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 7, 2006 | VA | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| March 7, 2006 | IA | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| March 6, 2006 | KS | Amend HB 2573 | Federal Income Tax Deduction from State Tax Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 70) |
| March 6, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 41) |
| March 6, 2006 | IA | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| March 6, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| March 6, 2006 | AZ | SB 1465 | Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 3, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| March 3, 2006 | AK | CSSB 112 | Rural Education Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| March 2, 2006 | AZ | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 2, 2006 | IN | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 2, 2006 | NJ | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| March 2, 2006 | AZ | SB 1325 | Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| March 2, 2006 | WI | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| March 2, 2006 | MI | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - House (56 - 45) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | 3SHB 109 | Food Tax Cut | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 23) |
| March 1, 2006 | VA | HB 568 | Flat Tax on Communication Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| March 1, 2006 | OK | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| March 1, 2006 | UT | 3SHB 109 | Food Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| March 1, 2006 | CT | HB 5684 | State Contracting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 61) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | ID | H 485 | Public Infrastructure Improvement Districts (PIDS) | Bill Failed - House (30 - 39) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | OK | SCS SB 1993 | Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | AZ | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27) |
| Feb. 27, 2006 | ID | H 609 | Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program | Bill Passed - House (42 - 25) |
| Feb. 24, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - House (87 - 34) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | SD | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | AL | SB 31 | Alcohol Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | MO | HCS HB 1014 | Budget Supplements | Bill Passed - House (102 - 49) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 338 | Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill | Bill Passed - House (83 - 15) |
| Feb. 23, 2006 | WY | HB 54 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (26 - 33) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | VT | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215re | Abortion Ban on Ballot | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | UT | 1SHB 181 | Education Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | MS | HB 1638 | Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems | Bill Passed - House (80 - 42) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | KY | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| Feb. 21, 2006 | MS | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | LA | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | MI | SB 839 | Reduce Amount of Auto Sales Tax Going to Comprehensive Transportation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | NH | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | LA | SB 22 | State of Emergency Voting Reform | Bill Passed - House (72 - 29) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KS | Sub HB 2525 | Taxation | Bill Passed - House (106 - 15) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | KS | HB 2619 | Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (108 - 14) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | MI | Sub for HB 5498 | Horse Racing Industry Development Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (106 - 91) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | LA | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | MI | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| Feb. 10, 2006 | NM | SB 294 | Open Committee Meetings | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 22) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 1115 | Tobacco Settlement Payments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 47) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | WA | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | CO | Amendment | Transportation Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (29 - 36) |
| Feb. 8, 2006 | SC | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (86 - 31) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MS | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| Feb. 7, 2006 | MI | Sub for HB 5498 | Horse Racing Industry Development Funds | Bill Passed - House (59 - 46) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | MS | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Feb. 2, 2006 | MS | SB 2604 | Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | MS | SB 2602 | Mississippi Education Reform Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | National | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | GA | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/07 | SB 526 | Defining Marriage | Bill Passed - House (85 - 12) |
| 3/07 | HF 2558 | 2006-2007 Department of Justice, Corrections, Public Defense, and Public Safety Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 45) |
| 3/06 | Amend HB 2573 | Federal Income Tax Deduction from State Tax Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 70) |
| 3/06 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - House (79 - 41) |
| 3/06 | HF 2540 | 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 3/06 | SCS SB 1874 | Senate Committee Substitute for the "Lawsuit Responsibility Act of 2006" | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 25) |
