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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 27, 2006 | MO | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| Feb. 24, 2006 | WY | SF 87 | Board of Education Membership Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | WY | SF 84 | Wyoming Pipeline Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | KS | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | UT | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SC | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | WY | SF 50 | Health Care Information Technology | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 14) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | WY | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | IN | HB 1006 | Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | IN | HB 1006 | Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | SD | HB 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | CO | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| Feb. 20, 2006 | VA | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | MI | SB 838 | Medicare Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | LA | SB 49 | Louisiana Housing and Land Trust | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | MI | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 677 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| Feb. 13, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 10, 2006 | WA | Sub SB 6475 | Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | ME | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | ID | S 1276 | Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | AK | SB 85 | Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | VA | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | ID | S 1276 | Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | MS | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2737 | Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | National | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | MS | SB 2604 | Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | MS | SB 2602 | Mississippi Education Reform Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | IN | SB 145 | Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | GA | SB 390 | Classroom First for Georgia Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | IN | SB 145 | Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | NM | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | SD | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | IN | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | IN | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| Jan. 27, 2006 | MS | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | AZ | HB 2002 | English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | IN | SB 60 | Public School Transfer Program | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | IN | SB 88 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| Jan. 23, 2006 | UT | SB 96 | Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| Jan. 20, 2006 | UT | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Jan. 19, 2006 | IN | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/27 | SA 5 | Renewable Energy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (10 - 22) |
| 2/24 | SF 87 | Board of Education Membership Expansion | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 2/23 | SF 84 | Wyoming Pipeline Authority | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4) |
| 2/23 | HB 2732 | Unattended and Unsupervised Children in Motor Vehicle Safety Act | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 2/23 | 1SSB 97 | Student Organizations | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| 2/22 | H 3381 | Outdoor Advertising | Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 13) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215ca | Exceptions to Abortion Ban in Cases of Rape or Incest Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 21) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | SF 50 | Health Care Information Technology | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 14) |
| 2/22 | HB 1215 | Abortion Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 2/22 | SF 36 | Open Containers of Alcohol in Vehicles | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| 2/21 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 2/21 | HB 1006 | Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 2/21 | HB 1006 | Allocation of School Resources for Homeless Students | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 2/21 | HB 1235 | Compulsory High School Education Age to 18 | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23) |
| 2/20 | SB 66 | Employee Leave for Academic Activities | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 2/20 | HB 968 | Membership of the Board of Correctional Education | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20) |
| 2/15 | SB 838 | Medicare Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 2/15 | SB 49 | Louisiana Housing and Land Trust | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| 2/15 | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/15 | SB 1025 | PA Clean Vehicles Program | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/14 | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 2/14 | Sub SB 677 | In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 3) |
| 2/13 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 2/10 | Sub SB 6475 | Certificate of Academic Achievement Alternative Methods | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 10) |
| 2/08 | LD 1798 | Standardized Testing | "Ought Not to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 16) |
| 2/08 | S 1276 | Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 2/08 | SB 85 | Off-Road Vehicle Use Near Dalton Highway | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 9) |
| 2/08 | SB 648 | Smoking Ban | Bill Failed - Senate (18 - 20) |
| 2/08 | S 1276 | Thermal Generation Power Plant Notification | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8) |
| 2/06 | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2737 | Military Funding and Tax Cuts Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (44 - 53) |
| 2/02 | S Amdt 2730 | Medicare Part D Amendment | Motion Rejected - Senate (52 - 45) |
| 2/02 | HR 4297 | Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - Senate (66 - 31) |
| 2/02 | SB 2604 | Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 2/01 | SB 2602 | Mississippi Education Reform Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 1/31 | SB 145 | Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 1/31 | SB 390 | Classroom First for Georgia Act | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 1/31 | SB 145 | Vehicle Seizure and Driving While Intoxicated | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 16) |
| 1/31 | SB 258 | Medical Marijuana | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 6) |
| 1/31 | SB 175 | Emergency Contraceptives for Rape Victims | Bill Failed - Senate (9 - 26) |
| 1/30 | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 1/30 | SB 354 | Forestry Classifications | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 1/27 | HB 409 | Seat Belt Law | Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 4) |
| 1/24 | HB 2002 | English Language Learners; Structured English Immersion Models; Budget Requests | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 1/24 | SB 60 | Public School Transfer Program | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 1/24 | SB 88 | Seat Belt Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 21) |
| 1/23 | SB 96 | Origin of Species Curriculum Requirement Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 1/20 | SB 19 | Additions to Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 1/19 | SB 111 | Student Nutrition and Physical Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 7) |