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 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 1024 | School Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| April 13, 2006 | NE | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 12, 2006 | MN | SF 1459 | School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | NE | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 12, 2006 | DE | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
| April 12, 2006 | OK | HB 2177 | Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| April 11, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| April 11, 2006 | HI | HB 1242 | Intentional Termination of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 7, 2006 | AR | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | NE | AM 3142 | Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | IL | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| April 6, 2006 | MD | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| April 5, 2006 | NE | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
| April 5, 2006 | CO | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 4, 2006 | AZ | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 3, 2006 | MN | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22) |
| March 31, 2006 | KS | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |
| March 31, 2006 | CO | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| March 30, 2006 | KS | Sub HB 2986 | School Finance | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25) |
| March 30, 2006 | ID | H 800 | Water Rights | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| March 30, 2006 | KS | SB 501 | School Funding | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 30, 2006 | IL | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| March 29, 2006 | CO | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| March 29, 2006 | AL | SB 446 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| March 28, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 265 | Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| March 28, 2006 | OH | HB 530 | Budget Correction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| March 28, 2006 | NE | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| March 28, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| March 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
| March 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 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 | ME | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 24, 2006 | CO | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| March 24, 2006 | MD | SB 257 | Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
| March 24, 2006 | MD | SB 293 | Public Charter School Program Reform Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| March 23, 2006 | ID | H 421 | Property Tax-Homestead Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| March 23, 2006 | ID | H 743 | School Facilities Improvement Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 23, 2006 | MI | HB 5606 | New Graduation Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| March 22, 2006 | MS | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| March 22, 2006 | NH | SB 268 | High School Dropout Age | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/13 | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16) |
| 4/13 | LB 1024 | School Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16) |
| 4/13 | LB 239 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| 4/12 | SF 1459 | School District Employees Statewide Health Insurance Pool | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 27) |
| 4/12 | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 4/12 | SB 251 | Full-Day Kindergarten Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2) |
| 4/12 | HB 2177 | Higher Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 10) |
| 4/11 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 4/11 | HB 1242 | Intentional Termination of Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 4/10 | HB 1215 | School Closure Regulations | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/07 | SB 27 | Educational Adequacy Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 5) |
| 4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| 4/06 | AM 3142 | Redistricting of Omaha Public Schools | Amendment Adopted - Senate (33 - 6) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 3053 | Bond Authorization | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 668 | Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads | Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26) |
| 4/06 | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 4/05 | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Veto Override Failed - Senate (14 - 24) |
| 4/05 | HB 1375 | Public School Finance Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/04 | HB 2254 | Requiring Doctors to Inform Women of Fetal Pain | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/03 | SF 2734 | Sales Tax Dedicated to the Environment and the Arts Constitutional Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (42 - 22) |
| 3/31 | SCS SB 253 | Highway Advertising Regulation & Fees | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 3/31 | HB 1212 | Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Emergency Contraception | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 3/31 | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 3/30 | Sub HB 2986 | School Finance | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 25) |
| 3/30 | H 800 | Water Rights | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 3/30 | SB 501 | School Funding | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/30 | HB 5284 | Carbon Monoxide Detector Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 3/29 | HB 1249 | Authorizing Minors to Approve Perinatal Care for Their Own Pregnancy | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 3/29 | SB 446 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/28 | SB 297 | Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 3/28 | Am Sub SB 265 | Air Pollution | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7) |
| 3/28 | HB 530 | Budget Correction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 3/28 | LB 1060 | 2005-2007 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7) |
| 3/28 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 3/28 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
| 3/27 | LD 1640 | Charter School Pilot Program | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 3/27 | Amendment 3929 to SB 297 | Prohibiting Requirement of Pharmacist to Dispense Emergency Contraception Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (17 - 28) |
| 3/27 | LD 1926 | Amending Work Place Smoking Laws | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| 3/24 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 3/24 | HB 1056 | Vending Machines Requirements for Schools Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 3/24 | SB 257 | Little Blackwater River Golf Course Conservation Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 27) |
| 3/24 | SB 293 | Public Charter School Program Reform Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 3/23 | H 421 | Property Tax-Homestead Exemption | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 3/23 | H 743 | School Facilities Improvement Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/23 | HB 5606 | New Graduation Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 1) |
| 3/22 | SB 2310 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Veto Override Failed - Senate (28 - 22) |
| 3/22 | SB 268 | High School Dropout Age | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 7) |