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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 15, 2006 | IL | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| Sept. 19, 2006 | National | HR 5684 | U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 32) |
| Sept. 13, 2006 | National | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| Aug. 31, 2006 | CA | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| Aug. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Aug. 29, 2006 | CA | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| July 14, 2006 | IA | HF 2351 | Eminent Domain | Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | CO | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| July 10, 2006 | NC | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4714 | Fur Clothing Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4705 | Tobacco Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| July 8, 2006 | NJ | A 4901 | Sales Tax Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| July 8, 2006 | CO | HB 1020 | Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 29, 2006 | National | S 3569 | U.S. -Oman Free Trade Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| June 27, 2006 | PA | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| June 22, 2006 | MA | S 2258 | Massage Therapist Licensing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| June 22, 2006 | PA | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| June 14, 2006 | MD | SB 1 | Electricity Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| June 1, 2006 | RI | LCO # 2854/19 | West Warwick Casino Competative Bidding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| June 1, 2006 | RI | H 7935 Sub. A | West Warwick Casino | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 1, 2006 | CA | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| May 31, 2006 | SC | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| May 31, 2006 | LA | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| May 25, 2006 | AZ | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| May 24, 2006 | MA | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| May 24, 2006 | OH | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 9, 2006 | AK | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| May 4, 2006 | MA | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| May 4, 2006 | IL | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| May 3, 2006 | WI | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| May 3, 2006 | IA | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 1223 | Overdraft Check Fee Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| May 2, 2006 | TX | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| May 1, 2006 | CO | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| April 24, 2006 | AK | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | SB 1105 | Payday Loan Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 11, 2006 | ME | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| April 6, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | AL | SA 85045-1 to HB 135 | Food Sales and Use Tax Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 11) |
| April 6, 2006 | AR | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| April 6, 2006 | MD | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/15 | SB 1275 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 21) |
| 9/19 | HR 5684 | U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 32) |
| 9/13 | S Amdt 4999 | Security of Cargo Containers Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 55) |
| 8/31 | SB 1414 | Health Care Requirements for Large Companies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
| 8/30 | AB 32 | Greenhouse Gases Emission Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 8/29 | AB 1953 | Amount of Lead in Plumbing Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 8/29 | AB 2496 | Water Conservation: Low-Flush Water Closet | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 7/14 | HF 2351 | Eminent Domain | Veto Override Passed - Senate (41 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 1017 | Employer Verification of Employee Work Status Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 7/10 | HB 2174 | Minimum Wage Increase | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 12) |
| 7/08 | A 4714 | Fur Clothing Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 7/08 | A 4705 | Tobacco Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
| 7/08 | A 4901 | Sales Tax Bill of 2006 | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
| 7/08 | HB 1020 | Business Deductions for Employees Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 6/29 | S 3569 | U.S. -Oman Free Trade Agreement | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 34) |
| 6/27 | SB 1230 | Slot Supplier Elimination | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 6/22 | S 2258 | Massage Therapist Licensing | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 6/22 | SB 1090 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 14) |
| 6/14 | SB 1 | Electricity Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| 6/01 | LCO # 2854/19 | West Warwick Casino Competative Bidding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - Senate (16 - 17) |
| 6/01 | SB 1675 | Renewable Diesel Fuel Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 6/01 | H 7935 Sub. A | West Warwick Casino | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| 6/01 | SB 1162 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
| 5/31 | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 11) |
| 5/31 | SB 700 | Minimum Wage Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 5/25 | HB 2577 | Immigration Law; Employment; Enforcement | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 9) |
| 5/24 | Amdt 8 to SB 3 | Sales Tax Holiday | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 16) |
| 5/24 | Am Sub SB 185 | Mortgage Lending Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (30 - 3) |
| 5/10 | HB 2583 | Machinery Tax Exemptions | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/09 | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (10 - 10) |
| 5/04 | H 4479 | Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 113 | Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| 5/04 | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| 5/03 | AB 414 | Smoking Ban Expansion | Nonconcurrence Vote Passed - Senate (17 - 14) |
| 5/03 | SF 2377 | Confinement Feeding Operations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (38 - 11) |
| 5/02 | SB 1223 | Overdraft Check Fee Increase | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (18 - 7) |
| 5/02 | HB 3115 | Gasoline Industry Controls | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 3) |
| 5/02 | SCS HCS HB 4 | Motor Vehicle Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| 5/02 | HB 3 | Business Tax Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/01 | SB 227 | Healthcare Disclosure Act | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17) |
| 5/01 | SB 234 | Public Construction Bidding Act | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16) |
| 4/27 | SB 138 | Ethanol Requirement Act | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11) |
| 4/24 | SB 305 | Oil and Gas Production Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| 4/20 | SB 1105 | Payday Loan Provisions | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| 4/11 | LD 235 | Minimum Wage Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15) |
| 4/10 | HB 1035 | Uninsured Employers' Fund -- Liability of Corporate Officers | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 4/06 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (12 - 11) |
| 4/06 | SA 85045-1 to HB 135 | Food Sales and Use Tax Reduction Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 4/06 | HB 1033 | Minimum Wage | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 1) |
| 4/06 | SB 320 | Emergency Goods & Services Price Restriction Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 3/31 | SB 154 | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 11) |