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 | LA | HB 1108 | Lower Ninth Ward Improvement Authority | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | HB 1108 | Lower Ninth Ward Improvement Authority | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (45 - 34) |
| May 31, 2006 | CA | AB 2378 | Affordable Housing Bill | Bill Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1383 | Cal Grant Eligibility Without Passing High School Exit Exam | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1796 | Overhaul Flood and Levee Board | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1796 | Overhaul Flood and Levee Board | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 30, 2006 | CA | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| May 30, 2006 | MI | HB 6085 | Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License | Bill Passed - House (76 - 27) |
| May 27, 2006 | TN | SB 3178 | State Legislators Pension Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 12) |
| May 27, 2006 | TN | SB 3178 | State Legislators Pension Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 8) |
| May 26, 2006 | TN | HA 1609 to HB 1114 | Primary Election Regulations Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 45) |
| May 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |
| May 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |
| May 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 8) |
| May 25, 2006 | KS | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| May 25, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4097 | Confidentiality Requirement Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 25, 2006 | OH | Sub HB 184 | U.S. and Ohio Mottos in Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| May 25, 2006 | National | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
| May 25, 2006 | OH | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (53 - 42) |
| May 25, 2006 | OH | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| May 24, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4095 | H-2C Visa Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
| May 24, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 7) |
| May 24, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165) |
| May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8) |
| May 24, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1713 | Trafficking Illegal Drugs | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24) |
| May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
| May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
| May 24, 2006 | OK | SB 1337 | Cities and Towns, Modifying Provisions For Clean Up of Agricultural Property. | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
| May 24, 2006 | OH | SCS HCS HB 115 | Educational Regional Service System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4087 | Orange Card Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61) |
| May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| May 23, 2006 | LA | SB 652 | Cockfighting Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| May 23, 2006 | MI | Sub for SB 861 | Michigan Merit Award Scholarship Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 22, 2006 | ME | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| May 22, 2006 | ME | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/31 | HB 1108 | Lower Ninth Ward Improvement Authority | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| 5/31 | HB 1108 | Lower Ninth Ward Improvement Authority | Bill Passed - House (60 - 39) |
| 5/31 | AB 2076 | Needle Exchange Program | Bill Passed - House (45 - 34) |
| 5/31 | AB 2378 | Affordable Housing Bill | Bill Passed - House (49 - 27) |
| 5/30 | SB 1383 | Cal Grant Eligibility Without Passing High School Exit Exam | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/30 | SB 1796 | Overhaul Flood and Levee Board | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/30 | SB 1796 | Overhaul Flood and Levee Board | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/30 | SB 1576 | Transitional Housing Services for Foster Youth | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 5/30 | HB 6085 | Disclosure of Citizenship on Driver's License | Bill Passed - House (76 - 27) |
| 5/27 | SB 3178 | State Legislators Pension Plan | Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 12) |
| 5/27 | SB 3178 | State Legislators Pension Plan | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 8) |
| 5/26 | HA 1609 to HB 1114 | Primary Election Regulations Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 45) |
| 5/26 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |
| 5/26 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - House (91 - 5) |
| 5/26 | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 8) |
| 5/25 | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Veto Override Failed - Senate (23 - 12) |
| 5/25 | S Amdt 4097 | Confidentiality Requirement Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (49 - 49) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 22) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/25 | Sub HB 184 | U.S. and Ohio Mottos in Schools | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (82 - 13) |
| 5/25 | S 2611 | Immigration Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
| 5/25 | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (53 - 42) |
| 5/25 | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| 5/25 | S 1084 | Penalties For Harming An Unborn Child/Fetus | Bill Passed - House (81 - 18) |
| 5/25 | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| 5/24 | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
| 5/24 | H 4479 | MassHealth Immigrant Eligibility Veto Override | Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 5) |
| 5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| 5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| 5/24 | S Amdt 4095 | H-2C Visa Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (48 - 49) |
| 5/24 | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 7) |
| 5/24 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (168 - 165) |
| 5/24 | SB 1800 | Death Penalty for Second Offender Sex Offenders | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8) |
| 5/24 | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 5/24 | SB 1713 | Trafficking Illegal Drugs | Conference Report Rejected - Senate (23 - 24) |
| 5/24 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
| 5/24 | SB 1807 | Prohibiting Death Sentence For Mentally Retarded Defendant | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (35 - 10) |
| 5/24 | SB 1337 | Cities and Towns, Modifying Provisions For Clean Up of Agricultural Property. | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
| 5/24 | SCS HCS HB 115 | Educational Regional Service System | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 5/24 | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 4177 | Employer Verification Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (59 - 39) |
| 5/23 | S Amdt 4087 | Orange Card Program Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (37 - 61) |
| 5/23 | SB 347 | Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Government | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 24) |
| 5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| 5/23 | SB 652 | Cockfighting Ban | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 4) |
| 5/23 | Sub for SB 861 | Michigan Merit Award Scholarship Act | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 5/22 | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| 5/22 | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |