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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2006 | DE | HB 37 | Bans Open Containers of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (24 - 13) |
| March 28, 2006 | ID | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 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 28, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
| March 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| March 27, 2006 | MD | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| March 24, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| March 24, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| March 24, 2006 | GA | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| March 23, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| March 23, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| March 23, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 22, 2006 | KS | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 21, 2006 | NH | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
| March 21, 2006 | NH | Maj AM 1172h | Smoking Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (177 - 164) |
| March 21, 2006 | OH | HCR 36 | Apportioning U.S. House Seats | Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23) |
| March 21, 2006 | NH | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (189 - 156) |
| March 21, 2006 | MI | Sub for HB 5192 | Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction | Bill Passed - House (86 - 17) |
| March 20, 2006 | PA | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| March 17, 2006 | CO | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (38 - 24) |
| March 16, 2006 | NH | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/28 | HB 37 | Bans Open Containers of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles | Bill Failed - House (24 - 13) |
| 3/28 | H 630 | School Grounds - Violence | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 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) |
| 3/28 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 25) |
| 3/27 | HB 1344 | Same-Sex Partnership Benefits Act | Bill Passed - House (38 - 27) |
| 3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| 3/27 | SB 539 | Hate Crimes Against Homeless Persons Bill | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 22) |
| 3/24 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| 3/24 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| 3/24 | SCS SB 396 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (115 - 42) |
| 3/23 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| 3/23 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| 3/23 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - House (91 - 33) |
| 3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 3/22 | SB 418 | Concealed Weapons Permits | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 3/21 | CACR 34 | Marriage Definition | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - House (207 - 125) |
| 3/21 | Maj AM 1172h | Smoking Ban Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (177 - 164) |
| 3/21 | HCR 36 | Apportioning U.S. House Seats | Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23) |
| 3/21 | HB 1177 | Smoking Ban | Bill Passed - House (189 - 156) |
| 3/21 | Sub for HB 5192 | Hunting License Program and Firearms Age Restriction | Bill Passed - House (86 - 17) |
| 3/20 | HB 213 | Ecoterrorism Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10) |
| 3/17 | HB 1175 | Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act | Conference Report Adopted - House (38 - 24) |
| 3/16 | SB 343 | Emergency Contraceptives Bill | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Passed - Senate (14 - 10) |