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 25, 2006 | OH | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| May 25, 2006 | SC | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| May 24, 2006 | ME | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| 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 1337 | Cities and Towns, Modifying Provisions For Clean Up of Agricultural Property. | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| May 23, 2006 | National | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| May 22, 2006 | CA | AJR 51 | Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| May 22, 2006 | ME | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| May 20, 2006 | MN | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 37) |
| May 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
| May 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
| May 18, 2006 | National | HR 5386 | Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (293 - 128) |
| May 18, 2006 | LA | HB 1142 | Parole Eligibility | Bill Failed - House (37 - 48) |
| May 17, 2006 | TN | SB 3895 | Revisions to TennCare | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| May 17, 2006 | LA | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| May 17, 2006 | LA | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| May 16, 2006 | MI | HB 5633 | English as the Official Language Bill | Bill Passed - House (73 - 32) |
| May 16, 2006 | MI | HB 5633 | English as the Official Language Bill | Bill Passed - House (73 - 32) |
| May 15, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| May 15, 2006 | TX | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| May 15, 2006 | MN | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| May 15, 2006 | CA | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 5) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | HJR 55 | Salaries and State Pensions for Public Officials | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 40) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 67) |
| May 11, 2006 | TN | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| May 10, 2006 | SC | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| May 9, 2006 | VT | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 54) |
| May 9, 2006 | KS | SB 549 | 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 Department of Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 54) |
| May 9, 2006 | AK | SCS CS HB 334 | Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| May 5, 2006 | VT | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| May 5, 2006 | VT | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| May 5, 2006 | CA | AB 127 | Kindergarten-University Public Education Bond Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12) |
| May 5, 2006 | CO | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| May 5, 2006 | CA | SB 1689 | Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| May 5, 2006 | CO | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SB 567 | Limit Public Assistance to Citizens or Legal Residents of the United States | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| May 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | CA | AB 140 | Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act | Bill Passed - House (62 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | LA | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| May 4, 2006 | CO | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| May 4, 2006 | AK | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| May 3, 2006 | KS | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34) |
| May 2, 2006 | WI | SB 1 | Ethics Bill | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 51) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | MN | HF 4142 | Property Tax - Rebate Checks | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| May 2, 2006 | CO | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| May 2, 2006 | FL | HJR 447 | Classroom Size Requirements and 65 Percent of School Funding for Classroom Instruction | Amendment Adopted - House (74 - 40) |
| May 1, 2006 | LA | HB 1164 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| April 30, 2006 | CT | LCO # 5212 | Death/Estate Tax Exemption Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 87) |
| April 30, 2006 | CT | LCO # 5227 | Estate/Death and Gift Taxes Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 98) |
| April 30, 2006 | CT | LCO # 5219 | Repeal of Estate/Death Tax for Primary Residence & Working Farm Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 84) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
| April 28, 2006 | CO | HB 1283 | Required School Expenditures Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| April 27, 2006 | MA | C Amdt "H" | Local Education Funding Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (144 - 13) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | MO | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| April 27, 2006 | MO | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| April 27, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | MI | HB 4745 | Refusal of Health Care Procedures on Religious, Moral and Ethical Grounds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| April 26, 2006 | MI | HB 4746 | Health Insurance Refusal | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| April 25, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/25 | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| 5/25 | S 229 | Cockfighting And Hog Dog Fighting | Bill Passed - House (78 - 15) |
| 5/24 | HCA A to LD 1845 | Dirigo Health Insurance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (73 - 73) |
| 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 1337 | Cities and Towns, Modifying Provisions For Clean Up of Agricultural Property. | Bill Passed - House (60 - 41) |