| 3/06 | SB 1465 | Income Tax Rates | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/03 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 3/03 | CSSB 112 | Rural Education Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 8) |
| 3/02 | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/02 | HB 1099 | Fireworks Sales, Regulations, Discharge, Public Safety Fees, and Injuries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 3/02 | A 798 | New Jersey Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act | Bill Passed - House (55 - 14) |
| 3/02 | SB 1325 | Public Funds; Abortion; Prohibition | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 3/02 | AB 1073 | Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Caps | Bill Passed - House (74 - 22) |
| 3/02 | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - House (56 - 45) |
| 3/01 | 3SHB 109 | Food Tax Cut | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 23) |
| 3/01 | HB 568 | Flat Tax on Communication Services | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11) |
| 3/01 | SB 1471 | Establishing the Oklahoma Innocence Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 3/01 | 3SHB 109 | Food Tax Cut | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5) |
| 3/01 | HB 5684 | State Contracting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 61) |
| 2/28 | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 2/28 | H 485 | Public Infrastructure Improvement Districts (PIDS) | Bill Failed - House (30 - 39) |
| 2/28 | SCS SB 1993 | Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 10) |
| 2/27 | HB 2064 | English Language Learners | Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 27) |
| 2/27 | H 609 | Motor Vehicle Special License Plate Program | Bill Passed - House (42 - 25) |
| 2/24 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - House (87 - 34) |
| 2/23 | SB 1 | Mandatory Bodily Substance Samples in Drunk Driving Arrests | Bill Passed - House (52 - 17) |
| 2/23 | SB 31 | Alcohol Tax | Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 14) |
| 2/23 | HCS HB 1014 | Budget Supplements | Bill Passed - House (102 - 49) |
| 2/23 | HCS HB 338 | Affordable Housing Trust Fund Bill | Bill Passed - House (83 - 15) |
| 2/23 | HB 54 | Tobacco Tax Increase | Bill Failed - House (26 - 33) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215cb | Exception to Abortion Ban in Cases Where the Health of the Woman is Seriously Threatened | Amendment Rejected - Senate (13 - 22) |
| 2/22 | HA to H 856 | Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (50 - 82) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215re | Abortion Ban on Ballot | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20) |
| 2/22 | 1SHB 181 | Education Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (44 - 31) |
| 2/22 | HB 1638 | Funding for Wireless Communications and Cooperative Data Systems | Bill Passed - House (80 - 42) |
| 2/22 | HCS HB 93 | Criminal Record Expungement Bill | Bill Passed - House (76 - 21) |
| 2/21 | SB 3084 | Food and Tobacco Taxes | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 2/15 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/15 | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| 2/15 | SB 839 | Reduce Amount of Auto Sales Tax Going to Comprehensive Transportation Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 2/15 | HB 656 | "Do Not Resuscitate" Bill | Bill Passed - House (231 - 118) |
| 2/15 | SB 22 | State of Emergency Voting Reform | Bill Passed - House (72 - 29) |
| 2/15 | Sub HB 2525 | Taxation | Bill Passed - House (106 - 15) |
| 2/15 | HB 2619 | Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (108 - 14) |
| 2/15 | Sub for HB 5498 | Horse Racing Industry Development Funds | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
| 2/14 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (106 - 91) |
| 2/14 | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 2/14 | Sub for SB 1028 | Changes to the Family Independent Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 2/10 | SB 294 | Open Committee Meetings | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 22) |
| 2/09 | HB 1115 | Tobacco Settlement Payments | Bill Passed - House (71 - 47) |
| 2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| 2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| 2/09 | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 2/09 | 3rd Sub HB 1484 | Taxation for School Funding | Bill Passed - House (50 - 48) |
| 2/09 | HB 199 | Juvenile Delinquent Program Changes | Bill Passed - House (74 - 47) |
| 2/09 | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| 2/09 | HB 638 | Executive Branch Salaries | Bill Passed - House (64 - 55) |
| 2/08 | Amendment | Transportation Funding Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (29 - 36) |
| 2/08 | H 4449 | Sales and Property Taxes | Bill Passed - House (86 - 31) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 - Amendment 1 | Marriage Counseling Requirement | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 74) |
| 2/07 | HB 300 | Revised Marriage License Requirements | Bill Passed - House (66 - 55) |
| 2/07 | Sub for HB 5498 | Horse Racing Industry Development Funds | Bill Passed - House (59 - 46) |
| 2/06 | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 2/06 | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 2/02 | SB 2604 | Mississippi Adequate Education Program Revisions | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| 2/01 | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| 2/01 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| 2/01 | SB 2602 | Mississippi Education Reform Act | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 19) |
| 1/31 | PN 1059 | Samuel Alito, Associate Justice | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (58 - 42) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 1/31 | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |