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 31, 2006 | SC | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| May 24, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 9, 2006 | AK | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| May 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | IL | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| May 3, 2006 | WI | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 1223 | Overdraft Check Fee Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 24, 2006 | AK | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 1105 | Payday Loan Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 20, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| April 11, 2006 | ME | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | AL | SA 85045-1 to HB 135 | Food Sales and Use Tax Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| April 6, 2006 | MD | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| March 29, 2006 | ID | H 814 | Judge Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| March 27, 2006 | MD | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
| March 27, 2006 | GA | CCS SB 529 | Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 16) |
| March 27, 2006 | GA | CCS SB 529 | Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 16) |
| March 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1010 | Requiring Legislative Approval Before Entering International Trade Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 22, 2006 | MS | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 22, 2006 | MI | HB 5743 | Repeal the Single Business Tax Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| March 16, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15) |
| March 14, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
| March 14, 2006 | IN | HB 1008 | Indiana Toll Road | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
| March 14, 2006 | AL | SB 352 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| March 13, 2006 | IA | SF 2330 | Prohibition of Video Gambling Machines | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| March 8, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 7 | Workers Compensation and Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| March 8, 2006 | WA | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/31 | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/24 | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 5/24 | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 5/24 | LD 1021 | Police and Firefighter Insurance | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 5/10 | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/09 | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| 5/08 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| 5/03 | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| 5/03 | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| 5/02 | SB 1223 | Overdraft Check Fee Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 5/02 | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/02 | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 5/01 | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 5/01 | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 4/27 | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/24 | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| 4/20 | SB 1105 | Payday Loan Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 4/20 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14) |
| 4/11 | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 4/10 | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 4/10 | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| 4/06 | SA 85045-1 to HB 135 | Food Sales and Use Tax Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 4/06 | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 4/06 | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 3/31 | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 3/29 | H 814 | Judge Salaries | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 3/28 | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 3/27 | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
| 3/27 | CCS SB 529 | Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 16) |
| 3/27 | CCS SB 529 | Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 16) |
| 3/27 | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 3/24 | HB 1010 | Requiring Legislative Approval Before Entering International Trade Agreements | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/22 | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 3/22 | HB 5743 | Repeal the Single Business Tax Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 3/16 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 3/14 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 3/14 | HB 1008 | Indiana Toll Road | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19) |
| 3/14 | SB 352 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 3/13 | SF 2330 | Prohibition of Video Gambling Machines | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10) |
| 3/08 | Am Sub SB 7 | Workers Compensation and Minimum Wage | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 11) |
| 3/08 | 2nd Sub HB 2572 | Health Insurance for Small Businesses | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23) |