| 5/24 | H 4988 | Nurse Staffing Bill | Bill Passed - House (133 - 20) |
| 5/23 | HR 5384 | Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Appropriations Act | Bill Passed - House (378 - 46) |
| 5/22 | AJR 51 | Endorsing Federal Amendments to Immigration Law | Joint Resolution Passed - House (43 - 27) |
| 5/22 | LD 1481 | Procedures for Citizen Proposed Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (75 - 66) |
| 5/20 | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Conference Report Adopted - House (96 - 37) |
| 5/18 | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
| 5/18 | Amend | Welfare Restrictions for Drug Felonies | Amendment Adopted - House (86 - 16) |
| 5/18 | HR 5386 | Interior Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill | Bill Passed - House (293 - 128) |
| 5/18 | HB 1142 | Parole Eligibility | Bill Failed - House (37 - 48) |
| 5/17 | SB 3895 | Revisions to TennCare | Bill Passed - House (78 - 19) |
| 5/17 | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| 5/17 | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| 5/16 | HB 5633 | English as the Official Language Bill | Bill Passed - House (73 - 32) |
| 5/16 | HB 5633 | English as the Official Language Bill | Bill Passed - House (73 - 32) |
| 5/15 | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| 5/15 | HB 2 | Property Tax Reduction | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 56) |
| 5/15 | SF 2460 | University of Minnesota Football Stadium | Bill Passed - House (101 - 31) |
| 5/15 | AB 813 | Medi-Cal: Emergency Drug Benefits | Bill Passed - House (66 - 5) |
| 5/12 | HJR 55 | Salaries and State Pensions for Public Officials | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (115 - 40) |
| 5/11 | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 67) |
| 5/11 | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| 5/10 | H 4932 | South Carolina Child Development Education Two-Year Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (85 - 18) |
| 5/09 | H 861 | Health Care Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 54) |
| 5/09 | SB 549 | 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 Department of Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (66 - 54) |
| 5/09 | SCS CS HB 334 | Additional Religious Property Tax Exemption | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (26 - 13) |
| 5/08 | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| 5/05 | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| 5/05 | H 865 | Non-Discrimination Bill | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (88 - 47) |
| 5/05 | AB 127 | Kindergarten-University Public Education Bond Act of 2006 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (58 - 12) |
| 5/05 | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 5/05 | SB 1689 | Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (54 - 16) |
| 5/05 | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - House (36 - 29) |
| 5/04 | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| 5/04 | SB 567 | Limit Public Assistance to Citizens or Legal Residents of the United States | Bill Passed - House (51 - 42) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | AB 140 | Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act | Bill Passed - House (62 - 9) |
| 5/04 | HB 1010 | Smoking in Motor Vehicles Ban | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
| 5/04 | SB 81 | Employment Nondiscrimination Expansion Bill | Bill Passed - House (39 - 26) |
| 5/04 | HCS CS SB 20 | Offenses Against a Fetus/Unborn Child | Bill Passed - House (30 - 9) |
| 5/03 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 32) |
| 5/03 | SB 528 | Abortion and Live Birth Reporting | Conference Report Adopted - House (89 - 34) |
| 5/02 | SB 1 | Ethics Bill | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 51) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HF 4142 | Property Tax - Rebate Checks | Bill Passed - House (86 - 47) |
| 5/02 | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| 5/02 | HJR 447 | Classroom Size Requirements and 65 Percent of School Funding for Classroom Instruction | Amendment Adopted - House (74 - 40) |
| 5/01 | HB 1164 | Eminent Domain | Bill Passed - House (53 - 42) |
| 4/30 | LCO # 5212 | Death/Estate Tax Exemption Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 87) |
| 4/30 | LCO # 5227 | Estate/Death and Gift Taxes Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (49 - 98) |
| 4/30 | LCO # 5219 | Repeal of Estate/Death Tax for Primary Residence & Working Farm Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (63 - 84) |
| 4/28 | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 4/28 | LD 1381 | Teacher Minimum Salary Increase | Bill Passed - House (76 - 68) |
| 4/28 | HB 1283 | Required School Expenditures Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 31) |
| 4/27 | C Amdt "H" | Local Education Funding Amendments | Amendment Adopted - House (144 - 13) |
| 4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| 4/27 | HCS HB 1814 | English as the States Official Language | Bill Passed - House (122 - 30) |
| 4/27 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| 4/27 | Sub SB 373 | Healthy Food and Beverages In Schools | Bill Passed - House (76 - 71) |
| 4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/26 | HB 4745 | Refusal of Health Care Procedures on Religious, Moral and Ethical Grounds | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| 4/26 | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| 4/26 | HB 4746 | Health Insurance Refusal | Bill Passed - House (68 - 38) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (147 - 10) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 20) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| 4/25 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 | Veto Override Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |