39 - 49)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1466 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 26)
Jan. 26, 2007 VA Sub HB 1665 Forced or Coerced Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
Jan. 26, 2007 ND HB 1494 Prenatal Testing Bill Failed - House (29 - 60)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA HB 1883 Abortion Clinic Licensure Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
Dec. 6, 2006 National HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
Sept. 26, 2006 National S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
June 9, 2006 National HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
May 31, 2006 LA Amdt 4930 (452B) Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (36 - 67)
May 31, 2006 LA SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life or Health of the Woman Bill Passed - House (85 - 17)
May 25, 2006 SC Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)
Date No. Title Outcome
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)
4/22 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)
4/06 HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
4/06 HB 364 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (23 - 16)
4/02 SB 1878 Abortion Regulations Bill Passed - House (80 - 12)
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)
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)
3/27 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)
3/25 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)
3/18 SB 389 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (84 - 40)
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)
3/17 Mah Amdt Abortion Reporting Requirements Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 74)
3/13 HB 1498 Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111)
3/13 HB 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
3/13 HB 1517 Parental Consent for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (211 - 109)
3/13 HB 1160 Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79)
3/13 HB 1160 Pre-Abortion Counseling Requirement for Minors "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (236 - 79)
3/13 HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
3/13 HB 1495 Parental Notification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (190 - 128)
3/13 HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
3/13 HB 1588 Residency Verification for Underage Abortions "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (210 - 106)
3/13 HB 1498 Parental Notification for Underage Medical Procedures "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 111)
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)
3/11 HB 3144 Ultrasound Requirement for Abortions Bill Passed - House (88 - 11)
3/05 HB 15 Sexually Transmitted Disease Education Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 17)
3/04 HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
3/04 HA 5 Defining Mifepristone as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Amendment Adopted - House
3/04 HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
3/04 HB 2263 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
3/03 HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
3/03 HB 2769 Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties Bill Passed - House (34 - 25)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 1 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 A Amnd. 2 Exemptions to Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Amendment Tabled - House (54 - 43)
2/28 AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/28 AB 710 Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/20 SB 88 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 32)
2/18 SB 3 Medicaid Funded Family Planning Bill Passed - House (41 - 23)
1/29 HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
1/29 HB 1193 Offering Sonograms to Women Considering Abortion Bill Passed - House (38 - 31)
1/23 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Veto Override Failed - House (260 - 152)
1/23 AB 377 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Bill Passed - House (61 - 35)
12/11 ASA 1 Emergency Contraception for Sexual Assault Victims Amendment Adopted - House (56 - 41)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
11/01 S 1353 Reproductive Health Clinic Buffer Zones Bill Passed - House (122 - 28)
10/30 AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
10/30 AB 427 Prevention of Coercive Abortion Bill Passed - House (65 - 32)
10/25 HR 3963 Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP) Bill Passed - House (265 - 142)
8/01 HR 3162 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (225 - 204)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/19 HR 3043 Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill Passed - House (276 - 140)
7/11 S 1701 Extension of Funding for Transitional Medical Assistance and Abstinence Education Bill Passed - House (291 - 126)
6/06 HR 2560 Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007 Bill Failed - House (204 - 213)
5/31 SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Bill Passed - House (70 - 44)
5/14 HCS SB 139 State-Funded Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (77 - 19)
5/07 HB 25 Abortion Information Requirements Bill Passed - House (83 - 16)
5/02 SB 1343 Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims Bill Passed - House (113 - 36)
4/27 CS HB 1497 Abortion Waiting Periods Bill Passed - House (71 - 42)
4/27 CS HB 71 Florida Unborn Victims of Violence Act Bill Passed - House (76 - 39)
4/26 HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill Bill Failed - House (55 - 62)
4/25 HB 2062 Violence Against Unborn Children Conference Report Adopted - House (97 - 27)
4/23 HB 1466 Abortion Ban Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
4/20 H Amendment Prohibiting Public Funding for Abortions Amendment Rejected - House (64 - 68)
4/04 HB 744 Informed Consent Before Abortion "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (276 - 88)
4/03 SB 714 Ban on State-Funded Abortions Bill Passed - House (73 - 22)
3/21 H 3355 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Passed - House (91 - 23)
3/19 HCS HB 147 Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Requirement Bill Passed - House (116 - 54)
3/15 HCS HB 1317 Ban on State Participation Regarding Abortion Bill Passed - House (85 - 13)
3/08 HB 2641 Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions Bill Passed - House (34 - 21)
3/07 HB 184 Abortion Parental Notification Bill Passed - House (226 - 130)
2/22 SB 2391 Abortion Law Reform Bill Passed - House (97 - 16)
2/19 HB 2006 Legal Status of an Unborn Child/Fetus Bill Passed - House (94 - 28)
2/14 HB 1293 Abortion Limitations Bill Passed - House (45 - 25)
2/12 2SHB 235 Abortion Law Revisions Bill Passed - House (62 - 12)
2/05 HB 1296 Pre-Abortion Sonograms Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
2/01 HB 144 Abortion Information Requirement Bill Failed - House (28 - 32)
1/26 HB 1489 Felony to Perform Abortions Bill Failed - House (20 - 69)
1/26 HB 1464 Abortion Regulation Bill Failed - House (39 - 49)
1/26 HB 1466 Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (61 - 26)
1/26 Sub HB 1665 Forced or Coerced Abortion Ban Bill Passed - House (71 - 27)
1/26 HB 1494 Prenatal Testing Bill Failed - House (29 - 60)
1/23 HB 1883 Abortion Clinic Licensure Bill Passed - House (60 - 35)
12/06 HR 6099 Abortion Pain Bill Bill Failed - House (250 - 162)
9/26 S 403 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Bill Passed - House (264 - 153)
6/09 HR 5522 Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act Bill Passed - House (373 - 34)
5/31 Amdt 4930 (452B) Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (36 - 67)
5/31 SB 33 Prohibits Abortion Except When Necessary to Save the Life or Health of the Woman Bill Passed - House (85 - 17)
5/25 Amdt 3 to S 1084 Inclusion of Unborn Child/Fetus in Definition for Civil Suits Amendment Amendment Tabled - House (65 - 31)

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