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 18, 2006 | MI | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
| May 18, 2006 | LA | HB 1142 | Parole Eligibility | Bill Failed - House (37 - 48) |
| May 17, 2006 | LA | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| May 11, 2006 | TN | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| May 11, 2006 | TN | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24) |
| May 9, 2006 | RI | H 7339 | Restriction on Political Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (36 - 25) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| May 8, 2006 | NY | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| 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 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | DE | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| May 4, 2006 | WI | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| 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 | CO | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Failed - House (32 - 32) |
| May 2, 2006 | HI | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| May 2, 2006 | CO | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| May 1, 2006 | TN | HA 1232 | Removing Sexual Orientation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32) |
| April 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | ME | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| April 27, 2006 | CO | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| April 26, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| April 26, 2006 | NH | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| April 26, 2006 | OK | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 25, 2006 | MI | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| April 24, 2006 | CT | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| April 20, 2006 | OR | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| April 20, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 1106 | Possession of Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| April 17, 2006 | CT | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| April 17, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| April 17, 2006 | OK | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| April 13, 2006 | CO | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| April 12, 2006 | MO | HA 9 | Eminent Domain Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 19) |
| April 12, 2006 | AZ | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| April 11, 2006 | VA | Amdt Item 391-4h | New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18 | Amend | Probation and Parole Violator Welfare Restriction | Amendment Adopted - House (83 - 16) |
| 5/18 | HB 1142 | Parole Eligibility | Bill Failed - House (37 - 48) |
| 5/17 | HB 853 | Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment in State Government | Bill Failed - House (38 - 58) |
| 5/12 | SS2 SCS HCS HB 1456 | Unemployment Compensation Changes | Bill Passed - House (90 - 65) |
| 5/11 | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| 5/11 | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| 5/10 | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24) |
| 5/10 | HB 2118 | Conceal and Carry | Conference Report Adopted - House (93 - 24) |
| 5/09 | H 7339 | Restriction on Political Surveillance | Bill Passed - House (36 - 25) |
| 5/08 | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| 5/08 | A 8098 | Drug Law Reform and Drug Treatment | Bill Passed - House (81 - 59) |
| 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) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | HB 368 | Hunting License Restrictions for Felons | Bill Passed - House (21 - 14) |
| 5/04 | SJR 5 | Advisory Referendum on the Death Penalty | Joint Resolution Passed - House (47 - 45) |
| 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 | HB 1125 | Seat Belt Enforcement Bill | Bill Failed - House (32 - 32) |
| 5/02 | SB 3262 | Smoking Ban Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (47 - 3) |
| 5/02 | HB 1100 | Prescription Drug Discount Program | Bill Failed - House (30 - 35) |
| 5/01 | HA 1232 | Removing Sexual Orientation Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (55 - 32) |
| 4/28 | LD 1789 | Environmental Terrorism Protection | Bill Passed - House (74 - 66) |
| 4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | LD 1938 | Notification Requirements for Certain Firearm Purchases | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (68 - 77) |
| 4/27 | HB 1315 | Juvenile Criminal Parole Act | Bill Passed - House (44 - 21) |
| 4/26 | SB 1434 | Prescription Drug Reimportation Act | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 4/26 | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| 4/26 | SB 318 | Use of Deadly Force | Bill Passed - House (193 - 134) |
| 4/26 | SB 1742 | Abortion Information Requirements and Changes to the Definition of Homicide | Bill Passed - House (84 - 5) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/25 | Sub H-1 | Self Defense Bill/ Deadly Force Bill | Bill Passed - House (90 - 16) |
| 4/24 | Sub SB 4 | Birth Information for Adult Adoptees | Bill Passed - House (79 - 64) |
| 4/20 | HB 3511 | Minimum Sentence for Some First-Degree Sex Offenders | Bill Passed - House (54 - 6) |
| 4/20 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Passed - House (34 - 23) |
| 4/19 | HB 1106 | Possession of Concealed Weapons | Veto Override Failed - House (61 - 36) |
| 4/19 | HB 493 | High School Baccalaureate Ceremonies | Veto Override Failed - House (60 - 36) |
| 4/17 | SB 1477 | Psychotropic drugs; Testing; Informed Consent | Bill Failed - House (25 - 30) |
| 4/17 | HB 5212 | News Media Information Protection | Bill Passed - House (107 - 34) |
| 4/17 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 4/17 | HCS SB 806 | Tattoo Legalization and Changing Body Piercing Regulations | Bill Passed - House (70 - 28) |
| 4/13 | HB 1314 | Prohibiting Forced Exposure to Employers Religious or Political Speech | Bill Passed - House (33 - 32) |
| 4/12 | HA 9 | Eminent Domain Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (23 - 129) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | SB 1157 | Trespassing by Undocumented Immigrants | Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 27) |
| 4/12 | HB 2074 | Concealed Weapons; Training Requirement; Renewal | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 19) |
| 4/12 | HB 2142 | Human Eggs; Sale; Prohibition | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 21) |
| 4/11 | Amdt Item 391-4h | New Anti-Gang Initiatives Funding Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (59 - 36) |