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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2007 | ID | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| March 8, 2007 | IA | SF 413 | Fair Share Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 7, 2007 | IA | SF 128 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| March 6, 2007 | OK | SCS SB 709 | Pollution Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| Feb. 28, 2007 | WV | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 337 | Greenhouse Gas Inventory | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| Feb. 27, 2007 | IN | SB 577 | State Lottery Privatization | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 22, 2007 | NH | SB 42 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| Feb. 19, 2007 | MN | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| Feb. 15, 2007 | ND | SB 2397 | Oil Well Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| Feb. 14, 2007 | SD | SB 196 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 13, 2007 | ND | SB 2122 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| Feb. 12, 2007 | SD | SB 207 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| Feb. 8, 2007 | ND | SB 2164 | Public Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 30) |
| Feb. 8, 2007 | SD | SB 190 | Liquor License Development Districts | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | CO | HB 1072 | Termination of All-Union Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| Feb. 5, 2007 | VA | Sub SB 1327 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| Feb. 2, 2007 | NM | SB 324 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7) |
| Jan. 26, 2007 | VA | SB 1014 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| Jan. 22, 2007 | FL | CS HB 1A | Hurricane Insurance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 0) |
| Nov. 15, 2006 | IL | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| Nov. 15, 2006 | IL | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| Aug. 23, 2006 | CA | AB 2536 | Overtime Pay for Personal Attendants | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| Aug. 17, 2006 | CA | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| Aug. 3, 2006 | National | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
| July 14, 2006 | IA | HF 2351 | Eminent Domain | Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | NC | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4901 | Sales Tax Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4714 | Fur Clothing Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| July 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1020 | Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4705 | Tobacco Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| June 27, 2006 | PA | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 22, 2006 | MA | S 2258 | Massage Therapist Licensing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 21, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4376 | Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53) |
| June 21, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4322 | Minimum Wage Adjustment Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| June 16, 2006 | LA | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| June 14, 2006 | MD | SB 1 | Electricity Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| June 1, 2006 | RI | LCO # 2854/19 | West Warwick Casino Competative Bidding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| June 1, 2006 | LA | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| June 1, 2006 | RI | H 7935 Sub. A | West Warwick Casino | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/13 | H 121 | Smoking Ban in Bowling Alleys | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 3/08 | SF 413 | Fair Share Union Fees | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/07 | SF 128 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14) |
| 3/06 | SCS SB 709 | Pollution Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8) |
| 2/28 | Com Sub for Com Sub SB 337 | Greenhouse Gas Inventory | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 2/27 | SB 577 | State Lottery Privatization | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/22 | SB 42 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| 2/19 | SF 372 | Legalization of Ticket Scalping | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 15) |
| 2/15 | SB 2397 | Oil Well Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13) |
| 2/14 | SB 196 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/13 | SB 2122 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 26) |
| 2/12 | SB 207 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 6) |
| 2/08 | SB 2164 | Public Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (15 - 30) |
| 2/08 | SB 190 | Liquor License Development Districts | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 20) |
| 2/05 | HB 1072 | Termination of All-Union Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 2/05 | SB 1161 | Virginia Smoke-Free Air Act | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 2/05 | Sub SB 1327 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
| 2/02 | SB 324 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 7) |
| 1/26 | SB 1014 | Payday Lending Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 1/22 | CS HB 1A | Hurricane Insurance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (40 - 0) |
| 11/15 | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| 11/15 | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| 8/31 | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 8/30 | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 8/29 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/29 | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 8/23 | AB 2536 | Overtime Pay for Personal Attendants | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 8/17 | AB 2555 | Wage Discrimination Penalties | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 8/03 | HR 5970 | Death/Estate Tax and Minimum Wage Bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
| 7/14 | HF 2351 | Eminent Domain | Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 7/08 | A 4901 | Sales Tax Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 7/08 | A 4714 | Fur Clothing Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 7/08 | HB 1020 | Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 7/08 | A 4705 | Tobacco Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 6/27 | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 6/22 | S 2258 | Massage Therapist Licensing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 4376 | Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (45 - 53) |
| 6/21 | S Amdt 4322 | Minimum Wage Adjustment Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 46) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 19) |
| 6/16 | HB 194 | Minimum Wage for State Employees | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 18) |
| 6/14 | SB 1 | Electricity Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| 6/01 | LCO # 2854/19 | West Warwick Casino Competative Bidding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| 6/01 | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 6/01 | SB 753 | Hiring of Undocumented Immigrants Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 9) |
| 6/01 | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 6/01 | H 7935 Sub. A | West Warwick Casino | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |