Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
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 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
April 13, 2006 NE LB 1024 School Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
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 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
April 6, 2006 IL SB 3053 Bond Authorization 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 KS SB 501 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
March 30, 2006 ID H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
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 NE LB 1060 2005-2007 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
March 28, 2006 OH HB 530 Budget Correction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
March 28, 2006 OH Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 28, 2006 MD SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
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)
March 21, 2006 KS SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
March 20, 2006 ID H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
March 20, 2006 NJ A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
March 20, 2006 ID S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
March 20, 2006 ID S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 17, 2006 MI Sub for SB 297 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
March 16, 2006 NH SB 343 Emergency Contraceptives Bill "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
March 16, 2006 CO HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
March 16, 2006 KS SB 587 Gambling Expansion Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 20)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Amdt 3128 ANWR Revenues Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 National S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
March 16, 2006 ID H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
March 15, 2006 MD Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
March 15, 2006 OK SB 1372 Issuing Temporary Teacher Licenses Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
March 14, 2006 National S Amdt 3013 Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
March 14, 2006 IN HB 1008 Indiana Toll Road Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
March 14, 2006 AZ SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
March 14, 2006 AL SB 352 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
March 13, 2006 OK SB 1387 Physical Education Instruction Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
March 10, 2006 CO Amendment L.004 Balanced Teaching Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20)
March 10, 2006 CO HB 1125 Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
March 9, 2006 WI ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
March 9, 2006 WI ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
March 9, 2006 WI ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
March 8, 2006 OK SB 1420 Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
March 8, 2006 AZ SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
March 8, 2006 WA 2nd Sub HB 2572 Health Insurance for Small Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
March 7, 2006 HI SB 3195 Education Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
March 7, 2006 HI SB 3102 Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
March 7, 2006 OK SB 1387 Physical Education Instruction Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
March 7, 2006 WI AB 1073 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
March 6, 2006 OK SCS SB 1874 Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
March 6, 2006 OK SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 6, 2006 OK SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
March 6, 2006 OK SB 1434 Prescription Drug Reimportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 3, 2006 MS SB 3084 Food and Tobacco Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
March 3, 2006 AK CSSB 112 Rural Education Tax Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
March 3, 2006 ID S 1382 Idaho Mathematics, Science and Engineering Scholarship Act Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
March 3, 2006 WI SB 618 School Voucher Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 2, 2006 AZ HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
March 1, 2006 ID SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
Feb. 28, 2006 CO HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 28, 2006 OK SCS SB 1993 Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 16)
4/13 LB 239 In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 18)
4/13 LB 1024 School Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
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 668 Funding for Schools, Universities, and Roads Bill Failed - Senate (32 - 26)
4/06 SB 3053 Bond Authorization 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 SB 501 School Funding Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 20)
3/30 H 800 Water Rights Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 21)
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 LB 1060 2005-2007 Biennium Budget Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 7)
3/28 HB 530 Budget Correction Bill Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 3)
3/28 Am Sub SB 265 Air Pollution Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/28 SB 297 Pharmacists Dispensing Emergency Contraception Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
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)
3/21 SCS SB 323 Eminent Domain Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
3/20 H 544 Irrigation Voting Procedure Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
3/20 A 2813 New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
3/20 S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
3/20 S 1393 Biodegradable Fuel Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 23)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/17 Sub for SB 297 Motorcycle Helmets Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
3/16 SB 343 Emergency Contraceptives Bill "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/16 S Amdt 3166 National Defense Funding Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
3/16 HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
3/16 SB 587 Gambling Expansion Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 20)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Amdt 3128 ANWR Revenues Amendment Bill Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 S Con Res 83 2007 Budget Resolution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (51 - 49)
3/16 H 609 Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/15 Amendment 503528 to SB 110 Funding to Family Planning Programs Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (18 - 29)
3/15 Amendment 553220 Needle Exchange Funding Prohibition Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 32)
3/15 SB 1372 Issuing Temporary Teacher Licenses Bill Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
3/14 S Amdt 3013 Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go through 2011 Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 50)
3/14 HB 1008 Indiana Toll Road Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 19)
3/14 SB 1477 Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
3/14 SB 352 Smoking Ban Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
3/13 SB 1387 Physical Education Instruction Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 9)
3/10 Amendment L.004 Balanced Teaching Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (14 - 20)
3/10 HB 1125 Seat Belt Enforcement Bill Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
3/09 ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
3/09 ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
3/09 ASA 3 Ethanol Bill Motion Agreed - Senate (17 - 15)
3/08 SB 1420 Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
3/08 SB 1356 Air Pollutant Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
3/08 2nd Sub HB 2572 Health Insurance for Small Businesses Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 23)
3/07 SB 3195 Education Appropriation Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 3)
3/07 SB 3102 Student to Teacher Ratio Reduction Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 2)
3/07 SB 1387 Physical Education Instruction Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 24)
3/07 AB 1073 Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
3/06 SCS SB 1874 Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25)
3/06 SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/06 SB 1792 Achieving Classroom Excellence Steering Committee Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
3/06 SB 1434 Prescription Drug Reimportation Act Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/03 SB 3084 Food and Tobacco Taxes Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19)
3/03 CSSB 112 Rural Education Tax Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8)
3/03 S 1382 Idaho Mathematics, Science and Engineering Scholarship Act Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
3/03 SB 618 School Voucher Program Expansion Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/02 HB 2064 English Language Learners Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
3/01 SJR 106 Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (18 - 16)
2/28 HB 1175 Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/28 SCS SB 1993 Financial Aid Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10)

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