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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2010 | NE | LB 594 | Abortion Screening Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| April 12, 2010 | NE | LB 1103 | Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| April 12, 2010 | NE | LB 594 | Abortion Screening Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| April 12, 2010 | NE | LB 1103 | Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| March 30, 2010 | KS | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| March 30, 2010 | KS | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| March 26, 2010 | GA | SB 529 | Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| March 2, 2010 | WV | SB 597 | Ultrasound Form Requirement Prior To Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| Feb. 26, 2010 | ID | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Feb. 18, 2010 | UT | HB 12 | Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| Jan. 28, 2010 | WI | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Jan. 25, 2010 | KY | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| Dec. 24, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 23, 2009 | National | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 22, 2009 | National | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| Dec. 8, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2962 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45) |
| Dec. 3, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| Sept. 9, 2009 | CA | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| July 1, 2009 | AZ | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 3, 2009 | OR | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| May 29, 2009 | NE | LB 675 | Establishes Procedures for Ultrasounds Performed Prior to Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| May 18, 2009 | OR | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 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 27, 2009 | MN | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| 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) |
| 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. 25, 2009 | MT | SB 374 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 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. 10, 2009 | IN | SB 90 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| July 16, 2008 | National | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| 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) |
| May 13, 2008 | MN | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 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 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) |
| March 31, 2008 | IA | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| March 25, 2008 | AZ | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| March 20, 2008 | NH | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | LB 594 | Abortion Screening Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| 4/12 | LB 1103 | Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| 4/12 | LB 594 | Abortion Screening Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) |
| 4/12 | LB 1103 | Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) |
| 3/30 | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 3/30 | HB 2115 | Late-Term/Partial Birth Abortion Reporting Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (24 - 15) |
| 3/26 | SB 529 | Abortion Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 3/02 | SB 597 | Ultrasound Form Requirement Prior To Abortion | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 2/26 | S 1353 | Authorizing Health Care Professionals to Refuse Specific Health Care Services | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 2/18 | HB 12 | Abortion and Homicide Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 4) |
| 1/28 | AB 458 | Sex Education Curriculum Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| 1/25 | SB 3 | Omnibus Constitutional Amendment | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 0) |
| 12/24 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/23 | HR 3590 | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Cloture Invoked - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/22 | S Amdt 3276 | Senate Health Care Bill Amendments | Amendment Adopted - Senate (60 - 39) |
| 12/08 | S Amdt 2962 | Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services | Amendment Tabled - Senate (54 - 45) |
| 12/03 | S Amdt 2791 | Preventive Services Coverage Requirements | Amendment Adopted - Senate (61 - 39) |
| 9/09 | AB 98 | Required Maternity Services Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 7/01 | SB 1175 | Prohibiting Non-Physicians from Performing Abortions | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/03 | HB 2794 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 6) |
| 5/29 | LB 675 | Establishes Procedures for Ultrasounds Performed Prior to Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) |
| 5/18 | HB 2509 | Sexual Education | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9) |
| 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) |
| 4/27 | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 2/25 | SB 374 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 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) |
| 2/10 | SB 90 | Pre-Abortion Notification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11) |
| 7/16 | HR 5501 | Funding to Combat AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis | Bill Passed - Senate (80 - 16) |
| 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) |
| 5/13 | SF 2965 | Surrogate Mother Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (41 - 22) |
| 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) |
| 4/17 | 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) |
| 3/31 | HF 2145 | Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 3/25 | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/25 | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/25 | HB 2263 | Maturity Requirement for Underage Abortions | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 3/25 | HB 2769 | Increasing Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| 3/20 | SA 1051 to SB 527 | Parental Notification for Underage Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (9 - 15) |